Annex B  
 
PUBLIC UTILITIES (WATER SUPPLY)   
(AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2017  
 S.L.    of 2017  
 
Presented to Parliament pursuant to  
Ordered by Parliament to lie upon the Table:  
  
  
  
(Vide Notification No. S 133 in the Gazette Subsidiary Legislation 
Supplement No. 13 of 31 March 2017 ). 
 
PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT  
(CHAPTER 261)  
PUBLIC UTILITIES (WATER SUPPLY)   
(AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2017  
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 72 of the Public  
Utilities Act, the Public Utilities Board, with the approval of the Minister 
for the Environment and Water Resources, makes the following 
Regulations:  
Citation and commencement  
1.––(1) These Regulations are the Public Utilities (Water Supply) 
(Amendment) Regulations 2017 and, except for regulation 5, come into 
operation on 1 April 2017.  
(2) Regulation 5 is deemed to have come into operation on 1 January 
2016.  
Amendment of regulation 2  
2. Regul ation 2 of the Public Utilities (Water Supply) Regulations (Rg 
5) (called in these Regulations the principal Regulations) is amended by 
inserting, immediately before the definition of “authorised officer”, the 
following definition:  
“   “accredited laboratory” means a laboratory –– 
(a) accredited under the Singapore Laboratory Accreditation 
Scheme (SAC -SINGLAS) administered by the Standards, 
Productivity and Innovation Board (established under section 3 
of the Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board Act (Cap. 
303A)); or  
(b) recognised under a mutual recognition agreement or 
arrangement between Singapore and any other country;”.    2 
Amendment of regulation 5  
3. Regulation 5(3) of the principal Regulations is amended –– 
(a) by deleting sub -paragrap h (a) and substituting the following sub -
paragraph:  
   “(a) an accredited laboratory; or”; and  
(b) by deleting the words “product certification body or” in sub -
paragraph ( b). 
Deletion of regulation 40A and new Part IVAA  
4. Regulation 40A of the principal Regulations is deleted and the 
following Part substituted therefor:  
“PART IVAA WATER EFFICIENCY  
Division 1 –– General  
Interpretation of this Part  
40A.  In this Part –– 
“affix”, in relation to a Water Efficiency Label, includes printing 
the Water Efficiency Label on the packaging of a registered 
water fitting;  
“manufacturer” includes a person who assembles parts of a 
specified water fitting;  
“registered supplier” means a n importer or a manufacturer who 
is registered as a registered supplier under regulation 40AE(3);  
“specified water fitting” means –– 
(a) a tap and mixer;  
(b) a flushing cistern;  
(c) a urinal flush valve;  
(d) a waterless urinal; and  
(e) a clothes washing machine intended for h ousehold use;  
“supply”, in relation to any specified water fitting, means the 
supply of the specified water fitting in the course of any trade 
or business, and includes –– 
(a) the supply of the specified water fitting by way of sale, 
lease, loan, consignment, hire or hire -purchase;  
(b) the supply of the specified water fitting in connection 
with any agreement;    3 
(c) the offer to supply the specified water fitting; and  
(d) the display of the specified water fitting for supply;  
“test report”, in relation to any specified wate r fitting, means the 
report of the most recent test carried out for the specified water 
fitting in accordance with the prevailing test standard or 
method specified in Part 1 of the Second Schedule;  
“Water Efficiency Label” means a water efficiency label th at is 
in accordance with the requirements specified in Part 2 of the 
Second Schedule.  
Division 2 –– Restrictions on supply, etc., of specified water fittings  
Restrictions on supply of specified water fittings  
40AA. ––(1) A person must not supply any specified water fitting 
unless the specified water fitting –– 
(a) is registered under regulation 40AE(3); and  
(b) is affixed with a Water Efficiency Label in the manner 
specified in regulation 40AD(3).  
(2) A person must not supply any spec ified water fitting affixed 
with a Water Efficiency Label –– 
(a) that is obscured or defaced; or  
(b) that the person has reason to believe to be altered, forged or 
falsified.  
