WATER-BORNE FEE (Particulars)

Mr Rohan bin Kamis asked the Minister for the Environment what is the purpose of the "water-borne fee" collected by the Public Utilities Board; what amount has been collected since its introduction up to any convenient date; how this amount collected has been expended and whether the need to maintain the rate for this fee will be reviewed.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Deputy Speaker, Singapore is a compact, urbanized and industrialized state. Over the last 20 years, the Government has built a modern sewerage system to ensure a high standard of public health. Waste water from our homes and industries is collected and treated before dis- charge into our watercourses or the sea. This has prevented water-borne diseases and the breeding of vectors, such as flies and mosquitoes. The modern sewerage system has also helped to reduce the pollution in our rivers and canals.

To-date, we have built four sewage treatment works, 118 sewage pumping stations and 1,400 kilometres of sewers. Another two sewage treatment works, costing $127 million at Jurong and Seletar, are under construction.

Eighty per cent of our population are now served by the modern sewerage system. Because of the effective sewerage system, Singapore is enjoying one of the highest public health standards in the world. We still have isolated outbreaks of contagious diseases, such as typhoid and cholera. Investigations, however, revealed that the harmful germs are food-borne and not waterborne.

The sewerage infrastructure requires large amounts of capital. From FY 1970 to FY 1980, we have spent $795 million on capital expenditure. We have borrowed US$33.1 million (equivalent to S$78 million) from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to partly finance the capital expenditure.

Since 1970, the Government levies a monthly water-borne fee on all premises with PUB water supply. In addition, a sanitary appliances fee (for toilets and urinals) is collected for premises connected to public sewers. The PUB collects the fees on behalf of the Government. The revenue pays for the depreciation of the capital works, the operating expenditure and interest payment on loans. This is a requirement of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The net surplus of revenue is used to defray part of the capital expenditure.

From FY 1970 to FY 1980, the amount of water-borne fee collected is $175 million, and the sanitary appliances and other fees are $214.1 million. For the same period, my Ministry spent a total of $260 million on providing sewerage services.

The present rates of the water-borne fees are 7 cents per cubic metre for domestic premises and 15 cents per cubic metre for non-domestic premises. The sanitary appliances fee is $3 per toilet or urinal.

The net surplus has fallen in FY 1980. Our operating expenditure has increased because of higher energy and material costs, and wages. Based on existing revenue rates, we will run into a deficit in FY 1982. My Ministry has reviewed the rate of the waterborne fee and an announcement on the revision of the fee will be made shortly.

Copies of the financial statement (Cols. 219 - 220) for the sewerage programme from FY 1970 to FY 1982 have been circulated for the information of the House. statement - FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR SEWERAGE PROGRAMME FY 70-FY 82 (Cols. 219 - 220)