Definitions for Part 6
Open ↗114.—(1) In this Part, section 312 and the Part 6 Regulations —“alter”, in relation to water, does not include —(a)
chilling or otherwise changing the temperature of the water;
(b)
adding fluoride to drinking water only to the extent necessary to promote good oral health;
(c)
where drinking water is supplied using a reticulation system, the addition to drinking water of any contaminant or substance due solely to the contact between the drinking water and any network infrastructure of the reticulation system during the water’s passage; or
(d)
conditioning or purifying drinking water using filters or other devices to improve the quality or aesthetic aspects of the drinking water;
“drinking water producer” means a person who carries on drinking water production in the course of business;
“drinking water production” means an undertaking that involves —(a)
any of the following:(i)
water harvesting or collection (including, for example, water storage by means of a tank or other infrastructure);
(ii)
recovering water from a water resource not supplied by a reticulated water system;
(iii)
extracting groundwater or water from the air; and
(b)
treating or recycling the water harvested, collected, recovered or extracted in paragraph (a) to obtain drinking water;
“drinking water service” means a service that involves —(a)
drinking water production; and
(b)
supplying to another the drinking water obtained from drinking water production in paragraph (a) —(i)
by a reticulation system; or
(ii)
in bulk;
“in bulk”, in relation to supply of drinking water, means to supply an amount of drinking water through the use of a vehicle, being an amount exceeding a volume prescribed by any Part 6 Regulations;
“network infrastructure” means the pipes, pumps, tanks, equipment and other elements of a reticulation system;
“reticulation system” means a network for distributing drinking water, or for monitoring or controlling the distribution of drinking water, to premises for human consumption or use;
“supply”, in relation to drinking water, means to make available drinking water either by using a reticulation system or in bulk, and includes —(a)
to cause or permit the supply of drinking water; and
(b)
to offer to supply drinking water;
“water resource” means —(a)
a river, creek or other natural watercourse (whether modified or not) in which water is contained or flows, whether permanently or from time to time;
(b)
a lake or reservoir; or
(c)
the sea.
(2) Despite subsection (1), the term “drinking water service” does not include a service involving —(a)
the supply of drinking water to a vessel, the supply of which is regulated under the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Act 1996;
(b)
the supply to a Singapore ship of drinking water, the supply of which is regulated under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995;
(c)
the supply by a drinking water producer, of drinking water obtained by the drinking water producer from its drinking water production to the Public Utilities Board, and to no other person; or
(d)
the supply by a person to another of drinking water that has been directly obtained from a drinking water producer subject to this Part, provided that the drinking water from the drinking water producer is not altered or altered to any material degree by the supplier.
(3) This Part does not apply to the supply of packaged drinking water, and any reference in this Part to drinking water and its supply does not include a reference to the supply of packaged drinking water.
Offence of supplying unwholesome drinking water
Open ↗115.—(1) A drinking water producer providing a drinking water service commits an offence if any drinking water supplied in the course of providing that service is unwholesome.
(2) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) —(a)
it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that a person charged knew or had reason to believe that the drinking water is unwholesome; but
(b)
it is a defence to the charge for the person charged to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that the person charged took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence by the person charged and by any person under the control of the person charged.
(3) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.
(4) For the purposes of this Part, drinking water is unwholesome unless the water —(a)
conforms to the prescribed requirements in any Part 6 Regulations concerning the quality, purity and general appearance of drinking water; and
(b)
does not, based on any prescribed methodology or assessment in any Part 6 Regulations, contain any contaminant, substance or organism, either alone or in any combination, at a concentration or value that constitutes a potential danger to human health.
(5) In subsection (4), “general appearance”, in relation to drinking water, includes the colour and clarity of the water.
Direction for unwholesome drinking water incident, etc.
