Singapore’s Advanced Wastewater Treatment Process, Digital Capabilities Win Engineering Award

The Integrated Validation Plant (IVP) at Ulu Pandan is the winner of the Engineering Project Category, for the Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES) Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards 2019.

The IVP is a testament to Singapore’s foresight to integrate advanced wastewater treatment technologies with digital capabilities to minimize risks posed by extreme weather while enhancing water sustainability.

The Black & Veatch + AECOM Joint Venture serves as the consultant for the Ulu Pandan IVP, working closely with PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency.

The full-scale demonstration plant, which went operational in 2017, has a treatment capacity of 12,500 cubic meters per day and serves to validate state-of-the-art design concepts for the future Tuas Water Reclamation Plant (Tuas WRP).

The Ulu Pandan IVP tests and validates advanced wastewater treatment technologies, allowing PUB to mitigate any operating risks before incorporating these technologies at a larger scale at Tuas WRP. Expected to complete in 2025, Tuas WRP will be part of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) Phase 2, constructed to meet Singapore’s used water collection, treatment, and disposal needs.

The Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards was presented during the World Engineers Summit 2019 Conference Dinner in Singapore, graced by Dr. Amy Khor, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources.

The IVP’s compact design saves on land uptake in land-scarce Singapore, providing more space for alternative uses. Its energy-efficient treatment processes save on energy consumption and result in a lower carbon footprint. By adopting full automation and data analytics to reduce manpower requirements, the IVP is on track to achieve autonomous operation through a digital application.

“Singapore continues to find success in applying water innovations in unconventional and new ways. The Institution of Engineers Singapore award recognizes Singapore’s achievements in identifying new opportunities and efficiencies through reframing core processes. We are confident that the insights gained from the IVP will serve to enhance operational efficiency, performance predictability, and maintenance planning,” said William Yong, Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Water, Black & Veatch.

“Together with Black & Veatch, AECOM is honored to have been awarded the prestigious Institution of Engineers Singapore award. This is a testament to our joint venture’s strength in collaboration and synergy. We look forward to setting the pace for more breakthroughs in water innovation to help Singapore better harness its water infrastructure in a more sustainable and cost-effective way,” said Billy Wong, Regional Executive for Southeast Asia at AECOM.