Water tax sends important message

Jeremy Au Yong, Straits Times 16 Sep 08;

THE water conservation tax is here to stay as it sends an important message to Singaporeans, said Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim yesterday.

Asked by MP Low Thia Khiang (Hougang) if Singapore's eventual water self-sufficiency would see the tax being done away with, Dr Yaacob responded: Not under my watch.

He explained: 'It is put in place to send an important message to Singaporeans that water is a strategic resource. Use, by all means, but use it judiciously.

'It is important for us to send that message and I don't think, at least during my time as minister, that we would remove the water conservation tax... We help people at the bottom who may have difficulties.'

The tax on usage is set at either 30 per cent or 45 per cent, with heavy users paying more.

Dr Yaacob had earlier given an update on Singapore's efforts to become self-sufficient in terms of water supply.

The country's long-term strategy is known as the Four National Taps, which are water from local catchments, imported water, Newater and desalinated water.

He said Marina Barrage, a dam built across Marina Bay to create a new reservoir, had recently been completed and two other reservoirs, in Punggol and Serangoon, were on schedule to be finished by next year.

Combined, the three will increase the catchment area from half to two-thirds of Singapore's land area.

As for Newater, Dr Yaacob said the construction of the fifth and largest Newater plant in Changi would increase production, to meet up to 30 per cent of Singapore's water needs by 2011.

Newater now meets 15 per cent of the country's needs.

A desalination plant in Tuas, meanwhile, produces up to 10 per cent of Singapore's water needs.