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Yesterday, while listening to my favourite podcast (No Such Thing As A Fish), I learnt a shocking, incredible and downright unbelievable fact. Here’s the fact: Singapore is number one in the world in bottled water consumption and spending per capita. Here’s the kicker: It’s not even close. According to a UN study published in 2023, Singapore’s 1,129 litres and $1,348 per capita in 2021 is miles and away higher than second place Australia (504 litres and $386).The graphs illustrating this are hilarious. Singapore is so far out from all the other countries that they have to create an additional graph segment just for us. We are quite literally not even on the same scale as the rest of the world. When I first heard this fact, I literally could not believe it. How is that even remotely possible? I don’t think I buy more than one bottled water a month, and most people I know around me don’t drink bottled water on a highly regular basis. In fact, I cannot think of anyone I know that solely drinks bottled water. Think about it. 1,129 litres per capita means that an average Singaporean drinks 3.09 litres of bottled water A DAY. I don’t even think that many people drink 3.09 litres of any water a day. Which brings us to a very simple question: How is this possible? When The Straits Times reported on this in 2023, one reason provided was the relative affordability of bottled water in Singapore (true), as well as it being widely accessible (also true). However, the article also cited a report that indicated that “only 3 per cent of the 1,000 households surveyed actually consumed bottled water.” That seems inherently contradictory, and the article does little to offer any clear resolution. I’ve probably spent way too much thinking about this, but I would like to propose some possible explanations (going off the assumption that the UN think tank’s methodology is correct). To be clear, Singapore isn’t the top consumer or spender by volume. USA is the top consumer and spender (61,418 million litres and 63,844 million USD respectively). Singapore is 12th in terms of total volume consumed (approx. under 6,000 million litres), and sixth in terms of bottled water sales (approx. 7.4 million USD). My guess is that the calculations are based on a total per country calculation of consumption and spending, divided by population. That’s how ‘per capita’ works, essentially. Clearly, one important thing to point out is our population size. Because we are significantly smaller than countries like USA/China/Indonesia (the top three in both categories), once you calculate per capita, our numbers shoot up. That’s unfortunately a mathematical reality. But, there is still the obvious question of where exactly that spending and consumption is happening. I don’t think it’s the everyday you and me (how much bottled water are you consuming daily???). I believe the answer is… corporate. Workplaces, offices, as well as events. Think about it. Many workplaces and offices have bottled water in large quantities – both in the typical 500ml bottles, as well as those big 19L bottles for water coolers. Our previous office space used those very same water coolers (we’ve transitioned now to a filter system), while boxes of 500ml bottles sit in the storeroom for when guests visit. And Singapore have SO MANY OFFICES. Not just in the CBD, but everywhere around the island. And this isn’t limited to offices. Retail and hospitality has to also be taken into account. It is typically considered courtesy to offer a guest/customer water to drink, right? I am surely guilty of this when walking into car showrooms when collecting test cars. And, I think another major element of consumption is during events. Singapore is purposely big on events – MICE events, as well as all kinds of activities otherwise (think F1, National Day, marathons, whatever other events you can think of). And of course, these events are not just catered to locals, but to international guests as well. At any of these events, you can easily expect not just cartons, but pellets and even full containers of bottled water. And of course, tourism. Just as you would likely buy water instead of carrying a water bottle around when on holiday, the same is likely true for tourists coming in to Singapore. There’s just a lot of them, and not that many of us locals to mathematically balance the scales, so to speak. Once you take all of that into account, then the numbers start to make a bit more sense. While the average Singaporean probably does not buy bottled water at their local kopitiam every day, there are still many instances of us consuming bottled water, at last on a national level. And while we may not be individually responsible for the spending and consumption, we cannot also ignore the reality of our collective spending and consumption on a national level. The report is more concerned about issues like clean water availability. However, the Singapore numbers reflect something else entirely - the hyper-modernity of our little city, and the hyper-consumption that follows. With our dense concentration of high-rise office buildings, the constant in and out of VIPs from all over the world, as well as the endless major events taking place all around the country, that certainly drives up bottled water demand and consumption. Our hyper-modernity makes for an environment where immediate and easy access to ‘quality water’ becomes almost fetishised, precisely because we don't have to worry about scarcity. Additionally, unlike huge countries like USA and China who may have rural areas without ready access to bottled water that effectively ‘balance’ out their statistics, we don’t have any such things. The consequent result is that the scales are tipped heavily toward consumption. There’s no ‘bell-curving’ Singapore. Factor in our low population relative to these massive countries, and those shocking per capita numbers start to make a bit more sense. Hyper-consumption, of course, leads to the inevitable matter of waste – specifically plastic pollution (another important issue highlighted within the report). While recycling certainly happens, it’s hard to negotiate the sheer scale of what we, collectively as a People, are dealing with. Here are some pertinent quotes from the report: “about 85% of all plastic bottles sold become waste” “Microplastics, of which PET makes up a part, comprise over 80% of the annual plastic pollution in the environment, around 22 million tonnes in 2019” “It is estimated that humans ingest an amount of plastic equivalent to the size of a credit card on a weekly basis” “Since the 1950s, only 6.5% of all plastics produced have been recycled and today, only 14% is recycled” And while some countries like Norway and Switzerland have plastic recycling rates over 80%, Singapore’s plastic recycling rate is… six. Not 60. 6 percent. I’m no eco-crusader. But I do think this single statistical instance of bottled water does cast a stark light on our hyper-consumption. And while you may often hear (or even make) the argument, “I’m just one person, what difference can I make?”, I think that’s almost entirely beside the point. There are certainly people out there to change the world. I am not one of them. However, I do believe that each of us individually can make an effort to change ourselves. Every little bit counts. And to be clear, I’m not for a moment saying that people should suddenly boycott bottled water, or drastically change your way of life. Rather, it’s more about being just a little bit more aware of your individual consumption patterns, and not simply and blindly accept endless convenience. Singaporeans will continue to consume bottled water, myself included. But if we can each of us just make a tiny effort to do it less, to resist that easy convenience where possible, then perhaps we as a country can move the needle ever so slightly. We love to be number one in the world. I just don't think this is one of those instances where being number one is all that good. ~ Desmond Images: Wikimedia Commons, National Environment Agency, United Nations University

