Regulatory standards and guidelines for

piped drinking water in Singapore

A/P Hu Jiangyong
Div. Of Env. Sci. & Engr.
National University of Singapore

Outline
Introduction
Piped drinking water
Regulatory framework for piped drinking water
in Singapore
Major legislation administered by PUB
Major legislation administered by NEA

INTRODUCTION

Glossary/use of the terms

Drinking water
Potable water
Bottled/packaged water

Drinking water
Water that is safe for drinking or human
consumption.
Can be consumed without the risk of any
immediate or long term harm.
Contaminated drinking water can lead to:
Large-scale outbreaks
Crypto outbreak in Wisconsin, USA, in 1993,
which made 403,000 people ill, and resulted in
estimated 69 deaths.
Adverse short or long term health effects, such
as cancer, birth defects, liver and kidney damage.

Potable water
Another term for water that is suitable for
drinking.
Usually supplied through pipes/public water
systems, in which case, it is also called tap
water.
Also used for cooking or preparation of food
(including culinary ice and drinks), rinsing of
mouth/gargling,
showering,
and
other
domestic use.

Bottled/packaged water
Drinking water sealed in bottles or other
containers/packages.

Bottled/packaged water
International guidelines for bottled water
include those prescribed by:
Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)
International Bottled Water Association

Overview
In Singapore:
Piped drinking water is regulated by statutory
boards under the Ministry of the Environment and
Water Resources
PUB (Public Utilities Board)
NEA (National Environment Agency)
Bottled/packaged drinking water is regulated
by AVA (Agri-food and Veterinary Authority of
Singapore)
Sale of potable water to shipping community
is regulated by MPA (Maritime and Port Authority of
Singapore)

PIPED DRINKING WATER

Water supply
Singapore consumes about 1.3-1.4 million M 3
of piped water every day.
PUB is the major water supplier in Singapore.
Small water suppliers include those that
operate on off-shore islands.
They usually produce 1,000 M3 of piped
water per day.

Water supply
PUB has implemented a Four National Taps
strategy to diversify its raw water resources.
Imported water
Local catchment
water

NEWater
Desalinated
water

Singapores water supply

from PUB

Water supply
Local Catchment Water: There are separate
systems to collect rainwater and used water.
Rainwater is collected through a network of
drains, canals, rivers, storm-water collection ponds
and reservoirs.
Reservoirs include MacRitchie, Kranji, Upper
Peirce, Bedok, etc.
Most waterworks/plants use chemical
coagulation, gravity filtration, chlorination and
addition of ammonia for chloramination. Some
plants also use ozone and membrane filtration.

Water supply
Imported Water: Singapore has been importing
water from Johor, Malaysia, under the 1961 and
1962 Water Agreements.
The agreements will expire in 2011 and 2061.

Water supply
NEWater: It is high-grade reclaimed water produced from
treated used water that is further purified using advanced
membrane technologies and ultra-violet disinfection.
Currently, there are 5 NEWater plants. NEWater meets 30% of Singapore's total water demand.
By 2060, PUB plans to triple the current capacity so that NEWater can meet 50% of Singapores
future water demand.

NEWater is supplied to wafer fabrication, electronics and power generation industries for process
use as well as commercial and institutional complexes for air-con cooling purposes.

PUB also blends a small percentage of the NEWater with the reservoir water.

Water supply
Desalinated Water: Singapore has one of Asias
largest seawater RO plant, which produces about
136,000 M3/d to meet about 10% of Singapores
water needs.
By 2060, PUB intends to ramp up desalination
capacity by almost 10 times so that desalinated
water will meet at least 30% of water demand in
the long term.

REGULATORY
FRAMEWORK
FOR
PIPED DRINKING WATER
IN SINGAPORE

PUB
PUB is the national water agency in Singapore.
It looks after issues such as raw water resources,
water sustainability, etc.
NEA
NEA is the national environmental agency in
Singapore.
It looks after issues such as environmental
protection and environmental public health.
Quality of piped drinking water supplied by PUB
and other water suppliers is regulated by NEA.

Piped Drinking Water

MAJOR LEGISLATION
ADMINISTERED BY PUB

 Public Utilities Act

Public Utilities (Water Supply) Regulations
Public Utilities (Reservoirs and Catchment
Areas) Regulations
Sewerage and Drainage Act

Public Utilities Act

Approval of new suppliers: Any person
(/organization) wanting to supply piped water for
human consumption must

first obtain an approval from PUB, and

comply with requirements, standards and codes
of practice prescribed by PUB.

Public Utilities Act

Any person responsible for maintenance of water
service installations (e.g. in any residential,
commercial or industrial premises) must ensure that
the installations are properly maintained, and kept in
a fit and safe condition.
A person who lays or repair any pipe in the vicinity
of another pipe must, if one of the pipes is used to
convey water for human consumption, ensure that the
pipes do not become connected/cross-connected to
each other.

