Nee Soon South residents share water-saving tips
Before the monthly litter-picking exercise yesterday, Nee Soon South residents attended a talk on saving water. Photo: Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
SINGAPORE — When water levels in the Linggiu Reservoir in Johor — which allows Singapore to reliably draw water from the Johor River, accounting for half of the Republic’s water needs — fell to historic lows in the middle of last year, the Nee Soon South grassroots team decided to organise a competition for residents to see who could use the least amount of water over six months.
Yesterday, the 51 winners emerged, among whom was retiree Rachel Loh, 64, whose monthly water bill comes up to S$3, well below the national average of S$14 for three-room flats.
“Using less water has been one of my habits. Because I’ve been through ... the water rationing period in the 1960s, I know how precious water is and I try to use water only when necessary,” she said, recalling how she had to fetch pails of water for her family of eight back then.
To keep her consumption low, Madam Loh reuses the water she washes her hands and vegetables with to flush the toilet. Mdm Loh also does her part for the community by collecting rainwater from the communal garden at a nearby Residents’ Committee to water the plants.
Vouchers worth S$80 were given to the winning households in a community event held in conjunction with World Water Day, which falls on March 22. Most of these households used only about half the water as the national average in their respective housing types from July to December last year.
Another winner, homemaker Yong Nyuk Kin, avoids using a washing machine and hand-washes her clothes every alternate day. She also constantly reminds her son to turn off the tap whenever he is washing his face or brushing his teeth.
Like Mdm Loh, Mdm Yong also collects rainwater from her eighth-floor unit using a home-made contraption. She ties one end of a handmade pipe to her window grill, which allows rainwater to flow into a pail in her home. The rainwater is used for flushing the toilet, said the 66-year-old, who lives in a four-room flat with her son and a dog.
On average, Mdm Yong spends less than S$10 for her monthly water bill.
Prior to their monthly litter-picking exercise yesterday, Nee Soon South residents also attended a talk on the importance of water conservation and were given tips on saving water.
The area’s Member of Parliament Lee Bee Wah noted that U-Save vouchers would be given to lower-income residents, which would help them with the impending water price hikes announced recently.
Nevertheless, it was important to help households adjust their water usage habits and share tips with them on how to save water, she added.