Cost of treating and supplying water in Singapore up significantly, says PUB Due to higher construction and manpower costs, the second phase of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System will cost S$6.5 billion – almost twice that of the first phase. SINGAPORE: The cost of treating and supplying water has risen significantly with energy and construction costs driving up expenses, said national water agency PUB on Friday (Sep 22). Achieving water security has become “more challenging” globally and Singapore is no exception, PUB said during a progress update of the Tuas Water Reclamation Plant. About a third of the plant – a key component in the second phase of Singapore’s Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) – has been completed. Some of the challenges include climate change which has increased the frequency of extreme weather, increased water demand that is projected to almost double by 2065, as well as external cost pressures due to global supply chain disruptions and geopolitical events. “These external cost pressures are not unique to PUB,” said the agency, highlighting the increased costs for energy, construction, chemicals and maintenance. Energy costs have gone up as the average electricity tariffs increased by almost 37 per cent since 2017 – and about 50 per cent at its peak – due to rising fuel prices. “With increasing water demand, PUB needs to tap on more energy-intensive supply sources such as desalination and NEWater, and treat more used water,” said the agency. Overall construction costs in Singapore have gone up by 35 per cent since 2017. Constructing water infrastructure in an increasingly urbanised environment is more costly as it involves building more compact structures to lower land footprint, and adopting less-intrusive construction methods to minimise the need for road or utility diversions, said PUB. Citing an example of a less-intrusive method of constructing pipelines known as pipejacking, PUB said the cost of using this method is now S$17 million (US$12.4 million) for every kilometre - a 70 per cent increase from the S$10 million per km in 2017. Due to higher construction and manpower costs, the second phase of DTSS will cost S$6.5 billion. This is almost twice that of Phase 1, which cost S$3.4 billion when it was built almost two decades ago, said PUB. The cost of constructing the deep tunnels for Phase 2 has also more than tripled, the agency added. In addition, the operating expenses for chemicals, which are key materials in the water treatment process, have grown by about 33 per cent since 2017. The maintenance costs of the water system have also risen by 18 per cent, as COVID-19 and supply chain disruptions have driven increases in costs for manpower and parts for the water system. SAVING ENERGY, SPACE AND COSTS To improve energy efficiency, the Tuas Water Reclamation Plant will incorporate water treatment technologies to allow the plant to generate 80 per cent of the energy it requires to treat used water. This is a “vast improvement” compared to the 25 per cent at the water reclamation plants in Ulu Pandan and Jurong, said PUB. The plant will also increase the rate of NEWater recovery without using additional energy. To offset higher construction costs, treated effluent will be directly discharged into the sea. This way, a long and deep discharge pipe need not be constructed, which would have cost at least S$650 million, said PUB. The national water agency added it will also implement technologies at the Tuas Water Reclamation Plant for 30 per cent more compact treatment units compared to the conventional ones, thus reducing land footprint. Biological treatment processes for odour control and primary treatment of used water will be deployed at the plant to reduce the need for chemicals. PUB added that it is also implementing smart technologies such as online sensors and automated systems to ensure the plant’s operations are cost- and manpower-efficient. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/tuas-water-reclamation-plant-energy-construction-pub-deep-tunnel-sewerage-system-3788511 Cost of delivering water continues to rise and will need to be reflected in water prices: Amy Khor https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/cost-of-delivering-water-continues-to-rise-and-will-need-to-be-reflected-in-water-prices-amy-khor brace brace brace

