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Singapore's Semakau Landfill offers an example of how we can make room for biodiversity, even in places where we dump our trash.

The word "landfill" conjures up an image of mountains of waste accompanied by foul smells and oozing liquids. These trash heaps, usually hidden on the edges of towns, represent our most wasteful impulses. "Landfill" sits close in my mind with words like "contamination" and "pollution." However, this view marked my own ignorance of the potential of what landfills could be - until I made my way to the nation of Singapore.

An aerial view of Semaku landfill that was created by filling in part of the sea between two of Singapore's offshore islands, Pulau Se-makau and Pulau Sakeng. The 3.5-square-kilometer landfill is not without its challenges given it's filling up quickly and supports waste incineration. Photo courtesy of Island Nation.

I come from the small island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, where the generation of waste, much like in every other country, is the country's dirty, not-so-hidden secret. Singapore is a tenth the size of my home country, with a population four times greater. But the way Singapore has handled its garbage is worth exploring.

The island nation treads that very fine line of balancing its ever-expanding need for more commercial and residential land with its precious biodiversity, which is where Semakau Landfill plays a crucial role.

Semakau Landfill is located about 8 kilometers south of the main island of Singapore. It was created by filling in part of the sea between two of Singapore's offshore islands, Pulau Semakau and Pulau Sakeng. The 3.5-square-kilometer landfill marks the first and only offshore landfill among Singapore's islands, and it's a pride of the country. The pride is justifiable, as Semakau more resembles a distant island getaway than an area to store refuse. Recently, a couple used it as a destination for their wedding photos.

On a recent trip to Singapore, while on a training exercise, I was afforded the opportunity to visit the Semakau Landfill - what some have called " the Garbage of Eden " - to see how it was built and maintained.

My home base was the downtown core of Singapore in the Anson district, the main commercial center of the island state. To the casual observer the city center might be as far away from nature as one can imagine. Singapore's striking skyline is highlighted by many high rise buildings and a bustling population. Five and a half million people live in the country's 280 square miles. Space is a precious commodity. Power lines are hidden below ground. The roads are extraordinarily clean. Crowds of people wait patiently for the crossing lights, huddled in groups, eyes glued to their smartphones. The city feels carefully planned to account for its density. It's no surprise that city planners would approach waste with the same careful consideration.

Aboard an air-conditioned coach, I took the 30-minute ride through the urban core to the Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal. As I boarded the ferry, I was struck by both the turquoise waters of the Singapore Strait as well as the absence of plastic pollution along the coast, despite the dense city behind me and the traffic of shipping containers before me. With 130,000 vessel calls annually, Singapore is one of the world's busiest ports. It offers a wide range of essential marine services and is the world's third largest petrochemical refiner. It hosts the most technically advanced and efficient shipbuilding and repair facilities in South East Asia. There is certainly a lot going on in this tiny sea space, which makes the commitment to biodiversity preservation at Semakau a remarkable feat.

On approach to Pulau Semakau I was greeted by a sense of serenity. There is no loud machinery, no dump trucks, nor any offensive odors. I was beginning to understand why the Singaporeans were so proud of their landfill of all things. In order to store as much waste on as little land as possible, Singapore's trash is incinerated in the city and the ash transported on barges to Pulau Semakau. Upon arrival at Semakau, custom-designed excavators unload the ash onto a 35-ton payload off road dump truck. Semakau's roads are designed to provide access to all of its cells designated for ash-dumping.

The goal of this operation is to allow biodiversity to thrive alongside the ash cells. Each cell is lined with an impermeable plastic membrane, which is then covered with clay to form the base of the ash cells and trap any leachate, which would otherwise contaminate the surrounding ecosystem.

Mangrove stands teeming with life fringe the borders of the landfill, providing homes for a number of birds, crabs, and fishes. The mangroves serve as a sightseeing attraction for tourists and school groups. They also serve as indicators for the environmental integrity of the landfill. Should any pollution start seeping out, the mangrove stands would be the first to show signs of deterioration. Several testing wells also surround the landfill, where officials routinely collect water samples to ensure that the ash cells remain intact.

