Can I drink the tap water in Singapore? Best Water Filter?

Can I Drink Tap Water in Singapore? Do I need a water filter in Singapore? Should I drink bottled water as a visitor? What is the best water filter for Singapore? These are a legit questions, if you live in or planning to travel to Singapore. And the answer is yes, you can drink tap water in Singapore. In fact, according to official sources, on the Asian continent, Singapore is one of the few countries where the tap water is safe for drinking, alongside Hong Kong, Brunei, Israel, South Korea, and Japan. But there are still risks to be aware of when it comes to tap water and especially bottled water in Singapore. In this article we will investigate where the tap water in Singapore comes from, how it's treated, potential water quality issues in Singapore and much more. We will also talk about the best water filters for Singapore and where to buy them. Keep on reading to find the answers to these questions and much more.

Where Does Tap Water in Singapore Come from?

When it comes to Singapore’s water supply, Malaysia would be an important source of water for the country. Nonetheless, Singapore considered investing money and resources into creating alternative sources of water. So, if 50 years ago, Singapore had only two water sources, now there are four official water sources that aim at keeping up with the estimated 400 million gallons a day Singapore consumes – namely, imported water, local catchment water, NEWater, and desalinated water. Local catchment water plays a key part in supplying Singapore’s tap water, relying mainly on rainwater. Meanwhile, the imported water originates from the river Johor – in accordance with two bilateral agreements. At the same time, the country has invested significantly in innovative technology, which aims at purifying the water to make it safe for use. Find out more information here.

What Are the Water Quality Monitoring Practices in Singapore?

Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usepagov/15054813052 PUB has settled specific and comprehensive guidelines regarding the monitoring of the tap water quality. These guidelines play a key role in ensuring that the water is safe to drink. To that end, on a regular basis, water samples are taken from reservoirs, distribution systems, and waterworks. In addition, they are thoroughly tested in specialized laboratories. Furthermore, bear in mind that tap water in Singapore is monitored by online sensors as well. This happens at each individual stage of the treatment process. In essence, roughly 400,000 tests are carried out on an annual basis regarding organic, physical, microbiological, radiological and inorganic parameters.

Who Regulates the Quality of the Tap Water in Singapore?

The answer to this question is the Environmental Public Health (EPH), in lines with the 2018 regulations. Aside from that, the quality standards for Singapore tap water were established according to the WHO guidelines for drinking water. At the same time, the official authorities always work towards ensuring that the standards for the tap water quality are respected. Hence, throughout an entire year, the tap water is monitored regularly and vigorously. If you want to find out more information concerning Singapore tap water, check this source. In spite of this, most people drink bottled water or boil their tap water before drinking it. But this isn’t because Singapore tap water is unsafe, but merely because this used to be a local practice, as, in the past, the tap water wasn’t safe to drink. There are also real concerns such as microplastics, pharmaceuticals and pesticides in the tap water and local issues with old pipes that leech heavy metals such as lead.

Is Singapore tap water safe to drink?

Yes, generally tap water in Singapore is safe for drinking. But on occasions, one might encounter poor tasting water due to chlorination or discolored water. The chlorination is necessary to keep the water safe from pathogens (bacteria and viruses). But when chlorine mixes with organic compounds it may cause the water to taste bad. As Singapore has 4 different water sources the taste may change over time depending on where the water comes from. The most common causes of discolored water is old pipes and maintenance operations, including the flushing of service pipes or the routine cleaning of water tanks. The discoloration might be caused by the corrosion of the iron tank or of other components. This could happen either due to quality issues or due to the end of the service life. Another common cause could be corroded service water pipes and fittings. An affordable water filter will ensure that this doesn't affect your health.

How Can I Test that My Water Is Safe for Drinking?

It is actually a good idea to test your Singapore tap water. Fortunately, doing this is quite simple; you have to take out a sample and bring it to an authorized lab. Nonetheless, do note that the results might not be 100 percent reliable. That’s because, over the course of time, pipes might leak lead. For example, today, the results might indicate traces of lead; but that might not be the case the following day.

Water filters for Singapore

How do I make sure my tap water is safe and tastes good in Singapore? The simplest option is an affordable easy to install faucet filter such as EcoPro (or other filters such as PUR and Culligan). TAPP Water filters are available to buy from Shopee, Redmart and Lazada. This will cost you as little SD$100 per year and means that your tap water is safe from lead, microplastics and other pollutants from the pipes. Equally important it removes the chlorine making it taste just like most bottled water. Read more about how water filters work.

Is Bottled Water in Singapore Safer?

Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/5233546960 Even if Singapore tap water is safe, the demand for bottled water keeps growing. According to official data, in 2015 alone, consumers spent more than $134 million on bottled water, which was 24 percent more than they spent in 2010. Concurrently, there are at least 12 different brands that sell bottled water in Singapore. But the question is, should you choose bottled water over tap water in Singapore? According to experts, there are specific differences depending on the treatment of the water. Some might include specific minerals while others might not. There is also distilled water, which some people consider "cleaner". And finally, there is alkaline water, which is growing in popularity. Many people in Singapore dislike the taste of tap water, which is why they prefer bottled water. Another reason that explains the people’s preference for bottled water has to do with the fact that they distrust the tap water. Other people choose another option: that of home delivery of big water buckets. There is no scientific evidence that bottled water is safer or healthier than tap water.

Concerns about bottled water in Singapore

There are many concerns regarding the issue of bottled water in Singapore, granted that Singapore is one of the few countries in Asia that has access to safe tap water. In spite of this, people mistrust tap water and prefer choosing bottled water instead. These are the top 5 issues with bottled water:

1. Regulation and Safety

The bottled water industry is less regulated and monitored than your tap water which undergoes hundreds of thousands of lab tests every year. Most bottled water is only audited and tested a couple of times per year.

2. Labeling

AVA (Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore) that regulates and monitors bottled water requires name of the product (mineral water, distilled water, etc) and the country of origin. However, it doesn't require the water source or water content to be included on the label.

3. Microplastics and other contaminants

Tests by Orb Media and other labs around the world have found considerable amounts of microplastics, hormones and other contaminants in bottled water. In fact, the average bottled water consumer drinks about 1 credit card of plastics every 2 weeks. These issues have just recently been uncovered and we don't yet understand or know the impact on the human body.

4. Recycling

Another problem is that in Singapore recycling is still poor despite recent efforts. Roughly 80 percent of people aren’t sure regarding the types of plastics that can be recycled. This means that much of the plastic is treated as general waste. Bottled water therefore causes a lot of unnecessary waste. Read more about the carbon footprint of bottled water.

5. Bottled water is expensive

You may not realise it but bottled water often costs 400x more than tap water and 100x more than filtered water. The average household in Singapore spends more than 800 Singapore dollars per year on bottled water. Maybe you could do something better with this?

Do I need a water filter in Singapore?

If you don't like the tap water tastes, have infants or young children or general concerns about health then it's a great idea to use a water filter in Singapore. There are affordable water filters such as EcoPro that will keep you safe from any potential contaminants in Singapore tap water including microplastics, lead and chlorine by-products. You can find TAPP on Lazada, Redmart and Shopee.

Should Tourists Choose Singapore Bottled Water over Singapore Tap Water?

No, since there is no given evidence that bottled water is safer. Tap water in Singapore undergoes several processes in order to ensure that it is safe. However, there might be one exception to the rule. If you’re staying in a very old building that hasn't been renovated for 30+ years then this could mean that the plumbing is really old, which could increase the likelihood of discolored water. In this situation, perhaps it would be a good idea to choose bottled water over tap water in Singapore. Aside from this, tourists should drink tap water.

Summary

To summarise

• Tap water in Singapore is safe to drink for residents and visitors. There might be isolated cases of discolored water
• If you don't like the taste, have concerns about the pipes in your building or microplastics then installing an affordable water filter in Singapore such as EcoPro is a good safety measure
• Avoid bottled water - there is no scientific evidence that bottled water in Singapore is better and healthier than tap water
• If you’re planning to visit Singapore in the foreseeable future, you shouldn’t worry about the tap water – it is safe.

TAPP Products are available on tappwater.asia, Lazada, Redmart and Shopee in Singapore.

Sources

https://www.shape.com.sg/health/singapore-tap-water-really-safe-drink/ https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/asia-south-east-asia-islands-peninsula/topics/can-you-drink-the-tap-water-in-singapore https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2787962/infographic-reveals-countries-world-safe-drinking-water.html https://www.quora.com/Can-one-drink-the-tap-water-in-Singapore https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_supply_and_sanitation_in_Singapore https://www.pub.gov.sg/watersupply/waterquality/drinkingwater https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=DJRaOaSfUa0 https://www.pub.gov.sg/Documents/Singapore_Drinking_Water_Quality.pdf https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/the-truth-about-bottled-water http://www.ifaq.gov.sg/PUB/apps/Fcd_faqmain.aspx#FAQ_33958 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapores-water-supply-where-does-it-come-from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-s-s-134m-bottled-water-addiction-7633342 http://www.thefinder.com.sg/healthy-living/fitness/8-shocking-truths-about-bottled-water-singapore-thatll-make-you/ https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/bottled-water-in-singapore-meets-safety-standards-ava-10049630 https://blog.seedly.sg/bottled-water-brand-price-evian-volvic-badoit-why-so-expensive/ https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/how-singapores-plastic-recycled-3 https://thehoneycombers.com/singapore/singapore-recycling-guide-sustainable-living/ https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/waste-management/3r-programmes-and-resources/waste-minimisation-and-recycling