SINGAPORE – The downward trend in household water consumption after a spike in usage during the pandemic years has continued, with water usage declining in 2023 to 141 litres a person per day, down from 149 litres in 2022.

Per capita daily use of water in the domestic sector last reached 141 litres in 2018 and 2019 – the lowest since 151 litres in 2015.

In 2020 and 2021, as the Covid-19 pandemic kept most people at home, household water use peaked. Household water consumption was 154 litres per person per day in 2020, and 158 litres in 2021.

Under the Singapore Green Plan 2030, the goal is to reduce household water consumption to 130 litres per person a day.

About 45 per cent of Singapore’s daily water consumption of 440 million gallons goes to households. The remaining 55 per cent is used by industries and non-domestic sectors.

National water agency PUB revealed the daily water usage figure for 2023 on March 9 at the launch of its annual water conservation campaign at Jurong Lake Gardens.

One reason for the drop in home water use between 2022 and 2023 could be more people returning to work and school as the country transitioned to living with the virus, said PUB’s chief sustainability officer Ridzuan Ismail.

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, speaking to the media on the sidelines of the launch, said Singapore has done very well in reducing water consumption to the pre-pandemic level. Although encouraging, she said, it is still some way from the 130-litre goal.

“We have to work very hard because 141 litres is the lowest we have hit pre-Covid-19, and (that level) seems to be a little bit stubborn. So we have to see how we can bring it down further,” she added.

One focus of the campaign, which coincides with the Singapore World Water Day celebrations in March, is to encourage water efficiency among homes and businesses.

“Simple daily habits at home, such as reusing water and making a more conscious effort to purchase water-efficient fittings and appliances, can help to save water,” said PUB in a statement.

A household water consumption study conducted by the agency from 2021 to 2022 showed that showering, flushing, washing in the kitchen and doing the laundry comprised about 80 per cent of a home’s total water usage.

From April 15, Housing Board households will receive $300 worth of e-vouchers that can be used to buy 10 types of energy- and water-saving appliances and fittings. Water-saving products can lower water bills over time.

The 10 products contribute to around 60 per cent of an average household’s electricity consumption, and around 90 per cent of water consumption.

Six in 10 of the products are water-related appliances such as water closets, washing machines and heat pump water heaters.

PUB said households that use less water-efficient fittings and flushing cisterns, but want to reduce water usage, can request a free PUB Water Saver Pack on the agency’s website from March 9.

The pack comprises thimbles for showerheads and kitchen and bathroom sink taps, flush saver cistern bags, and leak detection tablets for the flushing cistern.

The filled cistern bags can be placed inside a flush cistern, so that less water is used for every flush.

Items in the water saver pack are designed for water appliances or fittings that are less efficient and generally labelled with up to two ticks. The thimbles can be affixed to less-efficient taps and showerheads to reduce water flow.

Ms Fu said that the hardware, including water-saving products, and habits – such as running a washing machine only with a full load of clothes – would go a long way in cutting down the remaining 10 litres or so to reach 130 litres.

Singapore’s water demand is expected to almost double by 2065, with the non-domestic sector accounting for two-thirds of the resource.

With the cost of producing and supplying water exceeding the current price, PUB announced in September 2023 that water will cost an additional 20 cents per cubic m from April 2024, and a further 30 cents from April 2025.

The event at Jurong Lake Gardens, which faces one of the country’s 17 reservoirs, drew about 2,000 participants, including school students, environment groups and industry players.

The campaign launch was also attended by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

Speaking at the event, he urged residents to look beyond the water that flows from their taps at home, and consider the water used to make their furniture, food and clothes.

“Everything we consume actually consumes water somewhere in the world. There is a water footprint, just like there is a carbon footprint in everything we consume,” said Mr Tharman.

Noting that food production – especially the farming of livestock – is a huge water guzzler, Mr Tharman encouraged attendees to eat less beef and shift to plant-based proteins. He also reminded them to reduce food waste.

President Tharman added: “This is something we have to think about (in) the years ahead, beyond saving what comes out of the tap in our home. Changing our diets, buying less fast fashion and changing our clothes less often.”

This is important because there is the water crisis, which also leads to the climate crisis, he said.