No change to water rates this year: Balakrishnan
-
SINGAPORE: Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan has given citizens the assurance that there would be no change to the structure or to the rates of pricing of water charges this year.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan made this clarification in parliament on Monday while the House debated amendments to the Public Utilities and Sewerage and Drainage Bills, which aim to reinforce current safeguards to enhance the management of water resources to ensure the reliability of water supply.
He said: "I am not making any announcements on new rates or new charges. That's not on the cards at this point in time. In the long term, a key determinant of the price or the cost of water is the cost of energy.
"So no Minister for the Environment and Water Resources in Singapore can ever give you a warranty that water prices will not change in the future.
"It is dependant on so many factors which are beyond our control and are in a sense because of our uniquely water constraint circumstances.
"We are very mindful that by running a most efficient and possible water system we can maintain water at an affordable rate for all our people, for even those low income families through U-Save (Utilities-Save) we ensure that everyone has access to the water that they need.
"We can all turn on our taps today and receive clean safe drinking water at any time of the day, any day of the year.
"We often take this for granted, but behind each tap lies an integrated system comprising over 7,000km of drains, 17 reservoirs, water catchment area which constitutes two-thirds of Singapore, 7 water treatment plants, 5,400km of water mains, 3,400km of sewers, 4 water reclamation plants, and 4 NEWater factories."
Dr Balakrishnan told the House that to continue meeting Singapore's growing water needs, there are two key strategies.
These are to expand local water catchments and to increase NEWater capacity.
He said these developments require the support of corresponding laws which empowers PUB, the national water agency, to carry out its duties effectively.
So among the changes include enabling further expansion of the water catchments, stricter controls on pollution and greater clarity on contributions to the national used water system.
To enhance the resilience of NEWater production, the changes propose tighter regulation of discharges of hazardous substances to the used water system.
There will also be greater protection of infrastructure through specific and higher penalties to commensurate with consequences of damage to PUB properties.
There will also be requirements for thorough investigations before any excavation, piling or similar works.
He said: "It is essential that Singapore continues to secure a sustainable and resilient water supply to meet the long term needs of a growing economy and a growing population and to cope with the long term dangers of climate uncertainty.
"To achieve this, our water catchments will be progressively expanded. This will be complemented by expanding NEWater and Desalination capabilities and it is therefore essential to ensure that the quality of catchment water and adequately protect our water infrastructure."
- CNA/ck -
why?
-
No change means not going down despite of the oncoming depression.
-
No change mean that there will be a HUGE increase next year.
That is how they operate.
You want to increase a little by little or increase all at once.
Since you dun want any increase this year, expect huge increase next year.
-
Originally posted by Medicated Oil:
No change mean that there will be a HUGE increase next year.
That is how they operate.
You want to increase a little by little or increase all at once.
Since you dun want any increase this year, expect huge increase next year.
Are you on the policy making team?
You know so much.
-
All those mild temper Singaporeans .
You are "teat to be milked " .