Thought Leadership

By Margaret Riley, Senior Director, Water

The Founding Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, famously declared in a 2008 speech that "every other policy had to bend at the knees for our water survival”. Since then, against all odds, the tiny island with very limited natural water resources has managed to transform Singapore from a water-vulnerable nation into one of the world's leading water-security success stories.  

At a time when water scarcity is widely recognised as one of humanity’s greatest threats, with freshwater availability per person on the decline, and a 40% shortfall in freshwater resources predicted by 2030, Singapore’s shift toward water sustainability should be a lesson for us all. After all, water is the ultimate existential red line – it is at the foundation of national sovereignty, identity and security.  

This was the tone of the recent Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) conference - a global summit where ministers, governments and global water executives come together to network and discuss the world’s biggest water challenges and opportunities; which in 2026 include water scarcity, climate resilience, and keeping up with the pace of change.  

The increasing pace of change

The pace of change in 2026 is moving at lightning speed – making it difficult for governments and utility owners to keep up. The explosive popularity of AI has led to the development of water-hungry data centres that have the potential to impact already vulnerable freshwater supplies.  

There are growing questions about how policy and decision making can keep pace with change, while enabling organisations to respond quickly to an increasingly uncertain future.

And above all – how can this be achieved in a way that remains cost effective for both the supply chain and communities?

This is where KBR can help. As the pace of change inevitably accelerates, governments and utilities need access to clear, evidence-based advice that supports confident decision making. By bringing together strategic planning, economics and technical water expertise, KBR helps customers make smarter investment decisions and develop long-term strategies that support sustainable water security in an uncertain and fast-changing environment.

Engineering for climate resilience  

Another major discussion point at SIWW was how climate change is forcing countries across Southeast Asia to rethink how they plan, design and protect critical infrastructure. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels put the region firmly at risk of both flooding and droughts – with extreme weather events placing pressure on drainage and ageing water infrastructure networks, which also impact long-term water security.  

KBR’s water and maritime expertise helps governments and communities better prepare for a changing climate. From water security planning, hydraulic modelling and stormwater management through to coastal engineering, coastal flood mapping, shoreline protection and maritime infrastructure design, we support our customers in understanding long-term risks and developing tailored solutions that help communities adapt to flooding, drought, sea level rise and increasing pressure on water resources.

Singapore leads the way

Although it remains one of today’s greatest challenges, Singapore has demonstrated that water scarcity is not an inevitable outcome. Faced with limited natural water resources, Singapore developed a long-term and highly integrated approach to water management, investing in local catchments, water recycling, desalination and demand management to create a more diversified and resilient water supply.  

Singapore’s success demonstrates that meaningful progress can be made. Whether it’s securing a sustainable water supply, building climate resilient infrastructure, or developing agile policies that keep up with the pace of change, governments can – in partnership with industry and community – take proactive steps today to strengthen water security and build a more resilient future.

Learn more about what we do in water

Our water team works closely with water utilities to address critical challenges across the full water cycle. Our broad capabilities enable us to support customers at a holistic level and offer end-to-end solutions, including early phase strategy, technical, engineering, asset management, and market-leading program and portfolio management solutions. Whether it is major pipelines and large pumping stations or advanced water, wastewater and water recycling treatment plants, we provide our customers with smart, sustainable, and resilient solutions that drive a positive, lasting impact on communities.

Find out more: What we do - Water