Singapore's Push for Water Sustainability
Singapore's methods for sustainability are one of the leading ones globally, and many of their initiatives, if adopted throughout countries, would lead to a huge change in the way water is used and conserved. This is primarily seen in the below three examples:
1. PUB
PUB is a SG initiative that aims to conserve water through 'four - tap method'. Water demand in Singapore is currently 430 million gallons a day (and all this for a very small nation-state). This is predicted to double by the year 2060. To fight this, this government group has created an infrastructure of four national taps, which sends all water through these four taps, allowing for the government to ensure that the water being used by it's residents are from sustainable and ecologically responsible sources. So what can you do to help? Make sure to buy products with a blue tick graphic on the packaging, as this graphic informs you that the product was approved by PUB Sg.
2. MEWR
Partnered with the previous corporation, PUB, MEWR ensures that leaking or otherwise broken pipes are fixed every two years by conducting regular checks and subsidising the fixing of these pipes, to make sure that they are put back into place as quickly as possible; in this way, litres of water are saved because no water is wasted through leaking or drops that fall constantly without being put to any use.
3. Taxes
Because the large proportion of Singapore is high-class, placing a tax on actual water is unlikely to make a big difference to people's consumption. The government therefore places a tax on your water bill instead, so that it is a lot clearer that you are losing money as you waste water, an experiment that was proven in 2008 and first implemented in 2010. This strategy allows for people to see the effect (progressive tax) that their wastage of water has on the environment in terms of a monetary equivalent, and gives them initiative to save water.
Progressive taxes placed on water bills as well as awareness campaigns and regular checkups on water pipes has helped Singapore lead the battle against wastage of water. Unfortunately, were are the only country so far to have implemented the water conservation tax directly on water bills. Share this article or raise awareness, and we might be able to convince other countries to join the initiative.
1. PUB
PUB is a SG initiative that aims to conserve water through 'four - tap method'. Water demand in Singapore is currently 430 million gallons a day (and all this for a very small nation-state). This is predicted to double by the year 2060. To fight this, this government group has created an infrastructure of four national taps, which sends all water through these four taps, allowing for the government to ensure that the water being used by it's residents are from sustainable and ecologically responsible sources. So what can you do to help? Make sure to buy products with a blue tick graphic on the packaging, as this graphic informs you that the product was approved by PUB Sg.
2. MEWR
Partnered with the previous corporation, PUB, MEWR ensures that leaking or otherwise broken pipes are fixed every two years by conducting regular checks and subsidising the fixing of these pipes, to make sure that they are put back into place as quickly as possible; in this way, litres of water are saved because no water is wasted through leaking or drops that fall constantly without being put to any use.
3. Taxes
Because the large proportion of Singapore is high-class, placing a tax on actual water is unlikely to make a big difference to people's consumption. The government therefore places a tax on your water bill instead, so that it is a lot clearer that you are losing money as you waste water, an experiment that was proven in 2008 and first implemented in 2010. This strategy allows for people to see the effect (progressive tax) that their wastage of water has on the environment in terms of a monetary equivalent, and gives them initiative to save water.
Progressive taxes placed on water bills as well as awareness campaigns and regular checkups on water pipes has helped Singapore lead the battle against wastage of water. Unfortunately, were are the only country so far to have implemented the water conservation tax directly on water bills. Share this article or raise awareness, and we might be able to convince other countries to join the initiative.
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| Marina Barrage, Gardens by the Bay, MBS |
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