~ Importing water – Tap 2

This is also one of the 4 methods that Singapore uses to increase their water supply successfully.

Although Singapore receives a high rainfall every year, Singapore’s small physical size and high population density which makes it a necessary to buy and import water from their neighbouring country, Malaysia. Also, Because of Singapore’s lack of physical space thus, the lack of natural resources such as water. They build a tunnel under the causeway connecting Singapore and Malaysia which allows the transportation of water from the city of Johor Bahru. The water transported comes from the reservoirs of Johor. This is of 2 agreements which are signed in the years 1961 and 1962, and both are expire on 2011 and 2061 respectively. Importing of water to Singapore allows Singapore to only risk of financial turmoil and not other things like environmental problems as Singapore only needs to build a tunnel to allow the water to be transported to Singapore.

Although Singapore imports water from Malaysia, Singapore also supplies treated water to Malaysia, specifically, Johor. Which in 1987, Malaysia takes about 14 percent of the 1 million cubic meters of water treated by Singapore each day.

For many years, Singapore has heavily relied on Malaysia’s imported water to supply half of Singapore’s water consumption. But now, it has been reduced to 40% as Singapore depended more on themselves instead, keeping in mind that they are independent and that they should increase self-reliance. If not, this may cause an over-reliance on other countries.

After the contracts have been expired, both countries may choose to continue with their agreement however, the price of the water may be cheap now, but in the years to come, the price of water may rise and it will have a toil on Singapore’s finance. Thus, the price of water being sold to Singapore may also cause a dispute amongst the countries.