Good time to start water-rationing exercise

Singapore has been experiencing a dry spell for the past month. According to a recent report ("Dry spell ahead may see water rationing"; Jan 24), water rationing could be one way for Singapore to deal with the dry spell.

Although the current spell is not as bad as last year's record-breaking one, we should take this opportunity to start a water-rationing exercise to remind residents of the need to conserve water and not take this resource for granted.

Some residents will complain about the inconvenience caused but it is important to build resilience and familiarity now with the procedures for water rationing, so that we will be ready in the future should water rationing really be necessary.

An islandwide exercise is preferable, although that may take up too much time and effort. Another option is to have smaller water-rationing exercises for housing estates or blocks that are the heaviest water consumers, that is, the top 10 per cent to 20 per cent based on their water consumption last year.

The rationale is to target and educate these heavy water users first. These exercises could be extended to the other housing estates later.

Let Singaporeans, especially the younger generation, experience what it is like to have no water for a day. If one day of inconvenience can spark a little mindfulness about water, it is worth trying.

Eugene Tay Tse Chuan

This article was first published on March 9, 2015.
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