https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/feng-blew-his-money-shui-mans-wallet-falls-marina-reservoir-scattering-50-notes?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR03YbmQwF_06BzrLfltGpiaketb0z6xEzeK9ej5O9QOGSpswy5uew1zLdA#Echobox=1659003668 'Feng blew his money into shui': Man's wallet falls into Marina Reservoir, scattering $50 notes JULY 28, 2022PUBLISHED AT 5:30 PM By CLAUDIA TAN Bryan Lee and his friends witnessed a man's wallet get blown into Marina reservoir, and tried to retrieve some of the notes. Screengrab/TikTok/Bryan Lee It's painful when your money "flies", even more so when it happens literally. Well, that's what happened to one man whose his wallet was blown into Marina Reservoir on Wednesday (July 27) evening. The aftermath of the incident was captured by Bryan Lee, who happened to be in the area with his friends. "Free money at MBS," the 32-year-old video producer wrote in his TikTok video which showed an assortment of $10 and $50 bills floating in the water. As if the man wasn't unlucky enough, he had been telling someone over the phone how to "keep their wealth". "Dude, your money literally just flew away into the water," Lee wrote. Speaking to AsiaOne on Thursday, Lee said: "We overheard him talking about things like keeping wealth, water and metal elements and their chart, as well as a few other fengshui items". According to Lee, the man didn't seem to realise his own "wealth" had slipped away. "He was still engrossed in his phone call. We're not even sure if he realised that he had lost his money," remarked Lee. At the time of writing, the video has racked up more than 300,000 views on TikTok. "The feng [Chinese for 'wind'] literally blew his money into the shui [Chinese for 'water']," one commented. Several others also chimed in about how they would've jumped into the water to retrieve the floating bills. Responding to some of these comments, Lee said that jumping in wouldn't be a wise move, as it is illegal to swim in Singapore's reservoirs. However, that didn't seem to stop his friends from trying to net some fortune for themselves. In a second TikTok video, Lee showed his friends trying to scoop the notes out of the water using a makeshift net, attached to some rope they had in their car. Sadly, their attempt didn't yield any rewards. "By then, most of the cash had sunk into the water, and my friends weren't successful in retrieving whatever was left," he said.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/japan-earthquake-northeast-coast-tsunmai-warning-fukushima-miyagi-2569286 Earthquake again. 7.3 on Richter scale