While it may seem unusual, it is common to spot visitors in the midst of Semakau's operations. Between 2005, six years after the landfill began its operations, and 2019, the landfill has hosted more than 100,000 visitors. Some wait months to tour the facility. Tour buses shuttle visitors around Semakau's surroundings after they have learned about the process of garbage incineration and the techniques involved in filling Semakau's various ash cells.

The drive across the facility resembles a tour of a nature reserve as opposed to a dump. Semakau's ash cells look like a placid lake suited for a retreat rather than an area to store incinerated trash. Tour instructor and general manager of the Singapore Landfill Long Lian Ming beamed with pride as he spoke of the many ways the landfill has maintained a high level of biodiversity. A worthy boast. Just off the waters of Palau Semakau is a local barramundi farm with an annual yield of 6,000 tons, which is more than the other 120 fish farms in Singapore.

Bird watchers also frequent the landfill as 80 different species of birds now call Pulau Semakau home.

Though, despite what might seem like an environmental success story, Semakau Landfill is not without its challenges.The landfill is filling up more quickly than previously anticipated. It is estimated that all of Semakau's cells will be filled to capacity within the next 16 years, well short of the projected 2045 timeline. To combat this, the Singaporean government has begun piloting programs to promote recycling among Singaporeans. A booklet compiled by the National Environmental Agency encourages people to minimize impulse buys, cut back on single-use plastics, reuse old clothes as rags, and so on.

There are also various environmental problems with trash incineration. In 2019 Singapore incinerated more than 2.8 million tons of waste, an increase from 2.4 million tons in 2000. Even though Singapore's incineration plants generate electricity and do not utilize as much land space, they are also heavy carbon emitters and disincentives recycling. It has also been suggested that waste incineration can lead to cancer causing emissions of dioxins.

An obvious solution to ash and a rapidly filling landfill would seem to be recycling, something Singaporeans have been uncharacteristically slow to adopt. The Singaporean government, with the hope of raising recycling awareness, declared 2019 the "Year Towards Zero Waste" - a commitment underscored by the government's investment in a $2.22 b illio n waste management facility.

The beauty and biodiversity of Semakau is inspiring nonetheless, whatever the associated constraints and however long Semakau's lifespan ends up being. Here is a landfill as a solution, rather than a scar, on the landscape. I left Semakau with a new understanding of how we could learn to live alongside wildlife and biodiversity, even in our landfills, even in the corners of our built environment we often choose to forget.

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Singapore's Semakau Landfill offers an example of how we can make room for biodiversity, even in places where we dump our trash.

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our current waste generation is contributing to climate change and not sustainable

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The Semakau Landfill is Singapore's first and only landfill situated offshore among the southern islands of Singapore. It covers a total area of 3.5 square kilometres and has a capacity of 63 million m³. To create the required landfill space, a 7 km perimeter rock bund was built to enclose a part of the sea between Pulau Semakau and Pulau Sakeng. As of August 2011 it was estimated that the landfill, which began operations on 1 April 1999, will last until 2045.[7] The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, along with the National Environment Agency which manages the landfill, hopes this deadline will be extended through various waste minimisation and resource conservation initiatives.

Semakau Landfill is filled mainly with ash produced by Singapore's four incineration plants, which incinerate the country's waste, shipped there in a covered barge (to prevent the ash from getting blown into the air) every night. Contrary to popular belief that Semakau Landfill would be another dirty and smelly landfill, the care put into the design and operational work at the landfill has ensured that the site is clean, free of smell and scenic. During construction, silt screens were installed to ensure that the corals were not affected during the reclamation works. The landfill is lined with an impermeable membrane, and clay and any leachate produced is processed at a leachate treatment plant. Regular water testing is carried out to ensure the integrity of the impermeable liners.

A new REMEX Minerals facility at Tuas began operations in July 2015, recovering tens of thousands of tonnes of metal from the remains of incinerated rubbish using magnetic and eddy separators. This reduces the weight of incinerated rubbish by around 10%, hence benefiting the landfill that may run out of space in 2035.

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The power of water

Water connects every aspect of life. Access to safe water and sanitation can quickly turn problems into potential - empowering people with time for school and work, and contributing to improved health for women, children, and families around the world.

