Water water everywhere but not a drop to drink?

On 16 Nov 2015, our neighbours in JB experienced a storm due to the annual northeast monsoon. The two-hour long heavy rains resulted in severe flash floods right in the heart of JB town.

Severe flash floods in the heart of JB (FiveStarsAndAMoon)

Severe flash floods in the heart of JB (Fabrications About The PAP)

Ironically, in the previous months JB had been experiencing a dry spell which has resulted in the water level of Johor's Linggiu Reservoir dropping down to a historic low.

According to the Straits Times report, the reservoir is at about 43% capacity. And many parts of Johore are already being subjected to water rationing.

Picture from Masagos Zulkifli Minister, Environment and Water Resources

So what has all this got to do with Singapore?

Well, first of all, the Linggiu Reservoir regulates the flow of Johor River, from which Singapore and Johor draw water for treatment. So if the Reservoir runs out of water, Singapore would lose a part of its water supply.

But wait, wasn't there a flood in JB? Should the storm have at least filled up the reservoir a little?

Well, the answer is no, it didn't. The heavy rains that caused the JB floods had little impact on the reservoir's water levels.

"The heavy rain and subsequent floods in JB are in a different catchment area from the Linggiu Reservoir, which is further upstream," a PUB spokesman told The Straits Times yesterday. "While there has been some rain in the Linggiu Reservoir catchment, the water levels remain largely the same, at around 43 per cent."

In other words, all that rainfall in JB was "lost" to the sea instead of being diverted and captured in their reservoirs.

But how come Singapore hasn't been subjected to water rationing like JB? Don't we get most of our water from Malaysia?

Well, this article will shed some light on the mystery.

Tech Insider: Singapore has come up with an ingenious way to save water

In a nutshell, we have been described as a "giant sponge" that soaks up all the rain water we get and channel them into our own reservoirs. This together with an almost obsessive building up of reservoirs and catchment areas, and reclaiming sewage water with the NEWater technology, is providing Singapore with a substantial hedge against drought.

And all this wouldn't have been possible if Singapore hadn't taken a long term approach to invest and build up her self-sufficiency in water.

NEWater plant. Photo: PUB

As to why Singapore could do this, and Malaysia couldn't, well, I leave it to the readers to discern for themselves.

Read more here:

ST: Water level in Linggiu Reservoir hits record low, continued dry spell could affect Singapore

ST: JB downpour fails to raise reservoir level

ST: Singapore's water supply: Where does it come from?

PUB - The Singapore Water Story

PUB - NEWater - The 3rd National Tap