6 HDB Blocks in Jurong West Affected by Dirty Tap Water for Hours

By
Shawn Ambrose
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Singapore has been lauded for many things.

Its clean streets, low crime rate, and its ability to make anyone outside sweat within 20 seconds.

It’s also a place where residents can feel safe drinking water straight from the tap, as the authorities have repeatedly assured us of its safety.

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Indeed, even the water dispensed from taps at the toilets at hawker centres – possibly the most foul-smelling place in the country – was found to be exceedingly safe to drink.

However, if you turn on your tap and brown water pours out, all those assurances from the past probably won’t mean much.

6 HDB Blocks in Jurong West Affected by Dirty Tap Water for Hours

And that’s exactly what happened to some residents of six blocks in Jurong West Street 74 on Wednesday (27 Oct).

Residents noticed that their tap water, as well as the water in their toilet bowls, had turned a muddy brown, which is perhaps the last colour you’d want to see there.

The West Coast Town Council had put up notices which said there was “an unexpected dirty PUB incoming supply” that would affect Block 752 to 761.

Residents were told that they could use the tap water to shower from 2am yesterday (28 Oct) but were advised not to consume it until 6pm.

Fortunately, around 5pm yesterday, new notices were put up informing residents at the affected blocks that their water supply had been restored.

Water Wagons Sent to Provide Residents With Temporary Supply 

Taps seem like this magical fountain with an infinite supply of water, but this is just an illusion.

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Since the residents couldn’t consume the tap water nor wash with it, PUB had to send water wagons to provide temporary water supplies for those affected.

Some residents had to bring water pails to collect the water as the wagons had run out of water bags.

PUB said its officers had assisted the West Coast Town Council with flushing the water network and the affected blocks’ water tanks, after which their supply was progressively resumed.

It’s not clear what caused the discolouration. PUB is investigating the incident.

Water Regularly Analysed For Safety

PUB said on its website that water samples are regularly collected from reservoirs, waterworks, and service reservoirs to be analysed at PUB’s Water Quality Laboratory.

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This ensures that our water supply is clean and safe, it said.

Online sensors also monitor water quality at each stage of the treatment process and service reservoirs, it added.

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Shawn Ambrose
Email: shawn.ambrose@goodyfeed.com