Today, 2.2 billion people - 1 in 4 - lack access to safe water and 3.5 billion people - 2 in 5 - lack access to a safe toilet. These are the people we empower.
Learn more about the global water crisis > Learn more about the global sanitation crisis >

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The Water Crisis: Shortage, Problems & Solutions | Water.org

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Explore the global water crisis, water shortage, and lack of water affecting billions. Learn how Water.org is tackling these water problems to transform lives.

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pollution is all over the sea , please save our earth .

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Water crisis is everyone’s problem, global action plan needed: Tharman

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“We’ve got to shift our mindsets towards recognising that the water problem is now global, not just local,” he said. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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Explained | World's Water Crisis | FULL EPISODE | Netflix

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Water issues primarily revolve around scarcity, contamination, and uneven distribution, leading to health problems, economic challenges, and environmental degradation. Globally, water scarcity affects billions, while inadequate sanitation and polluted water sources contribute to disease outbreaks.

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Oil spill situation of Singapore 2024 #crisis #explainer

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This is the picture of the Marina Honour  crashing into Pasir Panjang😧😨

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the Marina Honour crashing into Pasir Panjang

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Singapore has experienced oil spill on June14 2024

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Oil spill incident: How the spread is being contained and cleaned up in Singapore waters

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Discover NEWater: ultra-clean, safe, and sustainable drinking water purified by advanced membrane and UV disinfection technologies from treated used water.

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Competing for Clean Water Has Led to a Crisis

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Learn more about the way we, as a global community, think about and use freshwater resources.

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10 Causes of water scarcity contributing to our current crisis

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We need a steady stream of clean water to live, but less than 1% of the world’s water supply is usable — and has to be shared amongst 7.9 billion people. Read on for what’s causing the global water scarcity crisis.

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Pulau Semakau (or Semakau Island) is located to the south of the main island of Singapore, off the Straits of Singapore. The Semakau Landfill is located on the eastern side of the island, and was created by the amalgamation of Pulau Sakeng (also known as Pulau Seking), and "anchored" to Pulau Semakau. The Semakau Landfill is Singapore's first offshore landfill and now the only remaining landfill in Singapore

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Our Water Crisis Is WAY WORSE than You Think...Here's Why

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Water is life. Yet, as the world population mushrooms and climate change intensifies droughts, over 2 billion people still lack access to clean, safe drinking water. By 2030, water scarcity could displace over 700 million people. From deadly diseases to famines, economic collapse to terrorism, the global water crisis threatens to sever the strands holding communities together. This ubiquitous yet unequally distributed resource underscores the precarious interdependence binding all nations and ecosystems and shows the urgent need for bold collective action to promote global water security and avert the humanitarian, health, economic, and political catastrophes that unchecked water stress promises. -
The global water crisis refers to the scarcity of usable and accessible water resources across the world. Currently, nearly 703 million people lack access to water - approximately 1 in 10 people on the planet - and over 2 billion do not have safe drinking water services. The United Nations predicts that by 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity. With the existing climate change scenario, almost half the world's population will be living in areas of high water stress by 2030. In addition, water scarcity in some arid and semi-arid places will displace between 24 million and 700 million people. By 2030, water scarcity could displace over 700 million people.

In Africa alone, as many as 25 African countries are expected to suffer from a greater combination of increased water scarcity and water stress by 2025. Sub-Saharan regions are experiencing the worst of the crisis, with only 22-34% of populations in at least eight sub-Saharan countries having access to safe water.

Water security, or reliable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water for health, livelihoods, ecosystems, and production has become an urgent issue worldwide.

This crisis has far-reaching implications for global health, food security, education, economics, and politics. As water resources dwindle, conflicts and humanitarian issues over access to clean water will likely increase. Climate change also exacerbates water scarcity in many parts of the world. Addressing this complex and multifaceted crisis requires understanding its causes, impacts, and potential solutions across countries and communities.
You might also like: Why Global Food Security Matters in 2024
The Global Water Crisis

The global water crisis stems from a confluence of factors, including growing populations, increased water consumption, poor resource management, climate change, pollution, and lack of access due to poverty and inequality.

