Singaporean Updates: PUB sets new benchmark for Water Efficiency in the Non-domestic Sector with Enhanced Water Efficient Building Certification (4 Sep 2013)

PUB sets new benchmark for Water Efficiency in the Non-domestic Sector with Enhanced Water Efficient Building Certification

PUB and SPRING Singapore to provide funding for the non-domestic sector to be more water efficient

The national water agency, PUB recognised 23 recipients in the Industry, Building and School sectors for their exemplary performance in water efficiency. These recipients are the first to be recognised under the enhanced certification of Water Efficient Building (WEB) and received their certificates from Ms Grace Fu, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, at a certificate presentation ceremony today.

The WEB Certification, which began in 2004, has now added two new tiers of certification: the Gold and Silver Categories. Three organisations received the Gold and 20 took the Silver Certification. The certifications are valid for a period of 3 years. 

Bagging the Gold Certification in the Industry Sector are Systems on Silicon Manufacturing Company Pte Ltd (SSMC) and Philips Lumileds Singapore. For the Building Sector, the Environment Building was certified. These are also the pioneer batch of organisations which have been certified to Singapore Standard SS 577:2012 Water Efficiency Management Systems (WEMS), jointly launched this March by the Singapore Standards Council, which is managed under the aegis of SPRING Singapore, and PUB. 

Recipients under the Silver Category have also shown much commitment by putting in place monitoring systems to track and minimise water wastage and leakage.

“While Singapore has put in place a strategy for sustainable water supply today, water remains a precious resource and every individual and organisation should continue to use water wisely. The proportion of water demand by the non-domestic sector may grow from the current 55% to about 70% in 50 years’ time. We are pleased  that leading organisations in non-domestic sector has responded to our call to instil water conservation practices into their management and business processes,” said Mr Chong Hou Chun, Director of Water Supply Department, PUB.

Mr Chong added: “To further encourage and help the non-domestic sector with their water efficiency efforts, SPRING Singapore and PUB are expanding the scope of the Capability Development Grant and Water Efficiency Fund, respectively.”

Winning Gold

Systems on Silicon Manufacturing Company Pte Ltd (SSMC), a wafer fabrication plant, has recycled 68% of their used water through various water efficiency initiatives, making them one of the highest water savers in their sector.    

“Water Efficient Building (GOLD) certification provides opportunities for SSMC to achieve sound water efficiency performance in a systematic manner.  Water conservation work is not seen as a cost to SSMC. With the great partnership we have with PUB towards sustainable development, it is our belief that we should fulfill our commitment to give back to society as much as we can,“ said Mr Jagadish CV, CEO of SSMC. 

Philips Lumileds Singapore manufactures high-power LEDs which requires large amount of water.  They have put in place a water efficiency management system and have  recycled 43 % of their used water.

“Philips Lumileds believes in finding ways to balance environmental impact and economic growth. We are delighted to be certified to Singapore Standard SS 577:2012 Water Efficiency Management Systems and to receive the Water Efficient Building Gold certificate. PUB has been a close working partner in helping us meet our water efficiency goals,”  said Mr James Day, Manufacturing Director Philips Lumileds Singapore.

The Environment Building has put in place a structured process to track and monitor water efficiency performance. They have achieved the top 10% water efficiency performance compared with similar sized  buildings.

Funding Schemes

SPRING Singapore is collaborating with PUB to promote the adoption of Water Efficiency Management Systems (WEMS) among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Funding will now be available under SPRING’s Capability Development Grant to support SMEs that wish to adopt SS 577:2012, by subsidising their project implementation costs for manpower, consultancy and certification.

PUB will supplement this effort by expanding the scope of its Water Efficiency Fund with added financial support to cover consultancy and certification costs for other customers including non-SMEs. Please refer to Annex 2 for details.

Since March 2013, PUB has also increased its funding under the Water Efficiency Fund from 50% to 90% to help customers get certified under the Gold/Silver WEB Certification. Customers can tap on this fund to install a private metering system in different areas within their premises. This can help them better monitor their water usage and conduct water audits.  

Industries, buildings and schools who are interested to find out more on WEB Gold/Silver Certification can contact PUB at pub_conserve@pub.gov.sg

About Water Conservation
Through the Four National Taps (local catchment water, imported water, highly-purified reclaimed water known as NEWater, and desalinated water), PUB has put in place a robust and sustainable water supply for Singapore. However, installing the infrastructure to supply water is only one half of the equation. As the population and economy continue to grow, Singapore needs to ensure that the demand for water does not rise at an unsustainable rate.

Currently, Singapore’s water demand is currently about 400 million gallons a day (mgd), with domestic water consumption accounting for about 45% of total water use, and non-domestic consumption accounting for the remaining 55%. By 2060, total demand could almost double, with 70% coming from the non-domestic sector.

PUB has successfully reduced the per capita domestic water consumption from 165 litres per day in 2003 to 152 litres per day in 2012. PUB targets to further reduce per capita domestic water consumption to 147 litres per day by 2020 and 140 litres per day by 2030.     

About PUBPUB is a statutory board under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. It is the water agency that manages Singapore’s water supply, water catchment and used water in an integrated way.

About PUB’s tagline: Water for All: Conserve, Value, Enjoy PUB has ensured a diversified and sustainable supply of water for Singapore with the Four National Taps (local catchment water, imported water, NEWater, desalinated water).

To provide water for all, PUB calls on all to play our part to conserve water, keep our water catchments and waterways clean and build a relationship with water so we can enjoy our water resources.  If we all play our part, we can have enough water for all our needs – for industry, for living, for life. 

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PUB, the national water agency recognised 23 recipients in the non-domestic sector for their exemplary performance in water efficiency. These recipients are the first to be recognised under the Water Efficient Building (Gold/Silver) Certification and received their certificates today from Ms Grace Fu, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The three Water Efficient Building (Gold) Certification winners. (From left: Mr Collin Tan, SSMC; Mr James Day, Philips Lumineds Singapore and Mr Terence Siew, Environment Building)

Refer to Annex 1 and Annex 2 for details.

4 September 2013

For more information: http://www.pub.gov.sg/mpublications/Pages/PressReleases.aspx