(3) Without affecting paragraph (1) or (2), an importer or a 
manufacturer of a specified wate r fitting must not supply the specified 
water fitting unless –– 
(a) the importer or manufacturer is a registered supplier for the 
specified water fitting; and  
(b) the specified water fitting meets the water efficiency 
requirements specified in Part 3 of the Second  Schedule for the 
specified water fitting.  
(4) Any person that contravenes paragraph (1), (2) or (3) shall 
be guilty of an offence.  
Restrictions on advertisements for supply of specified water 
fittings  
40AB. ––(1) A person must not advertise a specified water fitting for 
supply unless the specified water fitting is registered under regulation 
40AE(3).    4 
(2) Without affecting paragraph (1), the person advertising the 
specified water fitting –– 
(a) where the advertisement has a ny visual element, must ensure 
that –– 
(i) a Water Efficiency Label is, as far as practicable, 
displayed in the advertisement next to the image or 
description of the specified water fitting; or  
(ii) where it is not practicable to comply with sub -
paragraph (i), all the information contained in the Water 
Efficiency Label is stated in the advertisement; and  
(b) must not claim or imply that the specified water fitting is tested, 
certified, or otherwise approved by the Government or the 
Board.  
(3) Any person that contravenes paragraph (1) or (2) shall be 
guilty of an offence.  
Restrictions on supply of water fittings modified after 
registration  
40AC. ––(1) Where a water fitting is modified after it is registered 
under regulation 40AE(3), a person must  not supply the water fitting 
as modified, unless –– 
(a) for a modification affecting the water efficiency of the 
registered water fitting, the registered supplier that originally 
registered the water fitting first separately registers the water 
fitting as mod ified under regulation 40AE(3); or  
(b) for a modification not affecting the water efficiency of the 
registered water fitting, the registered supplier that originally 
registered the water fitting first notifies the Board in writing of 
the modification and gives  to the Board the particulars of the 
modification required by the Board.  
(2) Any person that contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an 
offence.  
Restrictions relating to Water Efficiency Label  
40AD. ––(1) A person must not affix, or cause to be affixed , a Water 
Efficiency Label on a specified water fitting unless –– 
(a) the specified water fitting has been registered by the Board;  
(b) the person is a registered supplier for the water fitting; and    5 
(c) the Water Efficiency Label was issued to the person by the 
Board for the registered water fitting.  
(2) A registered supplier must, before supplying the registered 
water fitting in Singapore, affix the Water Efficiency Label in 
accordance with the requirements in paragraph (3).  
(3) A Water Efficiency Label must be affixed on a registered 
water fitting in accordance with the following requirements:  
(a) where the Water Efficiency Label is not printed onto the 
packaging of the registered water fitting, the Water Efficiency  
Label must be affixed securely on the registered water fitting 
or its packaging;  
(b) the place where the Water Efficiency Label is affixed must be 
conspicuous and unobstructed.  
(4) A person must not –– 
(a) alter in any way any Water Efficiency Label that is to be or is 
affixed on a registered water fitting;  
(b) forge or falsify any Water Efficiency Label; or  
(c) without reasonable excuse, remove, obscure or deface any 
Water Efficiency Label affixed on any registered water fitting.  
(5) Any person that contravenes paragraph (1), (2 ) or (4) shall 
be guilty of an offence.  
Division 3 –– Administration and enforcement of this Part 
Registration of suppliers and water fittings  
40AE. ––(1) An importer or a manufacturer that intends to supply a 
specified water fitting in Singapore may apply to the  
Board –– 
(a) to be registered as a registered supplier; and  
(b) to register the specified water fitting that the importer or 
manufacturer intends to supply in Singapore.  
(2) Every application mentioned in paragraph (1) must be 
accompanied by –– 
(a) such documents and information as may be required in the 
relevant form set out at the Board’s Internet website at 
http://www.pub.gov.sg;    6 
(b) a test report issued by an accredited laboratory in respect of the 
specified water fitting showing the water efficiency  of the water 
fitting; and  
(c) such other documents and information as the Board may 
require.  
(3) Upon considering the application received under paragraph 
(2), the Board may register, or refuse to register ––  (a) any applicant 
as a registered supplier; or  
 (b) any specified water fitting as a registered water fitting.  