The world population has tripled over the last 70 years, leading to greater demand for finite freshwater resources. Agricultural, industrial, and domestic water usage have depleted groundwater in many regions faster than it can be replenished. Agriculture alone accounts for nearly 70% of global water withdrawals, often utilizing outdated irrigation systems and water-intensive crops.Climate change has significantly reduced renewable water resources in many parts of the world. Glaciers are melting, rainfall patterns have shifted, droughts and floods have intensified, and temperatures are on the rise, further exacerbating the crisis.

In many less developed nations, lack of infrastructure, corruption, and inequality leave large populations without reliable access to clean water. Women and children often bear the burden of travelling distances to fetch water for households. Contamination from human waste, industrial activities, and agricultural runoff also threaten water quality and safety.

Water scarcity poses risks to health, sanitation, food production, energy generation, economic growth, and political stability worldwide. Conflicts over shared water resources are likely to intensify without concerted global action.

Case Study: Water Crisis in Gaza

The water crisis in Gaza represents one of the most severe cases of water scarcity worldwide. The small Palestinian territory relies almost entirely on the underlying coastal aquifer as its source of freshwater. However, years of excessive pumping far exceed natural recharge rates. According to the UN, 97% groundwater does not meet World Health Organization (WHO) standards for human consumption due to high salinity and nitrate levels.

The pollution of Gaza's sole freshwater source stems from multiple factors. Rapid population growth contaminated agricultural runoff, inadequate wastewater treatment, and saltwater intrusion due to over-extraction have rendered the aquifer unusable.

In June 2007, following the military takeover of Gaza by Hamas, the Israeli authorities significantly intensified existing movement restrictions, virtually isolating the Gaza Strip from the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), and the world. The blockade imposed by Israeli Authority also severely restricts infrastructure development and humanitarian aid.

The water crisis has devastated Gazan agriculture, caused widespread health issues, and crippled economic growth. Many citizens of Gaza have to buy trucked water of dubious quality, as the public network is unsafe and scarce. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reports that this water can cost up to 20 times more than the public tariff, with some households spending a third of their income or more on water. Long-term solutions require increased water supplies, wastewater reuse, desalination, and better resource management under conflict.

Case Study: Water Shortage in Africa

Africa faces some of the most pressing challenges with water security worldwide. While the continent has substantial resources, poor infrastructure, mismanagement, corruption, lack of cooperation over transboundary waters, droughts, and population pressures all contribute to African water stress.

According to a 2022 report by the WHO and UNICEF's Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), 344 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lacked access to safely managed drinking water, and 762 million lacked access to basic sanitation in 2020. WaterAid, a non-governmental organization, explains that water resources are often far from communities due to the expansive nature of the continent, though other factors such as climate change, population growth, poor governance, and lack of infrastructure also play a role. Surface waters such as lakes and rivers evaporate rapidly in the arid and semi-arid regions of Africa, which cover about 45% of the continent's land area. Many communities rely on limited groundwater and community water points to meet their water needs, but groundwater is not always a reliable or sustainable source, as it can be depleted, contaminated, or inaccessible due to technical or financial constraints. A 2021 study by UNICEF estimated that women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa collectively spend about 37 billion hours a year collecting water, which is equivalent to more than 1 billion hours a day.The 2023 UN World Water Development Report emphasizes the importance of partnerships and cooperation for water, food, energy, health and climate security in Africa, a region with diverse water challenges and opportunities, low water withdrawals per capita, high vulnerability to climate change, and large investment gap for water supply and sanitation.

Water security in Africa is low and uneven, with various countries facing water scarcity, poor sanitation, and water-related disasters. Transboundary conflicts over shared rivers, such as the Nile, pose additional challenges for water management.

However, some efforts have been made to improve water security through various interventions, such as community-based initiatives, irrigation development, watershed rehabilitation, water reuse, desalination, and policy reforms. These interventions aim to enhance water availability, quality, efficiency, governance, and resilience in the face of climate change. Water security is essential for achieving sustainable development in Africa, as it affects numerous sectors, such as agriculture, health, energy, and the environment.

