About quarter of Phase 2 used water ‘superhighway’ complete, with construction scheduled for 2025

The second phase of Singapore’s used water “superhighway” is almost a quarter complete, with about 24km of the 100km-long water conveyance system done as of this month.

National water agency PUB said on Monday (Apr 19) that work on Phase 2 of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS), which began in 2017, is on track to be completed by 2025.

First conceived more than two decades ago as part of efforts to enhance Singapore’s water resilience, the system uses deep tunnel sewers to convey used water by gravity to centralized water reclamation plants, located at Singapore’s coastal areas.

This used water is then treated and purified into NEWater –  an “ultra-clean, high grade” reclaimed water.

In 2019, DTSS Phase 2 director Yong Wei Hin said the system will support 55 percent of Singapore’s water needs this way.

While the 108km-long first phase of the DTSS – completed in 2008 at a cost of S$3.4 billion – serves the eastern part of Singapore, Phase 2 of the project will cross 100km of the western part of the island, covering the downtown area as well as upcoming developments such as Tengah and the Jurong Lake District.

Comprising 40km of deep tunnels and 60km of link sewers, Phase 2 of the DTSS – costing about S$6.5 billion – will also support the growth of industrial developments in the west, PUB said.