(4) The Board must not register a specified water fitting under 
paragraph (3) if the specified water fitting does not comply with 
regulation 5.  
(5) A registered supplier that –– 
(a) intends to cease supplying  a registered water fitting in 
Singapore must notify the Board of such an intention no less 
than 14 days before it ceases to supply the registered water 
fitting; or  
(b) changes the registered supplier’s name or contact details must 
inform the Board in writing of such a change within 7 days after 
the change.  
(6) Any person that fails to comply with paragraph (5) shall be 
guilty of an offence.  
Withdrawal or revocation of registration  
40AF. ––(1) The Board may withdraw the registration –– 
(a) of any registered supplier where the registered supplier applies 
to the Board to withdraw the registered supplier’s registration 
as such; or  
(b) of any registered water fitting that a registered supplier ceases 
to supply in Singapore, where the registered supp lier applies to 
the Board to withdraw such registration.  
(2) The Board may revoke the registration of any registered 
supplier after giving notice to the registered supplier and after such 
inquiry as the Board thinks fit if –– 
(a) the registered supplier procured the registration by providing 
any particulars, information or document, or by making any 
statement or representation, to the Board which is false or 
misleading in any material particular;    7 
(b) the registered supplier has contra vened regulation 40AA, 40AC 
or 40AD; or  
(c) the registered supplier has ceased to carry on the trade of 
business of supplying registered water fittings in Singapore.  
(3) The Board may revoke the registration of any registered 
water fitting after giving notice to t he registered supplier supplying the 
registered water fitting and after such inquiry as the Board thinks fit, 
if the Board is satisfied that –– 
(a) the registered water fitting does not conform with the results of 
any test or examination furnished by the regis tered supplier to 
the Board under this Division;  
(b) the registered water fitting does not meet the water efficiency 
requirements specified in Part 3 of the Second Schedule; or  
(c) the registered supplier has procured the registration of the 
registered water fitti ng by providing any particulars, 
information or document, or by making any statement or 
representation, to the Board which is false or misleading in any 
material particular.  
(4) The Board must, within 14 days after giving notice under 
paragraph (2) or (3), inf orm the registered supplier concerned in 
writing of the revocation in the notice and the grounds for the 
revocation.  
(5) Where the registration of any water fitting is withdrawn 
under paragraph (1) or revoked under paragraph (3), the registered 
supplier of the  water fitting must, within 14 days after the registered 
supplier applies to withdraw the water fitting or the Board informs the 
registered supplier of the revocation under paragraph (4), as the case 
may be, give notice to every person whom the registered supplier 
knows, or reasonably ought to know, intends to supply that water 
fitting in Singapore, of the withdrawal or revocation of the registration.  
(6) Any person that fails to comply with paragraph (5) shall be 
guilty of an offence.  
Board may require specifi ed water fittings for testing or analysis  
40AG. ––(1) The Board may require any person carrying on a trade 
or business which consists of or includes the supply of any specified 
water fitting ––   8 
(a) to provide free of charge to the Board samples of the specified 
water fitting for the purpose of testing or analysis; and  
(b) to furnish to the Board such documents or information as the 
Board may require in respect of the specified water fitting or 
the supply  of the specified water fitting.  
(2) Any person that fails to comply with any requirement of the 
Board under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.  
Board may require recall of specified water fittings supplied  
40AH. ––(1) Where the Board knows or has  reason to believe that a 
specified water fitting has been supplied in contravention of regulation 
40AA or 40AC, the Board may, by notice in writing, require the person 
(called in this paragraph the first person) who supplied the specified 
water fitting to , within such time specified in the notice –– 
(a) recall, at the first person’s own cost and expense, all such water 
fittings (whether or not also installed); or  
(b) notify every person whom the first person knows, or reasonably 
ought to know, intends to supply th at water fitting in Singapore, 
of the contravention.  
(2) Any person that fails to comply with a notice served on him 
under paragraph (1) shall, unless the person satisfies the court that the 
person has used all due diligence to comply with the notice, be g uilty 
of an offence.”.  