Other Countries with Water Shortages

Water scarcity issues plague many other parts of the world beyond Gaza and Africa. Several examples stand out:

India grapples with extensive groundwater depletion, shrinking reservoirs and glaciers, pollution from agriculture and industry, and tensions with Pakistan and China over shared rivers. Monsoons are increasingly erratic with climate change.

Other water-stressed nations include Australia, Spain, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.
You might also like: Water Crisis in South Africa: Causes, Effects, And Solutions
While the specifics differ, recurrent themes include unsustainable usage, climate change, pollution, lack of infrastructure, mismanagement, poverty, transboundary conflicts, and population growth pressures. But resources often exist; the challenge lies in equitable distribution, cooperation, efficiency, and sustainable practices. Multiple approaches must accommodate local conditions and transboundary disputes.

Global Water Security Is at Risk

Water scarcity poses a grave threat to global security on multiple fronts.

First, it can incite conflicts within and between nations over access rights. History contains many examples of water wars, and transboundary disputes increase the risk today in arid regions like the Middle East and North Africa.

Second, water shortages undermine food security. With agriculture consuming the greatest share of water resources, lack of irrigation threatens crops and livestock essential for sustenance and livelihoods. Food price spikes often trigger instability and migrations.

Third, water scarcity fuels public health crises, leading to social disruptions. Contaminated water spreads diseases like cholera and typhoid. Poor sanitation and hygiene due to water limitations also increase illness. The Covid-19 pandemic underscored the essential nature of water access for viral containment.

Finally, water shortages hamper economic growth and worsen poverty. Hydroelectricity, manufacturing, mining, and other water-intensive industries suffer. The World Bank estimates that by 2050, water scarcity could cost some regions 6% of gross domestic product (GDP), entrenching inequality. Climate migration strains nations. Overall, water crises destabilize societies on many levels if left unaddressed.

Solutions and Recommendations

Tackling the global water crisis requires both local and international initiatives across infrastructure, technology, governance, cooperation, education, and funding.

First, upgrading distribution systems, sewage treatment, dams, desalination, watershed restoration, and irrigation methods could improve supply reliability and quality while reducing waste. Community-based projects often succeed by empowering local stakeholders.

Second, emerging technologies like low-cost water quality sensors, affordable desalination, precision agriculture, and recyclable treatment materials could help poorer nations bridge infrastructure gaps. However, funding research and making innovations affordable remains a key obstacle.

Third, better governance through reduced corruption, privatization, metering, pricing incentives, and integrated policy frameworks could improve efficiency. But human rights must be protected by maintaining affordable minimum access.

Fourth, transboundary water-sharing treaties like those for the Nile and Mekong Rivers demonstrate that diplomacy can resolve potential conflicts. But political will is needed, along with climate change adaptation strategies.

Fifth, education and awareness can empower conservation at the individual level. Behaviour change takes time but can significantly reduce household and agricultural usage.

Finally, increased financial aid, public-private partnerships, better lending terms, and innovation prizes may help nations fund projects. Cost-benefit analyses consistently find high returns on water security investments.

In summary, sustainable solutions require combining new technologies, governance reforms, education, cooperation, and creative financing locally and globally.

Conclusion
More on the topic: Exploring the Most Efficient Solutions to Water Scarcity
The global water crisis threatens the well-being of billions of people and the stability of nations worldwide. Key drivers include unsustainable usage, climate change, pollution, lack of infrastructure, poverty, weak governance, and transboundary disputes. The multiple impacts span public health, food and energy security, economic growth, and geopolitical conflicts.

While daunting, this crisis also presents opportunities for innovation, cooperation, education, and holistic solutions. With wise policies and investments, water security can be achieved in most regions to support development and peace. But action must be accelerated on both global and community levels before the stresses become overwhelming. Ultimately, our shared human dependence on clean water demands that all stakeholders work in unison to create a water-secure future.

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Why Global Water Security Matters in 2024 | Earth.Org

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The world urgently needs bold action to promote global water security and avert the catastrophes that unchecked water stress promises.