Open ↗116.—(1) The Director‑General may, in any of the circumstances described in subsection (2), give a written direction under this section to all or any of the following:(a)
a proprietor of a food business, whether or not a food business licensee;
(b)
a drinking water producer providing a drinking water service;
(c)
a person who supplies drinking water that has been directly obtained from the Public Utilities Board or another drinking water producer;
(d)
a person who has a duty to control, manage and administer any common property comprising any network infrastructure for distributing drinking water from the Public Utilities Board or another drinking water producer to occupants of premises in a subdivided building; and common property has the meaning given by section 2(1) of the Building (Strata Management) Act 2004.[Act 15 of 2026 wef 01/07/2026]
(2) A written direction may be given under subsection (1) where the Director‑General reasonably believes that —(a)
drinking water supplied, or to be supplied, by a drinking water producer as part of a drinking water service is unwholesome, or may be the means by which an illness is being, has been, or will be, transmitted; or
(b)
a direction is necessary for the purposes of averting, eliminating or minimising a risk, or a perceived risk, to human health among the general public in relation to drinking water.
(3) A written direction under subsection (1) may require the person to whom it is addressed to do or not to do any thing reasonably required for the purpose for which the direction is given, including one or more of the following:(a)
a requirement that the person discontinue, or not start —(i)
supplying any drinking water; or
(ii)
any other specified activity,
for a specified period or until further notice is given by an authorised officer;
(b)
a requirement that the person not supply any drinking water or not carry on a specified activity, except subject to specified conditions;
(c)
a requirement that the person take specified action in a specified way, and within a specified period or at specified times or in specified circumstances;
(d)
a requirement that the person take action to prevent, eliminate, minimise or control any specified risk to the general public in relation to drinking water, or to control any specified activity;
(e)
a requirement that the person comply with any standard in any Part 6 Regulations, or any guideline or code in relation to drinking water which is prepared or published by the Agency and referred to in the direction;
(f)
a requirement that the person undertake specified tests or monitoring in relation to drinking water;
(g)
a requirement that the person provide an authorised officer referred to in the direction or to the Agency specified results or reports;
(h)
a requirement that the person prepare, in accordance with specified requirements and to the satisfaction of the Agency, a plan of action to secure compliance with a relevant requirement or to prevent, eliminate, minimise or control any specified risk to human health among the general public in relation to drinking water;
(i)
in the case of a drinking water producer providing a drinking water service, a requirement to notify affected consumers that drinking water supplied by the drinking water producer as part of its drinking water service should be boiled, or treated in some other way, before drinking.
(4) Subject to subsection (5), a written direction under subsection (2) takes effect when it is given to the person to whom it is addressed, and continues in force until the earlier of the following occurs:(a)
the expiry date stated in the direction is reached;
(b)
the Director‑General revokes the direction.
(5) Where the Director‑General gives a written direction under subsection (2) requiring a person —(a)
to discontinue, or not start, supplying any drinking water; or
(b)
to not supply any drinking water except subject to specified conditions,
because the Director‑General has reasonable grounds to believe that the direction is necessary or desirable to prevent or control a threat (actual or imminent) to public health or an imminent risk of death or serious illness, that direction takes effect in accordance with subsection (4) but expires on (and including) the 10th day after that date it takes effect.
(6) However, the cessation of a written direction under subsection (1) having effect (whether or not by revocation) does not prevent another written direction being made and given by the Director‑General if the Director‑General is satisfied that the circumstances warrant it under subsection (1).
(7) A reference in subsection (1) to the Director‑General includes a reference to an authorised officer duly appointed by the Director‑General to act for him or her for the purpose of this section.
Offence of not complying with section 116 direction
Open ↗117.—(1) A person to whom a section 116 direction is addressed and given commits an offence if the person —(a)
intentionally carries on an activity in contravention of the direction;
(b)
neglects or refuses to comply with the direction; or
(c)
fails to comply with a condition specified in the direction.
(2) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on conviction —(a)
where the person is an individual —(i)
to a fine not exceeding $15,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both; or
(ii)
where the individual is a repeat offender — to a fine not exceeding $30,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; or
(b)
where the person is not an individual —(i)
to a fine not exceeding $30,000; or
(ii)
where the person is a repeat offender — to a fine not exceeding $60,000.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.
(4) In subsection (2), “repeat offender”, in relation to an offence under subsection (1), means a person who —(a)
is convicted, or found guilty, of such an offence (called the current offence); and
(b)
has been convicted or found guilty, on at least one other earlier occasion within the period of 5 years immediately before the date on which the person is convicted or found guilty of the current offence, of an offence under subsection (1).
Source: Singapore Statutes Online (Attorney-General's Chambers), © Government of Singapore.