Amendment of regulation 40D  
5. Regulation 40D of the principal Regulations is amended –– 
(a) by inserting, immediately after paragraph (1), the following 
paragraph:  
“(1A) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a consumer who 
becomes a qualifying consumer in respect of a regulatory 
period starting on 1 January 2017 by reason only of the 
consumer attaining the water use threshold at a construction 
site.”;  
(b) by inserting, immedi ately after the words “the site of each business 
activity” in paragraph (2)( b)(vi), the words “(except a construction 
site)”;  
(c) by inserting, immediately after the words “each site of business 
activity” in paragraph (2)( b)(vii), the words    9 
“(except a constr uction site)”; and  
(d) by inserting, immediately after paragraph (3), the following 
paragraph:  
“(4) In this regulation, “construction site” means any 
premises where the business activity of the consumer 
comprises wholly of construction, being any one or more o f the 
following:  
(a) the erection, construction, alteration, repair or 
maintenance of buildings, structures or roads;  
(b) the breaking up, opening or boring under any road or 
adjacent land in connection with the construction, 
inspection, maintenance or removal of works;  
(c) piling, demolition or dredging works;  ( d) any other 
work of engineering construction.”.  
Deletion and substitution of Second Schedule  
6. The Second Schedule to the principal Regulations is deleted and the 
following Schedule substituted therefor:  
“SECOND SCHEDULE  
Regulations 40A, 40AA and 40AF  
PART 1  
TEST STANDARD OR METHOD  
1. A test report for a specified water fitting must contain the results of tests carried 
out for the specified water fitting in accordance with the applicable test standard or 
method, as follows:    10 
 First column  Second column  Third column  
Applicable test standard   
Specified water fitting  Type  or method  
 
(1) Taps and mixers  (a) Pillar basin taps  
(b) Self-closing delayedaction 
basin taps  
(c) Sensor (including  
self-closing  delayed -
action) basin taps  
(d) Combination basin taps  
(e) Bib taps  
(f) Sink taps (cold water 
only) 
(g) Sensor sink taps  
(h) Combination sink taps  
(i) Shower taps (cold water 
only) 
(j) Self-closing delayedaction 
shower taps  
(k) Sensor (including  
self-closing  delayed -
action) shower taps  
(l) Combination shower taps  )  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
)  
) (i)  
(ii)  
Annex A of SS 448: 
Part 3 (1998); or 
section 10 of BS EN 
200 (2008)  
The flow rate is 
determined in 
accordance with 
paragraph 2    11  
 First column  Second column  Third column  
Applicable test standard   
Specified water fitting  Type  or method  
 (m)  Mechanical basin, 
 –– sink or shower 
mixers with a single or 
separate control device for 
adjusting flow rate and 
temperature  Section 10 of BS EN 817  
(2008)  
The flow rate is 
determined in accordance 
with paragraph 2  
 (n)  Thermostatic mixer  –– 
for basin, sink, bib or shower  Section 10 of BS EN 1287 
(1999)  
The flow rate is 
determined in accordance 
with paragraph 2  
(2) Flushing cistern  (a)  Dual -flush low  –– 
capacity flushing cisterns 
with volume discharge of 
3.5 litres or more for full 
flush SS 574: Part 1 (2012), 
Volume of Discharge  
per flush  
 (b)  Dual -flush low  –– 
capacity cisterns with 
volume of discharge of 
less than 3.5 litres for 
full flush  (i) SS 574: Part 1 
(2012), Volume 
of Discharge per 
flush; and  
(ii) SS 574: Part 1  
(2012), Annex J  
–– WC Drainline  
Transportation test  
(3) Urinal flush valve ( a)  Urinal flush valve  –– The test 
method for with flush volume of  determining the flush 0.5 litres or more 
 volume set out in paragraph 3  
   12 
 First column  Second column  Third column  
Applicable test standard   
Specified water fitting  Type  or method  
(b)  Urinal flush valve with 
flush volume of less 
than 0.5 litres  –– (i) the flush  
(ii)   
in –– 
(A)  The test method for 
determining   
  
volume set out  in 
paragraph 3; and 
Dye Test specified  
Clause 8.5  of 
the   
ASME  
A112.19.2 -  
2008/CSA  
B45.1 -08; or  
   (B)  ASME  
A112.19.2 -  
2013/CSA  
B45.1 -13 
(4) Clothes washing machine   –– (a)  Clau  
60456  se 8.6 of IEC  
Edition 5.0  
   (201 0-02); or  
   (b)  Clause 11 of BS EN 
60456   
(2005) relating  to 
measurement  of water 
consumption The water 
consumption is 
determined in 
accordance with 
paragraph 4    13  
2. The flow rate for a tap and mixer is the mean of the average flow rates 
measured in litres per minute and at the dynamic flow pressures of 1.5 bars, 2.5 bars, 
3.5 bars, 4.5 bars and 5 bars.  
