PUB Singapore
Challenge Detected
PUB is Singapore’s national water agency and manages its water supply, water catchment and used water in an integrated way.
By investing in research & development and new technologies PUB has developed a robust and diversified water supply strategy with the Four National Taps.
The Four National Taps are:
Water from local catchment
Imported water
Reclaimed water or NEWater
Desalinated water
Since E. coli outbreaks are on the increase around the world, part of maintaining a safe drinking water system is daily testing for water quality.
Although over 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, less than 1% is accessible for direct human intake. It was only in 1972 when the global Clean Water Act was passed that humans recognized the need to protect water quality. However, the challenges facing utilities and other water suppliers to provide clean water for human consumption are increasing.
The population of the world is growing rapidly and therefore the demand for clean water is on the rise while the supply is decreasing. Water utilities are tasked with maintaining a sustainable and adaptable water supply that is capable of supporting continued growth all while ensuring that the water is free of any contaminants.
Although Singapore’s water quality is well within the water guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO), and is suitable for drinking without any further filtration, PUB has implemented a comprehensive water quality sampling and monitoring system that carefully tracks the water quality at all stages of the water production process and throughout the distribution network.
By investing in research, development and new technologies PUB has developed a strong, sustainable and safe water network. Being at the forefront of water quality technology PUB is always on the lookout for more efficient, rapid, and effective systems to enhance its water quality monitoring system in order to provide an increased level of service and safety to the citizens of Singapore.
The TECTA™ B16 directly supports PUB’s work in this area by providing an automated, rapid E. coli and Total Coliforms detection system for the assessment of microbiological water quality and assuring the safety of drinking water.
Solution Detected
The TECTA™ B16 was developed by TECTA-PDS to provide accurate and fully automated testing for E. coli and Total Coliform much faster than traditional incubation methods which require a laboratory environment, trained microbiologist, and a fixed incubation time.
PUB has installed multiple TECTA™ instruments in their central laboratory responsible for all testing within their distribution network. As part of their daily testing operations the specialists at PUB saw a real bene t in using TECTA™ as front line defense against these pathogens as the speed and accuracy of the results can help rapidly identify bacteria and in-turn reduce the impact of a contamination event.
Success Detected
Mr. Yu Lei, Senior Microbiologist at PUB, explained how their decision to invest in TECTA™ was based on how the technology “offers many advantages when compared to the standard method, including: ease of operation, shorter detection time, automatic results interpretation, and advanced methods of reporting including immediate email notification of results.”
“TECTA™ offers us an alternate and complementary method for testing E. coli and Total Coliforms in the lab,” he continued and then added, “it reduces the detection time, and eliminates the steps for results interpretation and reporting as compared to the current method used in the lab.”
Mr. Lei also noted how simple the TECTA™ unit is to use, stating that, “even those without a microbiological background can perform the test.”
With a water network as diverse and integrated as Singapore’s, being able to utilize the TECTA™ B16 means that PUB can save time and money in the lab and in the field.
The experts at PUB have embraced the TECTA™ technology and its speed, accuracy, and ease of use.
The TECTA™ B16 provides PUB the solution for a fast, reliable and completely automated testing platform for E. coli and Total Coliforms.