Water is safe for drinking directly from the tap without any further filtration.
Singapore’s tap water quality is well within the Singapore Environmental Public Health (Water Suitable for Drinking) (No.2) Regulations 2019 and World Health Organisation (WHO) Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality. Our tap water is suitable for drinking directly from the tap without any further filtration. Find out more about our water quality.
To ensure that our water supply is clean and safe, PUB has established a comprehensive and robust sampling and monitoring programme to ensure our water quality from source to tap. Water samples are collected from reservoirs, waterworks/desalination plants and distribution systems and tested at PUB’s Water Quality Laboratory.
Over 500,000 tests are conducted annually on physical, organic, inorganic, radiological and microbiological parameters. Other than laboratory testing, online sensors also monitor the water quality at each stage of the treatment process and service reservoirs on a real-time basis.
PUB’s Water Quality Laboratory is accredited by Singapore Accreditation Council – Singapore Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (SAC-SINGLAS) in accordance to ISO/IEC 17025. PUB’s Water Quality Department has also been designated as a World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for safe drinking-water management and integrated urban water management since 2012.
Find out more about the quality of our drinking water and NEWater.
NEWater is high-grade recycled water produced from treated used water that is further purified using advanced membrane technologies and ultra-violet disinfection, making it ultra-clean and safe to drink.
NEWater was first introduced in 2003 following a two-year comprehensive study. Test results from some 20,000 physical, chemical and microbiological tests showed that the quality of NEWater consistently exceeds the requirements stipulated in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Drinking Water Standards.
Today, NEWater quality is tracked under a comprehensive and robust sampling and monitoring programme with about 300 parameters being monitored, including those set out in the WHO guidelines and USEPA standards. The monitoring programme covers the entire NEWater supply chain to ensure the safety and quality of NEWater.
Learn more about the quality of NEWater.
NEWater is high-grade recycled water produced from treated used water that is further purified using advanced membrane technologies and ultra-violet disinfection, making it ultra-clean and safe to drink.
NEWater was first introduced in 2003 following a two-year comprehensive study. Test results from some 20,000 physical, chemical and microbiological tests showed that the quality of NEWater consistently exceeds the requirements stipulated in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Drinking Water Standards.
Today, NEWater quality is tracked under a comprehensive and robust sampling and monitoring programme with about 300 parameters being monitored, including those set out in the WHO guidelines and USEPA standards. The monitoring programme covers the entire NEWater supply chain to ensure the safety and quality of NEWater.
Learn more about the quality of NEWater.
Here are some common questions asked regarding water quality
The first thing that customers can do is to run their taps and flush any water tanks inside their premises until the water runs clear. While doing so, avoid using the water for laundry or any other purposes. If the water has not cleared up after 10 to 15 minutes, customers can call PUB’s hotline at 1800-CALL-PUB1800-CALL-PUB for assistance with their water supply.
Customers should also try to determine the source of the discoloured water. For example, is the discoloured water only localised to a single appliance or from the hot water taps/showers? If it is, this could indicate a faulty hot water heater or appliance.
We will investigate and determine the likely cause and source of the discoloured water within PUB’s water mains. Depending on our findings, we will conduct emergency pipeline operations and isolate the source to prevent further discolouration.
If the discolouration comes from PUB’s water mains, temporary water supply, such as water bags, will be provided for the customers affected. In more serious cases, water wagons will be deployed. To clear brownish water from PUB’s water mains, our officers will flush the water containing re-suspended mineral sediments out from the water mains in a controlled manner until the water clears up.
However, if the source of discoloured water is within the customer premises (E.g. faulty or corroded water tank), we will advise the customer to rectify the problem by replacing or repairing the appliances or pipes.
As discoloured water can occur as a result of internal fittings, customers can do their part by ensuring that corrosion resistance materials are used for their service pipes. Customers should also frequently check that their appliances are in good working condition and replace them when there are signs of corrosion or when it has passed its service life stipulated by the supplier.