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On June 14, 2024, a big boat from the Netherlands called Vox Maxima suddenly lost control and accidentally bumped into a parked fuel ship named Marine Honour at Singapore's Pasir Panjang Terminal. This crash caused about 400 tonnes of oil to leak into the sea.

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Water crisis is everyone’s problem, global action plan needed: Tharman

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“We’ve got to shift our mindsets towards recognising that the water problem is now global, not just local,” he said. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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This audio will tell you about the oil spill from Sentosa till East Coast beach!

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More than 400 tonnes of oil spilt into Singapore waters after a dredging boat hit a bunker vessel on June

Oil slicks quickly spread to the waters near Labrador Nature Reserve, Sentosa, East Coast

The incident caused half – or 400 tonnes – of the low-sulphur fuel oil in one of Marine Honour’s tanks to flow into the sea.

Most of the public beaches affected have had the bulk of oil-soaked sand cleared, except Sentosa’s Tanjong and Palawan beaches.

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Oil spill in Singapore: The day the sea turned black | The Straits Times

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Singapore’s southern coastline turned black after a major oil spill caused by a dredging boat hitting a stationary cargo tanker at Pasir Panjang Terminal on June 14.

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In 2000, about 7,000 tonnes of crude oil were spilled when a vessel ran aground just 8km from Sentosa. The oil washed up on the beaches of Sentosa, St John’s Island and Lazarus Island.

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What's the impact?

The Singapore Food Agency said on Monday that local fish remain safe to eat, and that there was a "low risk" of the oil spill spreading to farms.

National water agency PUB also said that Singapore's water supply has not been affected.

But yacht companies and water sports businesses have told CNA that they had to put their tours and rentals on hold over the long weekend, racking up thousands in lost earnings.

MPA on Sunday said it was working with British Marine, the insurer of the stationary Marine Honour tanker, to set up a third-party claims contact for affected parties.

CNA has contacted MPA for more information.

Meanwhile, marine biologist Toh Tai Chong told CNA that organisms living on or near the water's surface such as sea birds, mangrove forests and corals could be smothered by the oil slick and end up ingesting chemicals.

Dr Toh, a lecturer at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and also co-founder of non-profit organisation Our Singapore Reefs, warned that the impact of the pollution could be felt for months to come.

For instance, with their movements restricted, birds cannot hunt for prey or evade predators well.

Various toxins from the oil can also impact the reproduction of corals.

If oil seeps into the soil at beaches, it will not be easy to eradicate, as was the case in the 2010 spill off Changi. Such oil can be ingested by organisms such as clams and worms, and in turn, poison their predators.

"Nature will naturally recover ... Oil will disperse over time," said Dr Toh. "But it depends on how fast the response is, and the scale of the impact."

He advised against fishing and foraging for marine wildlife in the medium term.

"Try not to harvest (wildlife) and consume them in the coming three months, especially for filter feeders like clams," he said. "They tend to accumulate more of the toxins."

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maritime and port authority of singapore

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CNA Explains: What we know about the Singapore oil spill that's affected Sentosa and other beaches

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About 400 tonnes of fuel were released into the sea on Friday. An accident over two decades ago involved 7,000 tonnes - but that wasn't Singapore's largest oil spill ever.

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Beaches Got Dirty: The oil spread to places like Sentosa Island, East Coast Park, and some nearby islands. The sand and water turned black and sticky, so people couldn't swim or play there. BBC

Animals Were Hurt: Some sea creatures, like fish and sea snakes, were found covered in oil. Even birds like kingfishers got oily feathers, making it hard for them to fly or stay warm.

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Many Oil Spill workers and boats came to help clean the mess. They used special tools to soak up the oil and put up floating barriers called booms to stop the oil from spreading further. By late June, most of the oil had been cleaned from the sea and beaches.

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The beaches are getting cleaner, and people are checking to make sure the water is safe again.

Some animals were hurt, but helpers are taking care of them. Scientists are also watching to see how nature recovers over time.

Even though accidents like this are serious, it's great to see so many people working together to help the environment and the animals that live in it.

