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06 July 2011

Launch of Asia's First Aquatic Science Centre

New S$6.4m state-of-the-art outdoor research facility at Ulu Pandan Canal will contribute towards developing sustainable solutions to urban freshwater management issues

The Singapore Delft-Water Alliance (SDWA), a joint research initiative between the National University of Singapore (NUS), PUB - Singapore's national water agency, and Deltares, today launched the Aquatic Science Centre @ Sungei Ulu Pandan (ASC), a state-of-the-art environmental observatory and experimental facility for in-depth studies on freshwater processes. The first of its kind in Asia, the S$6.4 million outdoor research facility will bring together environmental scientists, social scientists, engineers and policy makers to develop integrated and sustainable approaches to urban freshwater management.

As Singapore is one of the few countries in the world that harvests urban stormwater on a large-scale for its water supply, the ASC is instrumental in the nation's effort to maximise the amount of clean stormwater it can collect.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Dr Vivian Balakrishnan officially opened the ASC today in the presence of over 200 representatives from the water industry, academia and government agencies.

More than just a research facility, the ASC will also be used for training, sharing knowledge and public outreach. Built strategically along a park connector, the ASC advocates an open research facility concept, enabling the public to get a clear view of all research activities being carried out in the facility. There will also be opportunities for schools and general public to visit and interact with the researchers, and share the passion and appreciation for sustainable water management. The construction of the ASC is jointly funded by SDWA partners and supported by Environment Water Industry Development Council.

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, President of NUS, said: "Water is a critical resource, hence the sustainable management of water resources is a critically important issue for Singapore and many countries around the world. The completion of the Aquatic Science Centre (ASC) marks an important milestone in NUS' collaboration with PUB and Deltares. The research activities at the ASC will enable SDWA to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to further enhance the quality and supply of freshwater in Singapore. We are also very excited to elevate our partnership with Deltares to new heights in order to provide research and specialist consultancy services in water management."

Mr Khoo Teng Chye, Chief Executive of Singapore's national water agency PUB, said: "Water from local catchments is a pillar of Singapore's sustainable water supply. Singapore's strategy has always been to create estuarine reservoirs by damming the major rivers so as to catch as much stormwater as possible for water supply. Marina Reservoir together with the latest Punggol and Serangoon Reservoirs, will turn two-thirds of Singapore's land area into water catchment by this year. Although today's technologies can treat all water to drinking standards that meet the World Health Organisation's requirements, we need to find more ways to keep the stormwater we collect as clean as possible. Other than engaging people who live and work in the water catchment area to be water guardians, we also turn to R&D. Having a centre that can mimic nature will help us find sustainable solutions to urban freshwater management. This is important as our water catchment area will grow to about 90 per cent in the future."

SDWA is a testament of Singapore government's commitment to developing the water sector and is one of the Centres of Competence funded by the National Research Foundation through the Environment and Water Industry Programme Office.

Eco-friendly Design and Facilities

The Aquatic Science Centre initiative originated in July 2008 and actual construction started in 2009. Spanning over an area of about 6,700 square metres (about two-thirds of a soccer field), the ASC features a 95-metre long wave-like transparent roof, rainwater collection points and in-house water treatment capabilities. The elegant roof not only collects all of the ASC's water, but also promotes natural air circulation resulting in only 7% of the total area that needs to be air-conditioned, leading to minimal use of energy.

Earlier this year, the facility has also been awarded the Green Mark GoldPlus by the Singapore Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

Research Facilities and Activities

About 20 researchers from various disciplines ranging from biology (ecology, biodiversity, physiology and biochemistry) and engineering (river engineering and flood control) to hydrodynamics, hydroinformatics and water chemistry will carry out joint research at the ASC.

The ASC has a well-equipped indoor environmental and eco-toxicology laboratory for analyzing environmental samples and a cutting-edge outdoor laboratory working space, comprising a state-of-the-art bio-flume equipped with high precision scanning devices for accurate measurements; flow tanks for small scale mesocosm studies; plant nursery to grow and house plants for research; biosorption columns for efficient water treatment and a meteorological station to continuously monitor weather conditions including rainfall, temperature and wind speed.

The ASC will focus on bioremediation, biosorption, ecotoxicological studies, interaction of flow and biota as well as other fundamental and applied aspects of water management.

Extending the Singapore-Dutch Co-operation

In conjunction with the launch of the ASC, NUS and Deltares also announced the establishment of a new partnership. Building on the success of SDWA research programme, a partnership between Deltares and NUS is estabished to actively pursue research and specialist consultancy opportunities in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

Mr Harry Baayen, Managing Director of Deltares, said: "The new partnership will continue to mobilise the synergy of Deltares and NUS in applied water research, and provide a unique route to water knowledge of the highest quality that could be capitalised to create a positive impact on society. Deltares' founding institutions have combined expertise exceeding 400 years. We are confident that the synergistic combination of Deltares' experience together with NUS' academic strengths will provide unique value to our partners and clients in the region."

Singapore-Netherlands Water Challenge

Earlier today, at a related event, His Excellency Johannes W. G. Jansing, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, launched the Singapore-Netherlands Water Challenge, a global competition for young researchers who aspire to make a difference in the global water community. The challenge has been made possible by financial support from a number of companies as well as educational and research institutions from Singapore and The Netherlands.

Working in partnership with The Netherlands "Foreign Talent", SDWA will be spearheading this annual competition under which graduate students will be introducing and presenting their original innovative ideas that have potential in making a real difference in providing sustainable water solutions. The winner of the challenge will receive the Singapore-Netherlands Sustainability Award and funding to embark on an internship project to turn the winning essay into reality. The Singapore-Netherlands Water Challenge 2011 will take place in September 2011, and the winner of the award will be announced in early 2012.