Singaporeans were urged on Saturday to shower a minute less as part of a national water conservation effort in the hot and humid city-state.
If the entire population of 4,2-million people takes the advice to heart, environmental officials said the savings would fill nearly 16 Olympic-size swimming pools daily.
Each person currently uses an average 162 litres a day.
”I have been told that each person can save about 10 litres of water just by showering a minute less every day,” The Straits Times quoted Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, as saying.
Public Utilities Board director Yap Kheng Guan told the newspaper the board is promoting several schemes to reduce water consumption in homes.
The board distributes free of charges devices that can control the volume of water that comes out of taps or showers.
In its quest for water sustainability, Singapore opened its first seawater-desalination plant last month.
Protecting freshwater reserves is a priority. With many of the 14 reservoirs being opened up for recreational activities, Yaacob said a code on conduct is in the offing to keep the waters clean. — Sapa-DPA