Public Utilities Act
(Chapter 261, Section 72)
Public Utilities (Water Supply) Regulations
Rg 5
G.N. No. S 584/2002

REVISED EDITION 2004
(30th September 2004)
[22nd November 2002]
PART I
PRELIMINARY
Definitions
2.  In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —
“accredited laboratory” means a laboratory —
(a)accredited under the Singapore Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (SAC-SINGLAS) administered by the Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board (established under section 3 of the Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board Act (Cap. 303A)); or
(b)recognised under a mutual recognition agreement or arrangement between Singapore and any other country;
[S 133/2017 wef 01/04/2017]
“authorised officer” means an officer of the Board authorised in that behalf by the Board;
“backflow” means flow upstream, that is in a direction contrary to the intended normal direction of flow within or from a water fitting;
“British Standard” means a standard or specification issued by the British Standards Institution;
“building” means any structure (including a floating structure) whether of a permanent character or not, and whether movable or immovable, and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, includes any caravan, vessel, boat or houseboat;
“connecting pipe” means a pipe from the water main to the meter position;
“consumer” includes —
(a)any person supplied or applying to be supplied with water by the Board;
(b)any person otherwise liable for the payment of water rates, charges or rent; and
(c)any owner or occupier of the premises supplied or to be supplied with water by the Board;
“corrosion-resisting material” means any material which is highly resistant to any corrosive action to which it is likely to be subjected in the circumstances in which it is used;
“distributing pipe” means any pipe (other than an overflow pipe or a flush pipe) conveying water from a storage tank under pressure by gravity or a boosting system from such tank;
“float-operated valve” means a valve for controlling the flow of water into a storage tank or flushing cistern, the valve being operated by the vertical movement of a float riding on the surface of the water;
“install”, in relation to a water fitting, apparatus, pump, hot water apparatus or any other article or device to which these Regulations apply, includes to arrange or connect;
“master meter” means a meter registering water all or part of which is subsequently registered by one or more sub-meters;
“meter” means any appliance or device supplied by the Board to measure, ascertain or regulate the amount of water taken or used from the supply by the Board;
“meter position” means the position where a meter or master meter (not being a sub-meter) is installed;
“meter reader” means an employee or an agent of the Board who is authorised to read any meter;
“potable water” means water supplied for human consumption;
“registered professional engineer” means a professional engineer registered under the Professional Engineers Act (Cap. 253);
“service pipe” means any pipe or part thereof which is downstream to the meter position and is meant for supplying water from a water main to any premises and is subject to water pressure from that main, or would be so subject but for the closing of some stop-valve;
“Singapore Standard” means a standard or specification issued by the Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board;
“stop-valve” means any device (including a stop-cock or stop-tap) other than a draw-off tap, for stopping at will the flow of water in a pipe;
“storage tank” means any tank or storage cistern, other than a flushing cistern, having a free water surface under atmospheric pressure, but does not include a drinking-trough or drinking-bowl for animals (including poultry);
“sub-meter” means any meter owned and maintained by the Board which registers all or part of any water which has already been metered since leaving the water main;
“warning pipe” means an overflow pipe so fixed that its outlet, whether inside or outside a building, is in a conspicuous position where the discharge of any water therefrom can be readily seen;
“Water Efficiency Label” means a label referred to in regulation 40A;
[S 703/2008 wef 01/07/2009]
“water fittings” includes pipes (other than water mains), pipe fittings, taps, cocks, valves, ferrules, meters, storage tanks, flushing cisterns and other similar apparatus used in connection with the supply and the use of water;
“water main” means any pipe vested in and owned by or under the control of the Board and used for the conveyance of water but does not include a connecting pipe.
Board may adopt or issue standards, codes of practice or guidelines
3.—(1)  The Board may, from time to time, adopt or issue any standard, code of practice or guidelines on water supply, water services, water conservation, plumbing practices, maintenance of water service installations, and any requirements (including standards, designs, specifications and procedures) relating to any type of water fitting or water service installation.
(2)  Where any requirement of any standard, code of practice or guidelines adopted or issued by the Board conflicts with any specific requirement specified in these Regulations, the latter requirement shall prevail.
(3)  The Board shall cause all standards, codes of practice or guidelines adopted or issued by it to be published in such a manner as will give persons to whom the standards, codes of practice or guidelines relate adequate notice of the requirements specified therein.