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Water in Singapore was scares.Residents could rely on public standpipes, others, some had to rely on boats from the Public Works Department for freshwater. Wells were also often polluted, and Singapore's growing population meant that pressure on our water supply

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Why do we need to reduce our waste and how can we do that?

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increasing recycling rates, reducing waste generation, and exploring alternative solutions for waste management.

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We can reduce waste by bringing our own tote bags when we go out to buy groceries and when we go shopping.

We can also use our own containers when going out to buy food.

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We can reduce waste by recycling plastic, metal and copper so that in Pulau Semakau, will not have so much waste.

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In 2019 the country generated 744000 tonnes of food waste.18% of it was recycled and the rest became landfill. Singapore has only one landfill site Semakau island that is running out of space and is due to be filled before 2035. Singapore has stated to be a zero waste nation by 2030 but how are we going to do it?

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If we have a lot of stuff we do not need at home we can get an app and share it.

Instead of just throwing away things we can see if it can be recycled. Or if we have unwanted clothes that are still in good condition we can also donate to yellow bins. If our food is not so rotten yet instead of throwing it away we can eat it or bake it.

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Radical Innovations To Singapore's Water Problem | Tomorrow City | Part 3/3

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Global Water Security Is at Risk

Water scarcity poses a grave threat to global security on multiple fronts.

First, it can incite conflicts within and between nations over access rights. History contains many examples of water wars, and transboundary disputes increase the risk today in arid regions like the Middle East and North Africa.

Second, water shortages undermine food security. With agriculture consuming the greatest share of water resources, lack of irrigation threatens crops and livestock essential for sustenance and livelihoods. Food price spikes often trigger instability and migrations.

Third, water scarcity fuels public health crises, leading to social disruptions. Contaminated water spreads diseases like cholera and typhoid. Poor sanitation and hygiene due to water limitations also increase illness. The Covid-19 pandemic underscored the essential nature of water access for viral containment.

Finally, water shortages hamper economic growth and worsen poverty. Hydroelectricity, manufacturing, mining, and other water-intensive industries suffer. The World Bank estimates that by 2050, water scarcity could cost some regions 6% of gross domestic product (GDP), entrenching inequality. Climate migration strains nations. Overall, water crises destabilize societies on many levels if left unaddressed.

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Solutions and Recommendations

Tackling the global water crisis requires both local and international initiatives across infrastructure, technology, governance, cooperation, education, and funding.

First, upgrading distribution systems, sewage treatment, dams, desalination, watershed restoration, and irrigation methods could improve supply reliability and quality while reducing waste. Community-based projects often succeed by empowering local stakeholders.

Second, emerging technologies like low-cost water quality sensors, affordable desalination, precision agriculture, and recyclable treatment materials could help poorer nations bridge infrastructure gaps. However, funding research and making innovations affordable remains a key obstacle.

Third, better governance through reduced corruption, privatization, metering, pricing incentives, and integrated policy frameworks could improve efficiency. But human rights must be protected by maintaining affordable minimum access.

Fourth, transboundary water-sharing treaties like those for the Nile and Mekong Rivers demonstrate that diplomacy can resolve potential conflicts. But political will is needed, along with climate change adaptation strategies.

Fifth, education and awareness can empower conservation at the individual level. Behaviour change takes time but can significantly reduce household and agricultural usage.

Finally, increased financial aid, public-private partnerships, better lending terms, and innovation prizes may help nations fund projects. Cost-benefit analyses consistently find high returns on water security investments.

In summary, sustainable solutions require combining new technologies, governance reforms, education, cooperation, and creative financing locally and globally.

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How many litres of water does a human being need per day

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If you save water you save the earth

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How many litres of water does a human being need per day?

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Answer (1 of 8): Experts recommend that males consume 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of water daily and females 11.5 cups (2.7 liters). But environmental factors such as temperature and other health conditions may affect your water needs. The body constantly loses water throughout the day, mainly throug…

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How Singapore solved its looming water crisis

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Hello, we are from green club. In this video, we are doing experiments. For two days, we are measuring how much waste we generate in one day. Come follow us !

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We are from green club and we are going to see what happens when you do not drink water for 1 day.

