COS 2012 Debates: MEWR – Charges On Water Consumption

by MP for Aljunied GRC, Low Thia Khiang


Chairman Sir,

1. All of us can appreciate the importance of water conservation, especially in a place like Singapore. However, I am of the view that the government has over taxed Singapore households for water consumption.

2. Besides charging water consumption by block, the government also imposes a Water Conservation Tax, a Sanitary Appliance Fee and a Waterborne Fee.

3. While it is important to discourage excessive water consumption, the government should not take a punitive approach of slapping households with heavy tax measures, given that water is an essential commodity in every household.

4. According to the government, the Water Conservation Tax is to reinforce water conservation message. However, charges for consumption is already based on block usage. Households using more than 40 cubic meters a month are charged a much higher tariff. Is this not enough to reinforce the message of water conservation?

5. The Sanitary Appliance Fee and Waterborne Fee are to offset the cost of treating used water and for the operation and maintenance of the public sewerage system.

6. With the advent of New Water, the whole public sewerage system is now part of the operation for producing New Water. This is now a source of income for the PUB, which resells the clean water to households. With this development, is it fair to continue charging households the same fees? Should the government not review the fees charged?

7. Finally, we also have an issue of a tax on tax. Households have to pay GST for the Water Conservation Tax. It is not right to further tax the people on the taxes they pay!

8. I urge the government to consider removing the Water Conservation tax and reduce the fees imposed on domestic water consumption to help to lower the cost of living for Singaporeans.