PUB raises funding cap to $5m for firms' water recycling projects

It also boosts co-funding from 50% to 70% for efforts to identify water-saving areas

- Shabana Begum

To spur more companies to watch their water usage and recycle the scarce resource, national water agency PUB will raise its funding for water recycling projects to a maximum of $5 million from July 1, up from $1 million.

This increased funding is among several ways the agency's Water Efficiency Fund will enhance sustainable water management in the non-domestic sector, which is expected to account for more than 60 per cent of Singapore's water demand by 2065.

The sector, which includes office buildings, hotels and manufacturing facilities, currently uses 55 per cent of the Republic's water demand. Singapore's water demand is set to double by 2065.

In another change from July, PUB will fund 70 per cent of a company's efforts to identify water-saving areas, to a cap of $30,000. The current co-funding is 50 per cent.

The enhancements to the Water Efficiency Fund were announced by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Monday at the opening of the three-day Singapore International Water Week Spotlight 2023 conference.

Speaking at the Paradox Singapore Merchant Court hotel, Ms Fu noted that raising the funding cap for large-scale water recycling projects to $5 million will encourage businesses to undertake bigger and more ambitious water conservation projects.