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Even in countries with adequate water resources, water scarcity is not uncommon. Although this may be due to a number of factors — collapsed infrastructure and distribution systems, contamination, conflict, or poor management of water resources — it is clear that climate change, as well as human factors, are increasingly denying children their right to safe water and sanitation.

Water scarcity limits access to safe water for drinking and for practising basic hygiene at home, in schools and in health-care facilities. When water is scarce, sewage systems can fail and the threat of contracting diseases like cholera surges. Scarce water also becomes more expensive.

Water scarcity takes a greater toll on women and children because they are often the ones responsible for collecting it. When water is further away, it requires more time to collect, which often means less time at school. Particularly for girls, a shortage of water in schools impacts student enrolment, attendance and performance. Carrying water long distances is also an enormous physical burden and can expose children to safety risks and exploitation.

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As the factors driving water scarcity are complex and vary widely across countries and regions, UNICEF works at multiple levels to introduce context-specific technologies that increase access to safe water and address the impacts of water scarcity. We focus on:

Identifying new water resources: We assess the availability of water resources using various technologies, including remote sensing and geophysical surveys and field investigations.

Improving the efficiency of water resources: We rehabilitate urban water distribution networks and treatment systems to reduce water leakage and contamination, promoting wastewater reuse for agriculture to protect groundwater.

Planning for urban scarcity: We plan for future water needs by identifying available resources to reduce the risk of cities running out of water.

Expanding technologies to ensure climate resilience: We support and develop climate-resilient water sources, including the use of deeper groundwater reserves through solar-powered water networks. We also advance water storage through small-scale retention structures, managed aquifer recharge (where water is pumped into underground reserves to improve its quality), and rainwater harvesting.

Changing behaviours: We work with schools and communities to promote an understanding of the value of water and the importance of its protection, including by supporting environmental clubs in schools.

Planning national water needs: We work with key stakeholders at national and sub-national levels to understand the water requirements for domestic use and for health and sanitation, and advocate to ensure that this is reflected in national planning considerations.

Supporting the WASH sector: We develop technical guidance, manuals and online training programmes for WASH practitioners to improve standards for water access.

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Addressing the growing lack of available water to meet children's needs

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1. The ship vessel hit oil ship crashed together and there was oil spill

2.fish eat oil from the crash

3.fishermen catch fish that ate the oil

4.the fishermen man sells the fish at the market

5.some people go and buy the fish and cook it.

6.they go and eat the fish and have stomach pain

7.The next day,they went to the hospital and got food poisoning and had to stay in hospital

8.they had medicine prescribed from the doctor and were discharged a few weeks later

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Materials:

.a circle big and transparent container

.black ink/black paint which is oil

.clay

.paper=fish

A cut out of a fisherman

.string

.water

.sticks

.print a background of the market

.drawing of a ambulance

.a plate of cooked fish=paper

.soft toy

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Q: How do people clean up oil spills other then using detergent 

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Q: How do people clean up oil spills other then using detergent 

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Scientists use tiny living things called microbes—like small super bugs—that eat the oil and turn it into harmless substances such as carbon dioxide , water and simple minerals like nitrogen.It’s like having invisible cleanup creatures!

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Scientists use super tiny living things called microbes that eat oil and turn it into safe substances like:

💨 Carbon dioxide

💧 Water

These microbes are nature's secret cleanup crew.

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Q:How do oil spills hurt animals like birds,fish and sea turtles?

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Q:How do oil spills hurt animals like birds,fish and sea turtles?

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A: Firstly, oil spills can cover birds in sticky oil, damaging their feathers, making it hard for them to fly. Oil spills also poison fish eggs and making it difficult for them to breathe. Finally, oil spills also cause turtles to get infections on their skin .

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Q: Are there special machines or chemicals used to clean the oil spills ?

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Q: Are there special machines or chemicals used to clean the oil spills ?

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There are Oil booms and it is a floating barrier that floats on water and traps the oil so it stays at one place and prevents the spread of oil on water . There are also Skimmers they are devices which are mounted on boats that skim oil off the water surface. They separate oil from the water.

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There are some devices called Skimmers which are attached to boats. They separate oil from water.