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In the wake of the latest G20 meeting, when climate change is very much on the agenda for most countries, modern infrastructural demands are changing to take a more sustainable approach to the future. As we’ve seen with porous concrete roads that could eliminate runoff, or eco-friendly skyscrapers that cool themselves without the need for excessive air-con, now in Singapore we’re seeing the launch of a forward-thinking water treatment facility.

The Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant, a collaboration between PUB, Singapore’s national water agency, and Keppel Infrastructure, will treat both saltwater and freshwater. Desalination has become a popular means of water supply in countries that don’t experience enough consistent rainwater to fill reservoirs that meet population demands. In a process that removes undesirable minerals (primarily salt) from other water sources, the innovative aspect of this plant is that freshwater can be processed in wet periods and saltwater from the ocean processed in dry periods, producing an alternating, more consistent supply. The plant has sustainability incorporated in it’s design, with all the treatment apparatus located underground. The plant will have a living roof — a sprawling green lawn that will blend into the nearby parks and be irrigated by collected rainwater. The Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant, which will be capable of producing 30 million gallons of drinkable water daily, has a projected completion date of 2020.

When taken alongside other projects we’ve seen, such as a plant that processes human fecal matter into crude oil, will all new major infrastructure developments be required to have sustainability built into their concept?