Stiffer penalties will be slapped on those who damage water infrastructure or installations as well as those who pollute the water catchment.
The authorities are also seeking to expand the pool of enforcement officers.
Yesterday, Parliament passed amendments to the Public Utilities Act. Under the changes, those who damage water installations - such as waterworks and desalination plants - could fined up to S$200,000 and/or jailed up to three years.
Those who damage water infrastructure will pay higher penalties commensurate with the severity of the damage. Any person who, for instance, damages a water main managed by national water agency PUB could be fined up to S$40,000 and/or jailed up to three months. If the water main is 300mm or more in diameter, he or she could be fined up to S$200,000 and/or jailed up to three years.
Previously, any person who damaged PUB property could be fined up to S$10,000 and/or jail of up to three years.
To avoid damaging underground infrastructure, thorough site investigations will be required before any excavation, piling or similar work is done. Trial trenches must also be dug to physically ascertain the location of any water mains or sewers.
PUB will be allowed to authorise any persons to perform any function or duty subject to conditions specified by the agency.
According to Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan, PUB is considering engaging agents for catchment surveillance and for the enforcement of laws regulating minor offences such as littering or causing nuisance at reservoir parks and waterways.
The Sewerage and Drainage Act will also be amended to put in place an additional tier of penalties for damages to larger infrastructure in the used-water system (pipes of 0.9m or more in diameter): Those found guilty will be liable to a fine up to S$200,000 and/or jailed up to two years.
Noting that the “challenge of meeting the water needs of our population and economy will be even more complex”, Dr Balakrishnan said the amendment that will be put in place “safeguards to enable the expansion of our local water catchments, to protect our NEWater production and to protect key infrastructure across our entire water loop”.
Other changes to the Sewerage and Drainage Act include the requirement of adequate control measures for silt discharge at work sites before any work takes place - an order may be issued to stop the works if the measures are inadequate. The maximum fine for those who fail to comply is raised from S$20,000 to S$50,000.
Dr Balakrishnan said a “pre-emptive approach to controlling pollution is necessary” as Singapore continues to expand the water catchment area and any water pollution in these areas would make the water more difficult and costly to treat.
