Singapore is often touted as the model for water recycling and proponents of this technology often use it as an example of why a city should adopt recycled water for drinking.

What is often omitted is that water recycling is used in Singapore mainly for industrial uses and that Singapore has the "four taps" policy which includes other water sources.

What is also often excluded from the discussion is the fact that Singapore has recently opened one of the largest desalination plants in the world and intends to build a new dam. See - http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SIN160600.htm

Dr Leslie correctly notes the national security issue in relation to Singapore's adoption of recycled water.

Singapore has two water agreements with Malaysia - one expiring in 2011 and the other in 2061. Singapore's shift to recycled water (mainly for industrial uses) and desalination has been justified on national security grounds - to minimise the influence Malaysia has on it because of the water agreements.