Which is the Cleanest Drainage System in the World?

Did you know where all the dirty water from our homes goes when we use it? All cities have a drainage system to remove wastewater and rainwater. However, countries do not deal with this dirty water in the same manner. Some countries waste it; some countries purify it so thoroughly that it can be reused and even consumed.

So, which is the cleanest drainage system in the world? Explore this article to know about the most advanced drainage and sewage system in the world.

Cleanest Drainage System in the World

Singapore has the cleanest drainage system in the world. It is a small island country that is located in Asia, and it does not have many rivers or water sources for drinking water. So, instead of discarding or wasting used water, Singapore came up with a system to help clean dirty water and turn it into safe, drinkable water.

This system is known as the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS), and the clean water is known as NEWater.

How Does Singapore's Drainage System Work?

Singapore's drainage system is very similar to a large underground tunnel for dirty water. Here is how it works:

1. Collection: Used water from homes, schools and factories goes into a large underground tunnel. As per Singapore’s National Water Agency, this tunnel is about 48 kilometres long and goes 25 storeys underground.
2. Treatment Plant: The dirty water then goes to a place called the Changi Water Reclamation Plant. This plant can usually purify approximately 900 million litres of water in a day.
3. Filtration: The water is then filtered through special filters to remove dirt, germs and viruses.
4. UV Cleaning: The final step is where the water is disinfected with ultraviolet (UV) light, which helps to kill any other germs.
5. NEWater is Made: After all this cleaning, the water becomes really pure and it easily meets the suitable for dinking water standards that are set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

This clean water, known as NEWater, is utilised in factories and building cooling, and a portion is even mixed with drinking water.

Why Is Singapore's Drainage System So Special?

Singapore's Drainage System So Special becuase of these following reasons given below in the table:

The majority of the countries in the world do not treat their used water. Indeed, the United Nations report that approximately 80% of the world's total used water is returned to rivers and seas untreated. In Singapore, it's different; nearly all of the water is used and re-used, and re-used again.

Which are the other countries that have good drainage systems?

While Singapore is the cleanest, some other countries also have very good drainage and sewage systems:

• Switzerland: Efficient well managed sewage treatment plants.

• Netherlands: has some of the biggest and most modern water treatment plants in Europe.

• Sweden and Denmark: Both have had a major effort into clean and modern wastewater.

But none of these countries is as water-reusing and recycling as Singapore.

Why is a Clean Drainage System Important?

It is important to have a clean drainage system, because:

• Helps prevent all the dirty water getting into rivers, lakes and seas.

• It helps prevent illnesses due to unclean water.

• It conserves fresh water as it is becoming a scarce resource thanks to climate change.

• It helps to maintain the cleanliness of cities and prevent foul odors and inundation.

With the help of smart engineering, Singapore has developed the world's cleanest drainage system. With its Deep Tunnel Sewerage System and the NEWater technology, used water is cleaned to the extent that it can be used as potable water. This is an excellent lesson for other countries on water management.