Public Utilities Act

Allows PUB to charge price and fix tariffs for
water supplied by PUB.
Current charges:

Public Utilities Act

Provides powers to PUB employees to enter
premises to which water is supplied by PUB, to
examine pipes and meters.
Provides powers to PUB to construct in any street
or place such works as are necessary for purposes
connected with supply of water.

Public Utilities (Water Supply) Regulations

Allows PUB to prescribes requirements for:
Quality and standard of water fittings (including
plumbing materials, hydrostatic pressure they
should withstand, etc.)
Fitting should not be made of lead/lead alloy.
Installation of water service installations, and hot
water apparatus/heater
Testing of water fittings
Maintenance and security of water storage
tanks, including annual cleaning and disinfection

Public Utilities (Water Supply) Regulations

Allows PUB to prescribes requirements for:
Licensing of plumbers/water service workers
Water meters
Conservation of water and installation of water
saving devices
Flushing cisterns and flush valves (e.g. those
serving urinals and water-closet pans)

Public Utilities (Reservoirs and Catchment Areas)

Regulations
Allows PUB to prescribe requirements for:
Activities permitted in a catchment area park and
central water catchment area, e.g. driving of
lorries, fishing, camping, etc.
Prohibited activities, e.g. washing and bathing in
any reservoir, and defecating in the grounds.
Operating of any vessels or watercraft

Sewerage and Drainage Act

The Act primarily covers sewerage and drainage
systems.
However, it also provides powers to PUB to
prohibit any person from constructing any works for
taking or intercepting water from any place or sea,
without having the approval from PUB.
Example - rainwater, ground water, etc.

Piped drinking water

MAJOR LEGISLATION
ADMINISTERED BY NEA

 Environmental Public Health Act

Environmental Public Health (Quality of Piped

Drinking Water) Regulations
Came into effect on 1 August 2008
Supplemented by a Code of Practice on Piped
Drinking Water Sampling and Safety Plans

Environmental Public Health Act

PART IX
CONTROL OF PURITY OF WATER SUPPLIES

States that no person shall sell or offer for sale

water intended for human consumption which is
polluted or unwholesome.

EPH (Quality of Piped Drinking Water) Regulations

Suppliers are required to comply with the water
quality standards prescribed within the regulations.
The standards include about 100 healthbased and aesthetic parameters.
Comprises parameters:
Physico-chemical (pH, colour, turbidity)
Microbial (E. coli)
Radiological (Gross Alpha, Beta, and Rn-222)
Chemical parameters (e.g. pesticides, heavy
metals, etc.)

Physico-chemical parameters
1. Colour

: Max. 15 True Colour Units

2. Turbidity*

: Max. 5 NTU at consumers tap

3. pH

: 6.5-9.5

* For treated water leaving the plant, turbidity should not

exceed 1 NTU (even after addition of lime).
Particular consideration should also be given to any
abnormal increase in the turbidity levels. This is to
minimize the risk of cryptosporidium .

Microbial parameter
1. E. Coli (or alternatively,
thermotolerant coliform)

: shall not be detectable

in 100 ml sample

Other parameters that may need to be monitored as a part

of operational monitoring, depending upon the findings
of the water safety plan:
Colony counts (or heterotrophic plate count)
Cryptosporidium
Legionella bacteria
Clostridium perfringens (e.g. for ground water)

Radiological parameters
1. Gross Alpha

: Max. 0.5 becquerel/litre

2. Gross Beta

: Max. 1.0 becquerel/litre

3. Radon 222

: Max. 100 becquerel/litre

The above standards are for screening purpose.

In case of any specific contamination, further analysis of
water may become necessary to identify the presence of
the radionuclide.

Operational parameters that may need to be monitored,

depending upon the findings of the water safety plan.
The limits should be set, depending upon the historical
results of water testing.
Chloride
Conductivity, TDS
Hardness
Iron
Manganese
Odour
Taste
Total organic carbon
Sulphate
Zinc

Chemical Parameters (mg/l)

(A)

Contaminants from treatment chemicals

(B)

Contaminants from pipes and fittings

(C)

Cyanotoxin

(D)

Disinfectant

(E)

Disinfection byproducts

(F)

Inorganic chemicals, including heavy metals

(G) Organics
(H)

Pesticides used for public health purposes

(I)

Pesticides used for agricultural purpose

(A) Contaminants from treatment chemicals*

Acrylamide
Epichlorohydrin

0.0005
0.0004

(B) Contaminants from pipes and ttings

Antimony
0.02
Benzo[a]pyrene
0.0007
Copper
2
Lead
0.01
Nickel
0.07
Vinyl chloride
0.0003
* For Aluminium, the guideline values for operational
monitoring is 0.1 for large plants and 0.2 for small plants.

(C) Cyanotoxin
Microcystin-LR

0.001

For total microcystin-LR (free plus cell-bound)

(D) Disinfectant
Chlorine

5*

Monochloramine

* For effective disinfection, there should be residual free

chlorine of 0.5 mg/litre after at least 30 min contact time at
pH <8.0.

