Singapore uses about 430 million gallons a day, out of which up to 30 per cent are desalinated.
To truly tackle water scarcity in the region, countries need to take a step back and rethink the different aspects of water management.
Technology has allowed us to reconsider man’s relationship with the water system, which has traditionally been a one-way process, moving water from supply to demand.
One study by Singapore’s national water agency, PUB, and the National University of Singapore found that a person could save up to 5 litres of water a day using smart shower devices.
The Singapore Government will be deploying these devices over the next two years in new homes under a demonstration project with the Housing Development Board.
Developing countries can also look to institutions that have expressed long-term interest in backing water infrastructure development for the region.
A new approach that encourages the adoption of new technology is exploring new business models.
In Cambodia, some private water operators have started opting to pay for their pump system through annual instalments, which are financed by the money saved on energy and water bills as a result of equipment upgrade.
We can no longer look at traditional practices to address contemporary water challenges.
It is crucial to encourage out-of-the-box, creative thinking in all fields of water resources management, whether it is policy, planning, management, development, as well as institutional, technological and financial aspects.