PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD (Complaints of low water pressure)

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will ascertain from the Public Utilities Board (a) whether the Board has received any complaints by residents in Jalan Perisai, St. Joseph's Lane and Holy Innocents Lane of low water pressure in these areas; (b) whether any action has been taken to ascertain the causes; and (c) whether any remedial actions have been taken.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, not even one complaint of low water pressure in Jalan Perisai or St. Joseph's Lane or Holy Innocents Lane has been received by the Public Utilities Board other than the representation made by the hon. Member on behalf of the residents in these areas. It has been ascertained that the water pressure in Jalan Perisai was and still is satisfactory. But the water pressure in St. Joseph's Lane and Holy Innocents Lane was low due to inadequate sub-mains and consumers' service pipes. Remedial action has been taken by the Public Utilities Board by extending the existing two and a quarter inch sub-main at St. Joseph's Lane by about 500 feet at a cost of $1,000, and by laying a new six-inch main about 1,625 feet long at a cost of $19,000 in Holy Innocents Lane. The water pressure in these areas is now satisfactory.

Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am surprised that the Minister's reply indicated that no complaint came from the residents in the three areas mentioned. Would he be interested to ascertain from the Board that such written complaints by the residents of Holy Innocents Lane were submitted to the relevant authorities, through me, as far back as last year?

Mr Speaker: Mr Ng, perhaps you did not hear the first part of the Minister's reply. Would the Minister like to repeat it?

Mr Barker: Perhaps there is some misunderstanding here. I did say that complaints were received from the hon. Member made, of course, on behalf of the residents in the district. He represents them. Apparently he is doing good work! He has complained and the complaints have not been attended to. But my understanding of the matter is that no complaints were made direct by the residents to the Public Utilities Board. I do not think we need split hairs on this point.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, it is true that the complaints were made through me. However, can the Minister enlighten the House whether there have been any complaints of low water pressure in areas other than the three mentioned by me?

Mr Speaker: Are you in a position to answer that question now, Mr Barker?

Mr Barker: I am afraid I do not know of other complaints, Sir. The Public Utilities Board supplies water throughout the island, and not only to the outpost of Punggol. But if there are other low water pressure areas in Punggol, I hope the Member will bring them to the attention of the Public Utilities Board or to me. There are always low water pressure areas in Singapore due either to repairs of pipes or maintenance service of our filtration plants at Woodlands and Bukit Timah. But it is the practice of the Public Utilities Board to give notice of any repairs that are about to be undertaken.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Is the Minister aware that these complaints were not attended to immediately? Also, can he say when the complaints in the areas mentioned were submitted to the relevant authorities and when action was taken'?

Mr Barker: Sir, I am afraid I cannot now supply the Member with details. But the point here is that the complaints had been attended to, and if the Member had wanted the work to be done more expeditiously, he could have taken the matter up direct with me.