(E) Disinfection byproducts

THMs
Bromodichloromethane
Bromoform
Chloroform
Dibromochloromethane
THM ratio (sum of the ratio of the
concentration of each THM to its limit)

0.06
0.1
0.3
0.1
1

Others
Bromate

0.01

Chlorate

0.7

Chlorite

0.7

(E) Disinfection Byproducts

Cyanogen chloride
for cyanide as total cyanogenic compounds
Dibromoacetonitrile
Dichloroacetate
Dichloroacetonitrile
Monochloramine
Monochloroacetate
Trichloroacetate
Trichlorophenol, 2,4,6

0.07
0.07
0.05
0.02
3
0.02
0.2
0.2

(F) Inorganic chemicals, including heavy metals

Antimony
Arsenic
Barium
Boron
Cadmium
Chromium, in all forms as a total
Copper
Cyanide
Fluoride
Lead
Manganese

0.02
0.01
0.7
0.5
0.003
0.05
2
0.07
0.7
0.01
0.4

(F) Inorganic chemicals, including heavy metals

Mercury, in inorganic form
Molybdenum
Nickel
Nitrate (as NO3-)

0.006
0.07
0.07
50

Nitrate plus nitrite ratio

Nitrite (as NO2-)

1
3

Selenium
Uranium

0.01
0.015

(G) Organics
Benzene
Carbon tetrachloride
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate
Dichlorobenzene, 1,2
Dichlorobenzene, 1,4
Dichloroethane, 1,2
Dichloroethene, 1,2
Dichloromethane
Dioxane, 1,4
Edetic acid (EDTA)
Ethylbenzene

0.01
0.004
0.008
1
0.3
0.03
0.05
0.02
0.05
0.6
0.3

(G) Organics
Hexachlorobutadiene
Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)
Pentachlorophenol
Styrene
Tetrachloroethene
Toluene
Trichloroethene
Xylenes

0.0006
0.2
0.009
0.02
0.04
0.7
0.02
0.5

(H) Pesticides used for public health purposes

Chlorpyrifos
DDT and metabolites
Permethrin
Pyriproxyfen

0.03
0.001
0.3
0.3

(I) Pesticides used in agriculture

Alachlor

0.02

Aldicarb

0.01

(applies to aldicarb sulfoxide and aldicarb sulfone)

Aldrin and dieldrin

0.00003

(For combined aldrin plus dieldrin)

Atrazine

0.002

Carbofuran

0.007

Chlordane

0.0002

Chlorotoluron

0.03

Cyanazine

0.0006

2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, free acid

0.03

2,4-D Butyric acid

0.09

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane

0.001

1,2-Dibromoethane

0.0004

1,2-Dichloropropane (1,2-DCP)

0.04

1,3-Dichloropropene

0.02

Dichlorprop

0.1

Dimethoate

0.006

Endrin

0.0006

(I) Pesticides used in agriculture

Fenoprop

0.009

Isoproturon

0.009

Lindane

0.002

MCPA

0.002

Mecoprop

0.01

Methoxychlor

0.02

Metolachlor

0.01

Molinate

0.006

Pendimethalin

0.02

Simazine

0.002

2,4,5-T

0.009

Terbuthylazine

0.007

Triuralin

0.02

Methoxychlor

0.02

Metolachlor

0.01

Molinate

0.006

Pendimethalin

0.02

Simazine

0.002

2,4,5-T

0.009

Terbuthylazine

0.007

Triuralin

0.02

EPH (Quality of Piped Drinking Water) Regulations

The standards are based on
WHO Guidelines.

The standards have undergone review by the

Technical Committee on National Drinking Water
Quality Standards, which comprises local and
overseas experts.

Water quality
PUBs typical values for the treated water quality.

EPH (Quality of Piped Drinking Water) Regulations

The suppliers are required to:
Submit to NEA details on water treatment
processes, and chemicals and materials used in the
production and distribution of water.
Prepare and implement water sampling plan and
water safety plans (WSPs) approved by NEA.
WSPs should include hazard assessment and
risk characterization, and should be prepared in
accordance to the prescribed format and Code
of Practice.

EPH (Quality of Piped Drinking Water) Regulations

The suppliers are required to:
Submit test results to NEA in accordance to the
approved water sampling plans.
Ensure that measures are put in place to prevent
contamination or adulteration of water samples.
Carry out testing of water in an approved
(accredited) lab.

EPH (Quality of Piped Drinking Water) Regulations

The suppliers are required to:
Ensure that site test kits are checked for
calibration,

and

maintained

in

good

working

condition.
Notify NEA within 24 hours in case of failure to
comply with the water quality standards, and should
also take appropriate remedial actions.
Keep records for 5 to 10 years.

!
u
o
Y
k
n
a
Th