THE editorial, "Cherishing every precious drop" (March 19), prompted me to check on the water usage in my 30-year-old condominium.
I was interested in knowing how to achieve the 140 litres-per-day national goal without compromising household cleanliness and personal hygiene.
I did an audit with my housekeeper and went over every item. I could not find any means to reduce water usage without jeopardising cleanliness.
According to national water agency PUB, a decent five-minute hot shower with efficient flow would use up 35 litres of water.
Two such showers a day would use up 70 litres, while freshening up in the morning, noon or night, personal consumption and doing household chores, such as washing dishes and laundry, would account for 87 litres, which all added up to 157 litres.
When large laundry items like comforters and curtains, and the weekly flushing of floor traps were taken into consideration, the amount of water used added up to an even higher figure.
If I were to take one shower a day, eat outside my home and cut down on my cleaning routine, I may be able to use less than 200 litres of water a day.
Our national average usage of 150.4 litres per day is considered reasonably good in a dusty, tropical climate like ours.
If Singaporeans were to change their lifestyle while using water-saving utensils and do less cleaning, we may be able to achieve the 140 litres-per-day goal by 2030.
The question is whether it is reasonable and worthwhile to risk our healthy practices in our hot climate.
Water efficiency is about reducing the amount of water one wastes daily, not restricting usage for one's needs.
Given the limitations of our old buildings, it is unwise to impose penalties on consumers.
It is more productive to educate the public on how to reduce water wastage.
Paul Chan Poh Hoi
I was interested in knowing how to achieve the 140 litres-per-day national goal without compromising household cleanliness and personal hygiene.
I did an audit with my housekeeper and went over every item. I could not find any means to reduce water usage without jeopardising cleanliness.
According to national water agency PUB, a decent five-minute hot shower with efficient flow would use up 35 litres of water.
Two such showers a day would use up 70 litres, while freshening up in the morning, noon or night, personal consumption and doing household chores, such as washing dishes and laundry, would account for 87 litres, which all added up to 157 litres.
When large laundry items like comforters and curtains, and the weekly flushing of floor traps were taken into consideration, the amount of water used added up to an even higher figure.
If I were to take one shower a day, eat outside my home and cut down on my cleaning routine, I may be able to use less than 200 litres of water a day.
Our national average usage of 150.4 litres per day is considered reasonably good in a dusty, tropical climate like ours.
If Singaporeans were to change their lifestyle while using water-saving utensils and do less cleaning, we may be able to achieve the 140 litres-per-day goal by 2030.
The question is whether it is reasonable and worthwhile to risk our healthy practices in our hot climate.
Water efficiency is about reducing the amount of water one wastes daily, not restricting usage for one's needs.
Given the limitations of our old buildings, it is unwise to impose penalties on consumers.
It is more productive to educate the public on how to reduce water wastage.
Paul Chan Poh Hoi
