WATER SUPPLY TO HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS IN TELOK BLANGAH

Mr Rohan bin Kamis asked the Minister for National Development if he is aware that the water supply to the Housing and Development Board flats in Telok Blangah appears to be contaminated by brownish sediment in recent months and if he will ask the HDB and the Public Utilities Board together to investigate the matter with a view to remedying the situation; and when the solution can be expected to be implemented.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: The water supply to residents in the western part of Singapore, including Telok Blangah New Town, comes from the Kranji, Pandan and Western Catchment Reservoirs. This water has a slightly higher chloride content than water from other reservoirs.

Some water tanks and iron pipes installed within the flats in Telok Blangah New Town have rusted. As a result, households in this area may occasionally find some rust sediments in their water supply. However, the water is still within the World Health Organisation standards for drinking water.

To minimise rust sediments in the water supply of Telok Blangah New Town, the HDB is lining water storage tanks with non-corrodible material and replacing unlined water supply pipes to the tanks. This programme is expected to be completed by the end of 1983. For flats receiving supply directly from the mains, the PUB is replacing all connecting pipes that are made of unlined iron. PUB's programme will be completed in March, 1984.

In the meantime, water storage tanks and pipes are periodically cleaned and flushed to remove rusty deposits.