3. The urinal flush valve is tested at dynamic pressure of 3 bars. The 
discharge volume per flush is measured with the following test method:  
(a) the flush pipe is to be 300 mm long with an internal diameter of at least 13 
mm and is to be secured to the outlet of the valve;  
(b) the pressure gauge and control valve are to be fitt ed at the inlet of the flush 
valve;  
(c) the flush valve is to be connected to a water supply system and the dynamic 
pressure of the water supply adjusted to 0.7 bars;  
(d) the flow regulator is to be set at maximum;  
(e) the operating member must continue to be held actuated until the flow of 
water ceases;  
(f) the flush volume is the volume of water that is discharged from the flush pipe 
from the actuation of the operating member to cessation of flow of water.  
4. The water con sumption for a clothes washing machine is to be measured using 
the wash programme or other associated settings recommended in the manufacturer’s 
product literature for a normally soiled load at rated load capacity, and the following 
are not required as a t est condition:  
(a) the use of a reference clothes washing machine for normalisation of base 
load items;  
(b) the parallel operation of a reference clothes washing machine with the tested 
clothes washing machine;  
(c) the use of a specific inlet water temperature, water hardness, water pressure, 
ambient temperature or humidity;  ( d) the use of stain test strips;  ( e) the use 
of detergent.  
5. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires –– 
“ASME” means American Society of Mechanical Engineers;  
“BS EN” means the Bri tish Standards European Norm; “IEC” means 
the International Electrotechnical Commission; “SS” means the 
Singapore Standards.  
PART 2  
WATER EFFICIENCY LABEL REQUIREMENTS  
1. Every Water Efficiency Label must –– 
(a) be of the same dimensions as the samples at paragraph 3, or proportionately 
larger;    14 
(b) be of the same shape and colour as the samples at paragraph 3;  
(c) contain text set out in the samples at paragraph 3 that is ––   (i) of the 
typeface Arial;  
(ii) legible;  
(iii) in the En glish language only; and  
(iv) consistent with or drawn from the relevant test report;  
(d) show the number of ticks for a specified water fitting, determined in 
accordance with paragraph 2;  
(e) be printed in an indelible manner and with a minimum resolution of 300 
pixel s per inch; and  
(f) be made of such material as the Board may approve.  
