SINGAPORE – Singapore’s tap water remains safe to drink, despite the recent persistent haze and viral social media clips of blackish, soot-coloured rainwater causing concern among some Singaporeans.
In a video uploaded to Facebook on Oct 24, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said that tests carried out by national water agency PUB have not found any unusual changes in the quality of Singapore’s treated water.
In the video, Fu referred to social media posts that showed blackish rainwater collected amid the haze. She said she visited the PUB Water Quality Laboratory to find out what caused the discoloration and whether it affected tap water.
PUB collected some water samples on Oct 17, when the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) was 193, Fu said. A figure of 101 to 200 on that index indicates unhealthy air quality.
Pointing to a rack of test tubes containing rainwater collected from Kranji and Ulu Pandan, run-off from Yew Tee and tap water, she said that rainwater collected during hazy conditions may be slightly more acidic and contain higher levels of particles and organic matter.
She added: “This is expected, as rainwater can pick up airborne particles and substances as it passes through the atmosphere.
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