He did it before, and he WILL do it again! Mahathir strikes again! Mahathir on his decision to withdraw his appeal on the ownership of Pedra Branca after the International Court of Justice granted Singapore sovereignty over the island in 2008. He then decided to talk about well, water cost again lol. 😂 Go to mothership to read the full information. As Mothership rightfully puts it on their Facebook caption, "Just Mahathir being Mahathir." I'll highlight his key comments about Singapore below. Singapore has become "a foreign country" Mahathir also commented further on Singapore in his lengthy Facebook post. He said that Malaysia has a "liberal policy" on land ownership, which makes it vulnerable to losing its rights over lands owned by foreigners. "If foreigners own a large part of the land, then the country, physically, is not owned by the citizens," he wrote. "That's what happened to Singapore." He added that Singapore was a Malay land, but today, it has apparently become a "foreign country". Malaysia "sold" parts of the country to Singapore Another point that Mahathir raised in the post was that one of the ways to lose a country is to sell its sand or water to others. "If the sand that was sold off to other countries was used for their reclamation and expansion, then it's the same as selling off parts of our country to others," he wrote. "We sold Singapore," he said, referring to the two countries' past history. He also said the land and water sold to Singapore made the island bigger, and it is now owned by Singaporeans, developed under the Singapore government. "This is the reason why Malaysia prohibits the selling of our land, and disputed the selling of water to other nations." Unfortunately, he said, "some administrations of the Malaysian government" are willing to sell raw water for three cents per 1,000 gallons to foreign countries "because they are lazy or scared to demand their rights".

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/13/fukushima-japan-to-start-dumping-contaminated-water-pacific-ocean Do not understand what is wrong with leaders these days even said the treated radioactive water is drinkable...if its really safe to drink why they need to dump it in the ocean? just get the population of Japan to consume it! dun we have enough problems on earth oready!

达曼裕廊惨案 厕所热水器或肇祸 妻救夫 儿救双亲 一家三口疑触电死 The uncle collapsed in the bathroom while showering. Wife tried to save him and was electrocuted. Son saw his parents collapsed in the bathroom and tried to save them and he was electrocuted as well. Water heater suspected to be the cause. This is tragic 😢

People, I noticed that from my 15 year old rental apartment the tap water from the 2 toilets is brownish if you don't use them for like 2 days. Basically, the first 3-5 seconds is brown but it clears up quickly and don't come back until you don't use the tap for like 2 or more days. I tried running the taps for like 5 minutes but the problem still come back. Not sure if it is because the apartment is left empty for long periods of time but I am wondering if I can fix this. Our renovation plumber say this is a common problem with old apartment and has no fix. I am hoping to fix this as I don't want to inconvenience my new tenant. Anyone have solved a similar problem before? Since it is only for like 3-5 seconds I suspect the sediments come from piping close to the tap. I am wondering if I can remove them or something... The water from the kitchen tap looks clear though.

Hi I am getting lazier in washing my car. But I wish to wash it myself. Any recommendation for All-In-One (AIO) product that I can do in less than 20mins? Preferably something that I can just spray water, apply, wipe off. Not trying to achieve any outstanding results after wash. Just a clean exterior will do. Thanks!

The Bennington water heater we've had for eight years started leaking water from the unit yesterday. Anyone else had this problem and how did you solve it. Can't contact Bennington except to 'leave a message'. Any good plumbers to recommend and is it best to replace the heater with a similar model or change to an instant water heater and if so any recommendations.