2. The number of ticks to be shown on the Water Efficiency Label for a specified 
water fitting are to be determined as follows:  
   (a) basin tap and mixer –– 
 Number of ticks  Flow rate (litres per minute)  
1 4 < flow rate ≤ 6  
2 2 < flow rate ≤ 4  
3 flow rate ≤ 2  
(b) sink tap and mixer or bib tap and mixer –– 
Number of ticks  Flow rate (litres per minute)  
1 6 < flow rate ≤ 8  
2 4 < flow rate ≤ 6  
3 flow rate ≤ 4  
(c) shower tap and mixer –– 
Number of ticks  Flow rate (litres per minute)  
1 7 < flow rate ≤ 9  
2 5 < flow rate ≤ 7  
3 flow rate ≤ 5  
(d) flushing cisterns –– 
Number of ticks  Flush volume (litres per flush)  
1 (a) 4 < flush volume for full flush ≤  4.5; and  
(b) 2.5 <  flush volume for reduced flush ≤ 3  
2 (a) 3.5 < flush volume for full flush ≤  4; and  
(b) 2.5 < flush volume for reduced flush ≤ 3    15  
3 (a) flush volume for full flush ≤  3.5; and  
(b) flush volume for reduced flush ≤  2.5  
(e) urinal flush valves and waterless urinals –– 
 Number of ticks  Flush volume (litres per flush)  
1 1 < flush volume ≤ 1.5 2  0.5 < flush 
volume ≤ 1  
 3 flush volume ≤ 0.5  
   (f) clothes washing machines –– 
 Number of ticks  Water consumption (litres per kg)  
2 9 < water consumption ≤ 12  
3 6 < water consumption ≤  9 
4 water consumption ≤ 6  
3. The samples of the Water Efficiency Label are as follows: Label 1  
WATER EFFICIENCY LABEL FOR TAPS AND MIXERS, FLUSHING  
CISTERNS, URINAL FLUSH VALVES AND WATERLESS URINALS  
 
Label 2  
WATER EFFICIENCY LABEL FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES  
  16 
 
4. In this Part –– 
“flow rate” means the volume of water that flows out of a tap and mixer per 
minute, as specified in the test report;  
“flush volume” means the volume of water that is discharged from a fl ushing 
cistern or urinal flush valve or waterless urinal, as specified in the test 
report;  
“water consumption” means the volume of water used by a clothes washing 
machine, as specified in the test report.  
PART 3  
WATER EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS  
1. Every tap a nd mixer, regardless of the type, must meet all of the following 
requirements:  
(a) the difference between the highest and lowest flow rates (measured at the 
dynamic flow pressures specified in paragraph 2 of Part 1 of this Schedule) 
of the tap and mixer must not exceed 2 litres per minute;  
(b) the highest flow rate of the tap and mixer must not exceed the upper limit of 
the range of flow rates within which the flow rate of the tap and mixer falls 
(under paragraph 2 of Part 2 of this Schedule) by more than 0.5 litres per 
minute;  
(c) the lowest flow rate of the tap and mixer –– 
(i) for a sink tap and m ixer with a flow rate falling within the range of 
flow rates specified for 3 ticks, must not be lower than the lower 
limit of the range of flow rates within which the flow rate of the 
  17  
tap and mixer falls (under paragraph 2 of Part 2 of this Schedule) 
by mo re than 1.5 litres per minute;  
(ii) for a sink tap and mixer with a flow rate falling within the range of 
flow rates specified for 1 tick or 2 ticks, must not be lower than the 
lower limit of the range of flow rates within which the flow rate of 
the tap and mi xer falls (under paragraph 2 of Part 2 of this 
Schedule) by more than 0.5 litres per minute; and  
(iii) for a basin tap and mixer, bib tap and mixer, shower tap and mixer, 
must not be lower than the lower limit of the range of flow rates 
within which the flow rat e of the tap and mixer falls (under 
paragraph 2 of Part 2 of this  
Schedule) by more than 0.5 litres per minute;  
   (d) the tap and mixer must have a flow rate as follows:  
(i) for basin tap and mixer, not more than 6 litres per minute;  
(ii) for a sink tap and mixer  or bib tap and mixer, not more than 8 litres 
per minute;  
(iii) for a shower tap and mixer, not more than 9 litres per minute.  
2. Every flushing cistern or flush valve must be of such a design as to use 
not more than the amount of water specified in paragraph 18(1) , (2) or (5) of the First 
Schedule, as the case may be.  
3. Every clothes washing machine intended for household use must be of 
such a design as to use not more than 12 litres of water per kilogram of wash load 
for the washing programme recommended by the manu facturer for a normally soiled 
load at the rated capacity of the washing machine. 4. In this Part, “flow rate” means 
the volume of water that flows out of a tap and mixer per minute, as specified in the 
test report. ”. 
[G.N. Nos. S 97/2005; S 703/2008; S 832/2010; S 161/2011; S 616/2013;  
S 721/2014; S 826/2014; S 55/2015]  
Made on 30 March 2017.  
TAN GEE PAW  
Chairman,  
Public Utilities Board, 
Singapore.  
[MEWR C030/01/124 Vol. 15; AG/LEGIS/SL/261/2015/3 Vol. 2]    18 
(To be pre sented to Parliament under section 72(4) of the Public Utilities 
Act).   
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