Singapore, 21 December 2015 – Recent findings by the National Environment Agency (NEA) show that the quality of well water from wells used by retail food establishments at Pulau Ubin has deteriorated. To further safeguard public health, all retail food establishments at Pulau Ubin are now required to use bottled water, PUB water from the mainland, or boil the water drawn from the wells for at least one minute continuously before using it for preparation of food and drinks for sale. This follows an earlier advisory issued in March 2014 to licensees to adopt similar precautionary measures, following detection of some unsatisfactory water samples obtained from their taps.

2 Many of the island’s residents use well water for their daily needs. Following NEA’s findings, a joint advisory has been issued to residents to boil the water drawn from the wells for at least one minute continuously before the water is used, or to use bottled water or PUB water from the mainland, for consumption and related uses such as brushing of teeth and washing of crockery.

3 There are advisory signs put up in the public restrooms reminding the public not to consume the water from the taps, as the water is drawn from wells and is thus not potable without further treatment. More public signs will also be put up at Pulau Ubin to inform visitors not to consume water directly from the taps.