This is a thread asking how much do you spend on your utility bill monthly and how we can reduce it Dear friends I was in a chat with some friends over lunch and I was shocked to find the variation, so I hope everyone can share the amount they spend and also how they reduce it. Maybe everyone can post the total bill size (including gas, water and electricity if it is from different vendors) and the number of members in the household and any other info? Eg I have a friend in a four storey landed with 9 pax and two kids who use $900 plus a month - they have the aircon turned on in the living room most of the waking hours. Another young couple only use $30 a month and they spend most of their time at work and seldom eat at home. Here are some tips on saving electricity from Asiaone : https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/10-hacks-save-your-water-and-electricity-bill-home More tips: https://iswitch.com.sg/save-electricity-tips/ https://www.pub.gov.sg/savewater/athome/watersavinghabits

The Escape Theme Park in Penang is going to have the world’s longest water slide. Measuring 1,140m long, the waterslide is already 80 per cent complete, and is expected to be ready by next month. The theme park’s chief executive officer Sim Choo Kheng, said: “It is expected to be the longest in the world, longer than the water slide in New Jersey, USA, which is 602m long. “It can go into the Guinness Book of Records. “It is a challenge to build due to topographical factors and lack of machinery. “It is expected to open to the public in early August after a security check is carried out,” he said, after a site visit with chairman of Penang Development, Heritage, Culture and Arts Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin on Sunday (June 23). Visitors will slide down from the hilltop and cross Jalan Teluk Bahang to the suspension bridge and end up at the water theme park. The hilltop is also the start of other rides such as luge (sleds down the hill), zip coasters and sliding tubes. The theme park already has a 300m long water slide that was launched last year. Mr Sim said a 400m long cable car ride with 30 seats would also be completed at the same time as the water slide. “The cable car connects between the foothills and the water slide. “It is unique as it goes through the jungle,” he added. The theme park is listed in the international holiday assessor site, TripAdvisor.

Singapore authorities recall bottled water from Malaysia containing bacteria Authorities here have issued a recall of bottled mineral water imported from Malaysia after it was found to contain a common environmental bacterium that is found in faeces, soil, water and sewage. In a media statement on Wednesday (June 12), the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said that the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in Malaysia’s “Starfresh” bottled drinking water during a routine sampling of the product. It comes in 500ml and 1.5 litre bottles. The agency said it has directed the importer Radha Exports to recall all affected products, with the process ongoing. It pointed out that the bacterium can multiply in water environments and also on the surface of suitable organic materials in contact with water. “Use or consumption of products contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause a range of infections but rarely causes serious illness in healthy individuals,” said the agency. Consumers who have purchased the product are advised not to consume it. Those who might have done so and are concerned about their health should seek medical advice, said the agency. Affected consumers, it added, can contact Radha Exports at 6220 2777 for enquiries or exchange of product.

SINGAPORE: The supply of water to Singapore was disrupted after the PUB's Johor River Waterworks halted water treatment operations due to the high levels of ammonia in the river, Singapore's national water agency said on Thursday (Apr 4). A spokesman said: “PUB’s waterworks in Johor, the Johor River Waterworks (JRWW), has stopped treatment operations this afternoon due to high ammonia levels found in the Johor River. “The stoppage of treatment operations at JRWW disrupted its water supply to Singapore and some parts of Johor. Water supply in Singapore is not affected as PUB has stepped up production at the desalination plants and local waterworks to meet demand. “PUB is monitoring the raw water quality in Johor River closely and will resume abstraction and treatment of raw water when water quality is suitable.” Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ammonia-pollution-johor-river-singapore-water-supply-disrupted-11413570 Everything there's something new about sg and msia. What's next...

This morning i was running in the park and saw a jogger letting his dog drink from the water fountain. Then came a jogger shouting "u stupid or what! that water fountain is meant for humans not dogs!" it kind of get me thinking, the poor dog is thirsty after a run and i will always wipe off before i drink...why the fuss? whats your thoughts?

For maybe a week there's been a da da da da etc noise coming from a 60mm diameter water pipe in our utilities cupboard. The da da da noise is extremely loud and the da da are as fast as you can say them. It kept me up most of last night as it seems to travel up and down the floors of our 40 story HDB, sometimes loud on our floor sometimes loud on another floor. My missus has spoken to Town Council and yesterday they sent a plumber to fix it, don't know why because I doubt if he has a clue - no disrespect to him. He removed a small pressure gauge from our Utilities cupboard and that was the sum of his work. He didn't even put a plug in the hole the pressure gauge left. I think this is water hammer, anyone confirm and who best to contact to deal with it. Driving me mad, like.