The common cause for temporary discolouration of your tap water is due to the re-suspension of mineral sediments inside the pipe. These sediments form over time when naturally-occurring minerals in tap water settle at the bottom of the pipes, especially when the water in the pipes is slow-moving. Discolouration could have also been caused by other issues and if you do observe discolouration in the water, please let the tap run until it is clear before drinking the water. If the water has not cleared up after 5 to 10 minutes, customers can call PUB’s hotline at 1800-CALL-PUB for assistance with their water supply.
Feedback on discoloured water will be investigated thoroughly to establish the cause and ensure that PUB’s water supply is clean and clear. We also work very closely with our customers, Town Council and Building Maintenance Team to ensure that the water is fit for potable use within WHO guidelines.
PUB engineers study and operate the water distribution network carefully during emergency and maintenance pipeline operations to prevent sudden changes in flow direction. This helps to minimise discoloured water incidents.
We also engage the Town Councils and SCDF regularly to ensure that their maintenance operations are conducted with care to minimise discoloured water incidents. In addition, PUB send out an annual circular to Town Council, Management Corporation Strata Titles (MCSTs) and building owners of their responsibility to ensure the proper security and maintenance of their water service installations including their potable water storage tanks.
Customers could also play their part by paying attention to their service pipes and appliances and ensure they are in good working condition. If water in their service pipes or water heater has been stagnant for a long period of time, they should flush before using the water, especially for potable use.
The first thing that customers can do is to run their taps and flush any water tanks inside their premises until the water runs clear. While doing so, avoid using the water for laundry or any other purposes. If the water has not cleared up after 10 to 15 minutes, customers can call PUB’s hotline at 1800-CALL-PUB1800-CALL-PUB for assistance with their water supply.
Customers should also try to determine the source of the discoloured water. For example, is the discoloured water only localised to a single appliance or from the hot water taps/showers? If it is, this could indicate a faulty hot water heater or appliance.
We will investigate and determine the likely cause and source of the discoloured water within PUB’s water mains. Depending on our findings, we will conduct emergency pipeline operations and isolate the source to prevent further discolouration.
If the discolouration comes from PUB’s water mains, temporary water supply, such as water bags, will be provided for the customers affected. In more serious cases, water wagons will be deployed. To clear brownish water from PUB’s water mains, our officers will flush the water containing re-suspended mineral sediments out from the water mains in a controlled manner until the water clears up.
However, if the source of discoloured water is within the customer premises (E.g. faulty or corroded water tank), we will advise the customer to rectify the problem by replacing or repairing the appliances or pipes.
As discoloured water can occur as a result of internal fittings, customers can do their part by ensuring that corrosion resistance materials are used for their service pipes. Customers should also frequently check that their appliances are in good working condition and replace them when there are signs of corrosion or when it has passed its service life stipulated by the supplier.
The common cause for temporary discolouration of your tap water is due to the re-suspension of mineral sediments inside the pipe. These sediments form over time when naturally-occurring minerals in tap water settle at the bottom of the pipes, especially when the water in the pipes is slow-moving. Discolouration could have also been caused by other issues and if you do observe discolouration in the water, please let the tap run until it is clear before drinking the water. If the water has not cleared up after 5 to 10 minutes, customers can call PUB’s hotline at 1800-CALL-PUB for assistance with their water supply.
Feedback on discoloured water will be investigated thoroughly to establish the cause and ensure that PUB’s water supply is clean and clear. We also work very closely with our customers, Town Council and Building Maintenance Team to ensure that the water is fit for potable use within WHO guidelines.
PUB engineers study and operate the water distribution network carefully during emergency and maintenance pipeline operations to prevent sudden changes in flow direction. This helps to minimise discoloured water incidents.
We also engage the Town Councils and SCDF regularly to ensure that their maintenance operations are conducted with care to minimise discoloured water incidents. In addition, PUB send out an annual circular to Town Council, Management Corporation Strata Titles (MCSTs) and building owners of their responsibility to ensure the proper security and maintenance of their water service installations including their potable water storage tanks.
Customers could also play their part by paying attention to their service pipes and appliances and ensure they are in good working condition. If water in their service pipes or water heater has been stagnant for a long period of time, they should flush before using the water, especially for potable use.
