Number of Water-intensive Projects Subjected to Mandatory Water Efficiency Requirements Since 1 January 2024
Ministry of Sustainability and the EnvironmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the mandatory water efficiency requirements implemented on 1 January 2024 for new water-intensive projects consuming at least 60,000m³ annually. Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik inquired about the number of subject projects, non-compliance cases, enforcement actions, operational statuses, and PUB's verification methods. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Goh Hanyan replied that seven new projects have been subjected to and met the design requirements, resulting in no enforcement actions taken. She clarified that one project is currently in the design phase while the remaining projects are under construction. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Goh Hanyan added that once operational, facilities must submit water efficiency plans on a running basis for PUB to verify and identify opportunities for further water reduction.
Transcript
15 Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment in respect of the mandatory water efficiency requirements in effect since 1 January 2024 for new water-intensive projects consuming at least 60,000m³ annually (a) how many projects are subject to the requirements; (b) how many have been found non-compliant; and (c) what enforcement actions have been taken.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (Ms Goh Hanyan) (for the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment): Since the mandatory water efficiency requirements took effect on 1 January 2024, seven new projects have been subjected to and met the design requirements. Accordingly, no enforcement action has been taken.
Mr Speaker: Mr Muhaimin.
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik (Sengkang): Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. I have two supplementary questions.
First, can the Senior Parliamentary Secretary clarify how many of the projects subjected to requirements are actually in operation, as opposed to still at design or construction stage, given that the 50% recycling rate is assessed at the operation stage?
The second supplementary question: does PUB independently verify the recycling rates reported in these plans, for instance, through metering or audit, or does it rely on self declaration by companies?
My third question — oh, sorry. Just two questions.
Ms Goh Hanyan: Sir, I thank the Member for his questions. To the first one, out of the seven that we said were covered, most of them are in the construction phase and one is in the design phase.
To the second question on how we monitor the compliance, the water users are then required, once they start operations, to submit their water efficiency plans on a running basis, so that PUB can verify and identify opportunities for further reduction of water use and efficiency.