The other way of encourage water conservation is to give out REBATES to those who use less water per pax, right? Did the Papayas not say that cost of water production has come down by recycling Sporns' shit water? Any more doubt the Papayas are only interested in increasing their SUCKING EFFICIENCY from Sporns? Still dun wanna emigrate?
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Sep 16, 2008
parliament
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Water tax sends important message
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Jeremy Au Yong
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Completed recently, the Marina Barrage (above), created a new reservoir. Combined with two other reservoirs, in Punggol and Serangoon, which are on schedule to be finished by next year, the three will increase the catchment area from half to two-thirds of Singapore's land area. Dr Yaacob says the tax sends the message that water is a strategic resource to be used judiciously. -- ST FILE PHOTO
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->THE water conservation tax is here to stay as it sends an important message to Singaporeans, said Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim yesterday.
Asked by MP Low Thia Khiang (Hougang) if Singapore's eventual water self-sufficiency would see the tax being done away with, Dr Yaacob responded: Not under my watch.
He explained: 'It is put in place to send an important message to Singaporeans that water is a strategic resource. Use, by all means, but use it judiciously.
'It is important for us to send that message and I don't think, at least during my time as minister, that we would remove the water conservation tax... We help people at the bottom who may have difficulties.'
The tax on usage is set at either 30 per cent or 45 per cent, with heavy users paying more.
Dr Yaacob had earlier given an update on Singapore's efforts to become self-sufficient in terms of water supply.
The country's long-term strategy is known as the Four National Taps, which are water from local catchments, imported water, Newater and desalinated water.
He said Marina Barrage, a dam built across Marina Bay to create a new reservoir, had recently been completed and two other reservoirs, in Punggol and Serangoon, were on schedule to be finished by next year.
Combined, the three will increase the catchment area from half to two-thirds of Singapore's land area.
As for Newater, Dr Yaacob said the construction of the fifth and largest Newater plant in Changi would increase production, to meet up to 30 per cent of Singapore's water needs by 2011.
Newater now meets 15 per cent of the country's needs. A desalination plant in Tuas, meanwhile, produces up to 10 per cent of Singapore's water needs.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Sep 16, 2008
parliament
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Water tax sends important message
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Jeremy Au Yong
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Completed recently, the Marina Barrage (above), created a new reservoir. Combined with two other reservoirs, in Punggol and Serangoon, which are on schedule to be finished by next year, the three will increase the catchment area from half to two-thirds of Singapore's land area. Dr Yaacob says the tax sends the message that water is a strategic resource to be used judiciously. -- ST FILE PHOTO
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->THE water conservation tax is here to stay as it sends an important message to Singaporeans, said Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim yesterday.
Asked by MP Low Thia Khiang (Hougang) if Singapore's eventual water self-sufficiency would see the tax being done away with, Dr Yaacob responded: Not under my watch.
He explained: 'It is put in place to send an important message to Singaporeans that water is a strategic resource. Use, by all means, but use it judiciously.
'It is important for us to send that message and I don't think, at least during my time as minister, that we would remove the water conservation tax... We help people at the bottom who may have difficulties.'
The tax on usage is set at either 30 per cent or 45 per cent, with heavy users paying more.
Dr Yaacob had earlier given an update on Singapore's efforts to become self-sufficient in terms of water supply.
The country's long-term strategy is known as the Four National Taps, which are water from local catchments, imported water, Newater and desalinated water.
He said Marina Barrage, a dam built across Marina Bay to create a new reservoir, had recently been completed and two other reservoirs, in Punggol and Serangoon, were on schedule to be finished by next year.
Combined, the three will increase the catchment area from half to two-thirds of Singapore's land area.
As for Newater, Dr Yaacob said the construction of the fifth and largest Newater plant in Changi would increase production, to meet up to 30 per cent of Singapore's water needs by 2011.
Newater now meets 15 per cent of the country's needs. A desalination plant in Tuas, meanwhile, produces up to 10 per cent of Singapore's water needs.
