Desalination plants in Singapore serve as one of its water sources, along with local, imported, and reused water. These four water resources in Singapore are known as the four National Taps, which ensure sustainable water for the nation. The desalination plants in Singapore are a lifeline to meet its water needs and supply clean drinking water for millions of people. These plants remove salt from seawater to produce fresh drinking water. 

As of 2026, the country has five desalinization plants with a total production capacity of about 190 million gallons per day (MGD), or about 864,000 cubic meters of drinking water daily. Together, these plants can satisfy up to 30 percent of Singapore's current water needs. The government is targeting desalinated water and NEWater to account for almost 85 percent of future water demand by 2065.

The recently built desalination plants in Singapore are unique and most energy-efficient. The Keppel Marina East desalination plant in Singapore is unique and can treat seawater and freshwater from the reservoir. 

Singapore, over the years, has turned desalination into a lifeline to secure its water supply and overcome water scarcity problems in the future. Increased demand and a growing population led to dependence on desalination plants to supply fresh drinking water to fulfill their water needs.

Singapore’s Journey in the Desalination Industry 

Singapore has several water sources to meet the water demand of its people. However, with increased demand and a growing population, natural water sources became limited. Hence, the situation led to a shift to desalination plants that can help meet the increasing water demand. 

With immense research and investments, Singapore built its first desalination plant on 13th September 2005 in Tuas. Since then, Singapore has built four additional desalination plants to ensure its future water needs are met. Currently, Singapore has five desalination plants providing potable water for this island. PUB has initiated the feasibility studies for the sixth desalination plant.  

Top Desalination Plants in Singapore (Based on Project year)

Singapore has five operational desalination plants built to meet its water requirements. These include SingSpring, Tuas South Desalination Plant, Tuas Desalination Plant, Keppel Marina East, and Jurong Island Desalination Plant. 

SingSpring Desalination Plant 

The SingSpring desalination plant, built in 2005, was Singapore's first desalination plant and the country's first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) desalination project. This plant produces 136,380 cubic meters of water per day. It constitutes about 7% of Singapore's water needs. The plant is located in Tuas, on land leased from JTC Corporation for a 30-year term expiring in 2033.

The Singspring desalination plant uses reverse osmosis technology. It reduces the overall cost of the plant and is more energy-efficient. The Singspring desalination plant was Singapore's first large-scale seawater desalination plant. 

It was also the largest membrane-based seawater desalination with reverse osmosis trains. The Singspring desalination plant is built by the Singspring (Pte.) Ltd. company. It is operated by KIT (Keppel Infrastructure Trust) and PUB (Public Utilities Board), Singapore's national water agency. 

Extension: PUB, Singapore's national water agency, has extended its concession agreement with Keppel Infrastructure Trust (KIT) for the SingSpring Desalination Plant (SSDP) by three years to 2028.

Tuas South Desalination Plant 

The Tuas South Desalination Plant was formerly known as the Tuaspring desalination plant. It is one of the largest desalination plants in Singapore with a production capacity of 70 MGD. 

It was commissioned in 2013 and uses advanced desalination technology. It includes ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis desalination technology to maximise water production while maintaining operational efficiency. 

It produces 130,000 cubic meters of clean drinking water per day. The Tuas South desalination plant is the second-largest desalination plant in Singapore. 

It was built through the DBOO (Design, Build, Own, and Operate) contract. PUB contracted it to Singspring Pte. Ltd. and Black & Veatch companies. In May 2019, after completing its DBOO contract with Singspring, PUB took over the ownership and operation of the plant.

Tuas Desalination Plant 

The Tuas desalination plant was officially commissioned in 2018. It can produce up to 300,000 cubic meters of drinking water per day. The Tuas desalination plant is one of the largest desalination plants in Singapore. 

It is also Singapore’s first desalination plant to be fitted with solar panels—more than half its roof space is covered with panels that can generate enough electricity to power over 300 HDB four-room flats annually.

It was conferred "Desalination Plant of the Year" at the Global Water Awards 2019 

It is located in Tuas. Tuas is the first desalination plant in Singapore that uses pre-treatment technology. It includes dissolved air flotation and ultrafiltration combined to enhance water quality. 

This advanced desalination technology helps reduce membrane fouling. Hence, it treats sea water effectively. It further reduces the overall operation costs of replacing membranes regularly. Hence, it enhances the overall operational efficiency. 

The DBOO contractor for the Tuca desalination plant is Singspring Pte Ltd, while PUB is the owner. The Black & Veatch company designed and monitored the permitting stages of the plant.

Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant 

The Keppel Marina East desalination plant was commissioned in 2020. It produces 137,000 cubic meters of clean drinking water per day. 

It is Singapore's first dual-mode desalination plant that can treat other water sources. It includes seawater during dry weather and freshwater from the Marina Reservoir during the rainy season. 

A unique feature of the Keppel Marina East desalination plant is that the treatment facilities are located underground, allowing a green roof integrated with open space for community activities. 

It was awarded the 'Desalination Plant of the Year" at the Global Water Awards 2021. It is built and operated by Singspring Pte Ltd under the DBOO contract with PUB.

