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the private sector, the plant is one of the biggest seawater RO
plant in the world, and has the capacity to supply 30 mgd of
desalinated water.
Although desalination reduces Singapore’s reliance on tradi-
tional water supply sources, it also makes it more
energy-dependant. This, coupled with rising climate stress
compounds the need to secure energy sources that do not have
such a large impact on the environment. Desalination may also
have detrimental impacts on local marine ecology if its seawa-
ter intake and discharge is not well monitored. To this end,
PUB has commissioned a long-term study of the quality of
seawater surrounding Singapore. It is through such measures
that PUB aims to mitigate environmental impacts.
Demand management
As well as expanding water supply, PUB also believes that a
People-Public-Private approach is essential. This method of
demand side management involves the design of programmes
that will engage the community, businesses and civic groups.
This includes programmes aimed at encouraging water conser-
vation and promoting public ownership of water resources.
In the area of water conservation, PUB adopts a multi-prong
approach of appropriate water pricing, mandatory water
conservation measures, public education and efficient manage-
ment of the water distribution system to keep our water
consumption levels in check.
On water pricing, PUB’s water tariff is set to recover the full
cost of production and distribution. In addition, to encourage
water conservation, and reflecting the limited supply of water
in Singapore and the higher incremental cost of additional
supplies, a water conservation tax is also levied. This tax is
imposed on the first drop consumed to drive home the message
that every drop is precious. The tax is increased for households
that consume more than 40 cubic metres per month.
To promote water conservation, PUB also adopts a host of
mandatory and voluntary measures. Mandatory measures
include the use of low capacity flushing cisterns and constant
flow regulators. PUB has also embarked on community-driven
public education programmes such as the ‘Water Efficient
Homes’ programme and the ‘Water Efficient Buildings’
programme to encourage homeowners and building owners
to adopt water conservation habits and measures. This has
resulted in the reduction of per capita domestic consumption
from 165 litres per day in 2003 to 160 litres per day last year.
In order to further lower consumption to 155 litres per day,
PUB has embarked on its latest programme – The 10-Litre
Challenge. This programme aims to encourage all Singaporeans
to reduce their daily water consumption by ten litres through
simple but effective water saving tips, such as how to install
water bags in cisterns to reduce the amount used for flushing,
taking shorter showers and washing full loads of laundry.
In terms of unaccounted-for-water, PUB has made much
effort to ensure that leaks in our water pipe network are kept
to a minimum, and water sold to customers is accurately
metered. This has enabled PUB to lower unaccounted-for-water
from 10 per cent in the early 1990s to about 5 per cent today.
Hence, by reducing water losses, water demand is kept in check
and there is less pressure to expand our water sources.
Beyond water conservation, PUB has launched the “Our
Waters” Programme and the Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC)
Waters Programme to get people to value and enjoy our water
assets.
Under “Our Waters”, organizations and community groups
can adopt stretches of water and pledge to take care of the water
resources by conducting clean-ups, river patrols and seminars to
promote greater awareness of water issues among the commu-
nity. With ABC Waters, utilitarian drains will be transformed
into beautiful and vibrant community spaces for recreational
Connecting with the community: kayaking in our reservoirs
Photo: PUB – Singapore’s National Water Agency