Hi all, last year my new car was coated (i paid over $1k for it) by one of the more reputable coating companies. Car was only 2 days old when it was coated. 6 months later, there were scratches on the boot surface, and water marks on boot, roof and bonnet. The applied hydrophobic effects on the windscreen is also gone. I sent the car back to touch up. Another 8 months later, I had to respray certain panels because I cannot take the scratches. Yup, some ppl scratched my car. But besides that, I have many lines near the door handle, and lines on the bonnet and boot. I've never put anything on them. The guy who repainted my car told me the water marks on my car very bad. I told him cos I park outdoor daily, thats why I know. I did coating to prevent, also cannot. I have to send it back to be re-coated. So after 1 year 2 months of ownership, I don't think I get what I paid for. Maybe coating is not suitable for people who park outdoors. Am I the only one who feels that coating was over-rated? Or it has limited capabilities when it comes to handling the harsh weather, especially for people who park outdoors. What could be a better solution? (besides clean the car everyday! haha)

Hi All, Any Civic drivers facing the same issue with water droplets in the head / back lights after rain or wash? Is it normal? My paint protection guys told me this is a defect for a new car, suspected sealant has not been done properly. But the Honda agent say it is normal

hey guys came across this not sure if anyone has tried or bought before? useful? https://ezbuy.sg/product/10203761.html spray on car mirror/window

Where to buy Joven Water Heater with Booster Pump In JB can give me address if u know

Gahmen is introducing the new Water tax in 2018 Let's discuss here

Hi, Looking for an electrician to rewire my friend's resale HDB. Actually do we need EMA certified electrician to do the work? Cos I guess a lot of electrician from the north do not have such certification but of course their price are cheaper. By the way, if you have any good electrician pls recommend.... I found some with $45 for single 13A power gang and $55 for double power gang, $28 for light point.... See any can be better than this... Thanks!!

Water caught fire with underground volcanic gas discharge to the surface https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmY71cca_DI

Since domestic helper went back for home leave for a month, has been thinking of getting a water dispenser to reduce the hassle of boiling hot water and storing cool water and cleaning works. With a big family size, this seems very logical to have. Chanced upon the Fontan office dispenser awhile ago and was impressed with its look. It connects directly to water pipe and can provide hot and chilled water. But am looking at Fontan Home since I do not need a 6L hot water capacity. http://blondal.com.sg/products/fontan-home/ Then I came across this Tong Yang water dispenser at a neighborhood shop in Bedok that specializes in water dispensers. The shop stocks nothing but water dispensers. The model featured was touted at $938 with free installation. Set of 3 filters to be replaced annually at $120. The uncle was very confident of the product, throwing Mount-E hospital clinincs as his existing customers. And check online found it could be had for $688 with installation, so still looking around. Btw, this particular model has been rebranded by several companies, most notably Novita. http://www.lazada.sg/korea-tong-yang-water-dispenser-hot-and-cold-water-dispenser-with-best-water-purifier-3-magic-korea-water-filters-black-2486152.html http://www.courts.com.sg/novita-hydroplus-water-dispenserhot-cold-with-installation-np3360-h-with-installation-ip093855-m.html http://english.magic.co.kr/App/product/proDetail.asp?prdt_no=70&ctgr_no1=3&ctgr_no2=12&page=1&iMNum1=2&iMNum2=1 I would like to seek opinion from fellow forummers if you have any personal experience in using this kind of products. But please do not bring the Alkaline/ distilled/mineral water arguments into this thread. I only want a simple water dispenser with some filtration function that is able to run off a pipe and serves water and chilled water. Many TIA... Added: seems like the cold water function could be turned off, serving just rom temperature water.

Anyone went?? Looks better than Legoland one.