AMONG the points raised in the interesting series of articles
about Singapore Water Week thus far are that demand for water is
expected to double and Singapore aims to be self-sufficient by
2061, when the second of two water agreements with Malaysia
lapses.
One issue that has not had enough publicity is examining ways to
forge private and public partnerships to curtail future demand of
water, not only in Singapore but also globally.
Singapore can indeed be the catalyst to lead the change in
saving water. Agencies such as the Economic Development Board and
PUB, the national water agency, are the likeliest key agents to
lead the change in curtailing water demand in Singapore; and to
provide model cases for other countries to copy.
Naturally, meeting demand and ensuring quality water delivery
are important goals which Singapore will succeed in achieving.
However, if we fail to address the issue of saving water - through
taming insatiable consumer demand and cutting it - we will not be
able to have adequate supply in the future.
Harry Cheng
Tokyo
IT IS International Water Week in Singapore and there has been
much discussion on current and future supply of water, water
technology and water pricing.
Unfortunately, there is hardly any mention of water
conservation.
Of late, we have been experiencing not just thunderstorms in the
afternoon but also tempestuous storms resulting in serious
floods.
There are no visible efforts to collect the 'buckets' of water
from above.
Those in landed properties can collect a lot of it, which can be
used for watering plants on other days, washing and even for doing
laundry.
Those living in apartments can also do so easily from their
balconies. The Housing Board and town councils can use collected
water for watering and for cleaning void decks, drains and other
amenities.
It has been a long time since we had water rationing and the
expectation is that there will be no need for it.
But let us not allow rain water to go to waste. Our water bill
will also go down if we use rain water and less piped water.
Tay Koon Tek
