X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • SPF 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • Aptamil
    • Immunity
    • Intelligence
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • VIP

Homes With Maids Are Using 20 Percent More Water: PUB Survey

10 Mar, 2020

Homes that employ domestic help in Singapore, consume more water than those that don't. Here we find out why and give you 5 methods of water conservation you can practice as a family.

Homes With Maids Are Using 20 Percent More Water: PUB Survey Households with maids use up to 20 per cent more water than households without. Photo: iStock

Homes with domestic help in Singapore use more water 

According to a new survey by national water agency PUB, homes with maids use up to 20 per cent more water, with a daily per capita consumption of 160 litres on average, as opposed to homes without maids that use approximately 135 litres. 

The survey, which was released yesterday together with the agency's annual water conservation campaign, took into account households, of which 15 per cent have maids. With approximately 255,000 maids working in more than 200,000 Singapore homes, maids are key players in helping conserve water and will play a crucial role in helping PUB reach its target of lowering daily household water consumption per person to 130 litres by 2030. 

Water consumption rates currently stand at 141 litres per person recorded last year. However, this is a decrease from the 2016 figures of 148 litres per person. 

The recent survey reported that showering, flushing, kitchen activities and laundry were responsible for 77 per cent of total water use in a home. 

On that note, households with maids tend to use more water, as household chores like washing and cooking are performed more often. 

domestic help in Singapore One reason for increased water consumption in homes with maids is the increase in the frequency of household chores. Photo: iStock

President of the Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training (Fast), Mr Seah Seng Choon, was reported as having said that more awareness among domestic helpers could be raised on water conservation and in being efficient with water consumption. 

He noted that maids are usually trained primarily to "get the cleaning and cooking job done", and their training would not include water conservation methods. 

He added that the Association (Fast), has a module in our Onboarding and Integration Programme to teach new domestic helpers water-saving habits, and they have "worked with PUB to educate more than 3,000 domestic helpers since the programme's launch in 2017."

Meanwhile, MP Lee Bee Wah, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for the Environment and Water Resources commented on the importance of educating maids on the conservation of water, noting that "We should incorporate water-saving into the training of domestic helpers before they get employed, and also reach out to existing domestic helpers in their own languages."

5 Methods Of Water Conservation

domestic help in Singapore PUB's graph on water consumption. Photo: PUB

Discuss the importance of conserving water and existing policies, and go-over PUB's guide to conserving water, which was published primarily for new homeowners, but could also be used to educate maids and all members of the family. The guide can be on PUB's website.

The tips include 5 methods of water conservation families can practice at home:

  • Washing dishes, food items and pets with a basin of water instead of with running water,
  • educating all members of your family to have short showers,
  • using a cup for rinsing water when brushing your teeth,
  • running full loads of laundry to conserve water more efficiently, and
  • checking for leaks on faucets and pipes.

"There is potential for households to use water more efficiently when doing their daily chores, simply by not letting the water run needlessly from the tap or the hose," PUB's director of water supply (network) department Ridzuan Ismail reported. 

Homes With Maids Are Using 20 Percent More Water: PUB Survey

 

Partner Stories
Celebrity Dad Mark Lee Shares the 3 P's of Raising School Going Children - Parenting Tips, PSLE Preparation & Protecting Your Child’s Eyesight!
Celebrity Dad Mark Lee Shares the 3 P's of Raising School Going Children - Parenting Tips, PSLE Preparation & Protecting Your Child’s Eyesight!
NTUC First Campus (NFC) Expands Child Support Model to Include Support for Mental Well-being
NTUC First Campus (NFC) Expands Child Support Model to Include Support for Mental Well-being
Singapore's Dengue Cases Surpass The 35,000 Mark, Highest Since 2013
Singapore's Dengue Cases Surpass The 35,000 Mark, Highest Since 2013
Typhoon Haiyan relief effort
Typhoon Haiyan relief effort

 

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Shabnam Muzammil

  • Home
  • /
  • News
  • /
  • Homes With Maids Are Using 20 Percent More Water: PUB Survey
Share:
  • Maids At Thomson Rd Condo Forbidden From Using Facilities, Non-Complying Residents Will Get 'Period Ban'

    Maids At Thomson Rd Condo Forbidden From Using Facilities, Non-Complying Residents Will Get 'Period Ban'

  • Is Filtered Water Worth The Hype In Singapore? The Answer May Surprise You

    Is Filtered Water Worth The Hype In Singapore? The Answer May Surprise You

  • STUDY: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters - What Does It Mean For You?

    STUDY: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters - What Does It Mean For You?

  • Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

    Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

  • Maids At Thomson Rd Condo Forbidden From Using Facilities, Non-Complying Residents Will Get 'Period Ban'

    Maids At Thomson Rd Condo Forbidden From Using Facilities, Non-Complying Residents Will Get 'Period Ban'

  • Is Filtered Water Worth The Hype In Singapore? The Answer May Surprise You

    Is Filtered Water Worth The Hype In Singapore? The Answer May Surprise You

  • STUDY: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters - What Does It Mean For You?

    STUDY: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters - What Does It Mean For You?

  • Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

    Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and lifestyle updates.