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Water rationing not needed yet, but drills may be held

SINGAPORE — Water consumption in the Republic has gone up by 5 per cent during the current dry spell and Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan told Parliament he is seriously considering a suggestion to conduct water-rationing exercises as a means of public education, even though they are not an operational necessity.

SINGAPORE — Water consumption in the Republic has gone up by 5 per cent during the current dry spell and Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan told Parliament he is seriously considering a suggestion to conduct water-rationing exercises as a means of public education, even though they are not an operational necessity.

Currently, Singapore is consuming 420 million gallons of water a day (mgd), an increase from the average of 400mgd. The rise in usage came from both the domestic and non-domestic sectors, said national water agency PUB in response to media queries.

While investments in NEWater and desalination have diversified the nation’s water-supply sources and strengthened water security, Dr Balakrishnan said this margin of safety also carries a risk of complacency if water usage rises during a dry spell.

“In fact, it has gone up,” he added. “From our latest water-demand figures, we are currently consuming about 420mgd of water a day. Now, if the demand figure continues to increase then, certainly, I will have to re-evaluate the adequacy of our current plans.”

Dr Balakrishnan made these remarks as he responded to a supplementary question posed by Jurong GRC Member of Parliament David Ong, who asked at what point would the minister deem it necessary for Singapore to start conducting water-rationing exercises, which were last seen in the 1960s.

Dr Balakrishnan said he had received feedback from the public that he should consider conducting some exercises as a form of public education, even if there is no operational need for one.

“This is a suggestion I am taking seriously to remind people of the value of water,” he added.

“I also think it may not be a bad idea for us to rehearse the procedures and processes that are needed, if we ever get to the point where water rationing is needed. So, I am looking at it right now more as a public communications tool. Fortunately, we are not at a point where this is an operational necessity.”

Earlier, the minister told Parliament that the PUB had stepped up desalination and increased NEWater production, with the latter being used to top up reservoirs, keeping reservoir stocks at a “healthy level” despite the lack of rain. These two sources of water supplement other sources from the local catchment areas and imported water from Johor, he said.

Dr Balakrishnan reiterated the need for all parties, such as town councils, the management teams for condominiums and private areas as well as commercial and industrial buildings, to play their part in water conservation. In addition, the ministry will be announcing other measures to encourage longer-term water conservation efforts in the non-domestic sector during its Committee of Supply debate next week.

“I still think most of us are not aware that (with) each minute of leaving the shower on, nine litres of water (are consumed),” he said. “Similarly, making sure that we wash clothes only when the machine is full, in order to optimise economies of scale, or wash dishes in a container rather than leave taps running — all these little measures add up and can save a significant amount of water for us.”

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