Make it Rain, only recycled

On the 30th of March, the Singapore government announced that 89 HDB blocks, namely in Yishun and Jurong, would have rainwater harvesting facilities installed by 2027. This is a step taken with all eyes on the long-term future of Singapore, given how the relations with neighbor and long-standing water supplier Malaysia have soured in recent times. While in September 2021, there were statements of discussions resuming post the betterment of the Covid-19 situation in both nations, it doesn’t paper over the cracks left behind by close to 20 years of verbal conflict. With both the 1961 and 1962 water trade agreements expiring by 2061, Singapore has decided it needs to take the right steps quickly, to ensure that even if Malaysia pulls out of the agreement prematurely, they still have enough resources in hand to keep water supplies somewhat constant.

A news post about the installation of the rainwater harvesting systems in Singapore.

Now that we’re done with all the politics of it, let’s get straight up to it- what rainwater harvesting is? We’ve all heard the term in a science class, and have a rough idea on how it all works. Rainwater harvesting systems are usually employed on roofs of buildings. The rainwater is collected on top of the roofs, rather is guided off the roofs to a holding tank, usually one for all levels combined at the base of the building, from where it is directed to a header tank, with filters on the way, and is stored at the tank before it is re-pumped for commercial usage. Such processes ensure water isn’t wasted in processes which include showers and baths, sinks, flushes, washing vehicles etc.

The process of rainwater harvesting, further simplified

There isn’t much theory to talk of, given how it is something we would have encountered not just in lessons but in real life too. But what does this move hold for the future? Clearly, it holds the added advantage an increase in supply lines and reducing the money spent on Singapore’s exports, implying Singapore wouldn’t need to spend nearly as much as it does in its imports, thus contributing more to the economy. The environmental effect is large as well- for years, humans have impacted the water cycle massively, destroying storages and flows at equal rates. Rainwater harvesting might be the answer to decades of struggle, and along with Singapore’s standing NEWater and Tuas Desalination Plant, this move could keep Singapore in good stead, ‘raining’ water as per our needs.

By Dhanvanth Venkatesh