The world’s largest ceramic membrane bioreactor facility to be installed at Tuas WRP

Singapore, 26 October 2021 – PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency has appointed the installation of the mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, controls and automation (MEICA) equipment for the first of Tuas Water Reclamation Plant’s (WRP) two Industrial Liquids Modules (ILMs), which will treat industrial used water.

The contract, valued at S$200.7 million, includes the installation of process equipment and a ceramic membrane bioreactor (MBR) system. When completed, Singapore’s Tuas WRP1 will house the world’s largest ceramic MBR facility, with a treatment capacity of 75,000 cubic metres daily.

To assess the feasibility of deploying ceramic MBR technology, PUB operated a demonstration plant with a daily treatment capacity of 4,550 cubic metres at Jurong WRP since 2014. The system proved to be resilient against chemical damage and was able to treat high-strength industrial used water effectively to produce high quality treated effluent. In addition, ceramic membranes are projected to have a longer lifespan (10-15 years) as compared to polymeric membranes (5-7 years).

Read: Tuas Nexus – Singapore’s first integrated water and solid waste treatment facility begins construction

Yong Wei Hin, Director of Deep Tunnel Sewerage System Phase 2 (DTSS2), PUB, said “The deployment of ceramic MBR technology is significant in finally closing our water loop as we are now able to reclaim the industrial used water stream for reuse. This will ensure a more resilient and sustainable water supply for Singapore. When completed in 2025, Tuas WRP will have the largest ceramic MBR system to treat industrial used water.”

There will be two ILMs at Tuas WRP with a combined daily treatment capacity of 150,000 cubic metres. The contract for installing ILM2 has yet to be tendered.

Read: Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) Phase 2

This is the ninth major Tuas WRP construction contract awarded by PUB. Previous contracts include site development works, construction of the plant’s influent pumping stations, biosolids treatment facility, civil structures for both the Domestic and Industrial Liquids Modules, product water pumping facilities as well as its monitoring and control system.

Tuas WRP is a key component of PUB’s DTSS2 project and will be equipped to receive both industrial and domestic used water streams from two separate deep tunnels for treatment. The plant, with an initial treatment capacity of 800,000 cubic metres per day, will be co-located with the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) to collectively form Tuas Nexus, which integrates solid waste and used water treatment processes to harness various synergies that will improve overall plant performance and optimise land use.

The DTSS2 is a S$6.5 billion infrastructure project that will enhance Singapore’s water sustainability by boosting PUB’s capability to reclaim and recycle water in an endless cycle. Upon completion in 2025, it will convey used water via deep tunnels from the western part of Singapore to Tuas WRP for treatment. DTSS Phase 1, which covers eastern Singapore and channels used water to Changi WRP, was completed in 2008.