Jurong Desalination Plant 

The Jurong (JIDP) desalination plant was commissioned in 2022. This is the fifth desalination plant in Singapore. It is co-located with TMUC (Tuas Power's Tembusu Multi-Utilities Complex). 

This allows the JIDP to derive resources such as seawater intake and energy. Thus, the Jurong desalination plant is 5% more energy-efficient than the other four desalination plants. 

The Jurong desalination plant uses advanced membrane technologies for desalination. Its energy efficiency helps reduce the environmental impact of desalination.  

It was built and is operated by the PUB and Tuas Power-ST Engineering. Additionally, it contributes to Singapore's goal of increasing desalination capacity for water security. 

Proposed Sixth Desalination Plant

Overview

PUB has initiated feasibility studies for a sixth desalination facility as Singapore prepares for future increases in water demand.

The proposed plant is expected to adopt next-generation technologies, including:

• More energy-efficient membrane systems

• Smaller land footprint

• Improved automation

• Digital monitoring

• Dual-mode treatment capability

The project represents another step toward enhancing Singapore's climate resilience and long-term water sustainability.

More Details

The feasibility study is expected to take approximately 10 months to complete, which will entail the development of various plant design options and assessments on the technical feasibility and economic viability of the proposed designs.

As part of the study, PUB will assess the viability of constructing a dual-mode plant, similar to the existing Marina East Desalination Plant. Such a facility would be equipped with the capability to treat either seawater or freshwater, with the flexibility to switch between modes, thus enhancing the weather resilience of Singapore’s water supply.

PUB will also explore innovative and multi-functional designs to maximize land use and lower the new plant’s footprint. The design considers lessons learned from existing desalination plants, such as incorporating higher multi-story buildings and deeper basements to house treatment facilities. PUB will balance the benefits of these alternative designs with considerations of technical feasibility and potentially higher costs.

PUB appoints Jacobs (USA) for feasibility study

Jacobs has been appointed by national water agency PUB to deliver a feasibility study for a potential new desalination plant in Singapore, supporting the nation’s long-term water security.

The study will explore innovative designs that maximize land efficiency in one of the world’s most land-constrained urban environments and integrate multiple uses, such as incorporating higher multistory buildings or deeper basements, which could house treatment facilities.

The study will also examine the viability of a dual-mode facility capable of treating both seawater and freshwater to improve the operational flexibility and weather resilience of Singapore’s water supply. Jacobs will provide advisory and feasibility services, including conceptual design development, treatment technology assessment, construction methodology analysis, lifecycle cost evaluation, and risk assessment. 

Driving Forces of the Desalination Industry in Singapore

Singapore is an island nation that gets its water from water catchment, imported water, and NEWater (reused water). Limited natural resources and growing demand led to the rise of a national tap—desalinated water. 

Desalination plants in Singapore contribute to securing the water for the future and serve as a major source of drinking water. Additionally, technological advancements and innovations in this sector ensured reduced environmental impact due to the desalination process. 

A few notable achievements in this industry include energy-efficient and dual-mode desalination plants like Keppel Marina East and Jurong Island desalination plants. The 5 desalination plants in Singapore provide a reliable source of fresh water and environmental sustainability for future generations. 

Upcoming Challenges in the Desalination Industry in Singapore 

• High Energy Consumption: Increased capacity of desalinated water requires high electricity for uninterrupted production. The Jurong Island desalination plant is designed to be energy-efficient. However, few measures exist to reduce power consumption processes.

• RO Membrane Replacement Cost: RO membranes required timely replacement to ensure a quality desalination process. Such expenses can increase the overall operational cost.

• Brine Disposal: Brine disposal after the desalination process into coastlines or the deep sea can affect marine life and ecosystems. 

• Future Water Demand: Water demand is expected to rise in the future, and the existing five desalination plants in Singapore may soon be unable to meet this demand.

• Decrease Environmental Imbalance: High power consumption can lead to increased carbon emissions. 

Singapore's Desalination Industry at a Glance

Future Outlook

Singapore’s desalination industry is projected to expand steadily over the coming decades. As imported water agreements evolve and water demand continues to rise, desalination will become a more critical factor in ensuring long-term water independence.

Future projects will likely focus on low-energy desalination, smart plant automation, renewable energy integration, compact facility designs, and improved operational resilience. With continued government investment and technological innovation, Singapore will remain a global leader in sustainable urban water management.

Conclusion

Singapore has desalination as an integral part of its water sources. Its five operational desalination plants contribute 30% of its current water needs. Through constant innovation, desalination plants in Singapore are becoming more energy efficient and enhanced. The latest desalination plant is 5% more efficient than other conventional desalination plants. 

Water desalination in Singapore has transformed from being an alternative water source into a key pillar in the country’s national water strategy. Through sustained investment in advanced reverse osmosis systems, dual-mode treatment facilities, energy-efficient designs, and digital technologies, the country has built one of the world's most resilient desalination networks. Projects like SingSpring, Tuas South, Marina East, Tuas, and Jurong Island show how engineering innovation can overcome long-term water security challenges in a resource-constrained environment. Singapore’s integrated approach to water management provides valuable lessons to cities globally in search of sustainable and climate-resilient water solutions, as it devises plans for future desalination capacity.

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