Rise in water prices will push up cost of living

I believe that the 43 per cent of Singaporeans who are against the water price hike would accept it if the hike were confined to households (Just over half of S’poreans back Budget measures: Reach poll; March 23).

The hike applies to hawkers, service providers and many other companies that would protect their profits by jacking up their prices. That would hurt consumers.

Singaporeans understand that water is precious and must be paid for (Water price hike ‘absolutely necessary’ but should been explained better: PM Lee; March 25, online).

But taking the hike in totality, not only will water bills go up, so would household spending in the markets, hawker centres, et cetera.

The result: Our cost of living would go up more than the hike in water prices. This is what irks those who are against the rise.