PUB, the national water agency, on Wednesday launched a new initiative to encourage the non-domestic sector to improve their water efficiency, reduce water consumption by 10 per cent and cut their operating costs.

� Unveiled by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, the 10% Challenge will be rolled out sector-by-sector, starting with hotels, schools, commercial and government buildings.

Adopting a holistic approach, PUB will engage the different non-domestic sectors individually and encourage them to embrace sustainable and efficient building design, use water conservation devices and undertake proper water monitoring and management practices in their premises.

� In light of the economic slowdown, PUB will provide further relief to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the non-domestic sector by increasing the Water Efficiency Fund's co-funding for projects that meet various criteria from 50 per cent to 80 per cent of the project cost.

� The Water Efficiency Fund was launched by PUB in 2007 to co-fund projects that yield at least 10 per cent reduction in water consumption within an organisation. PUB hopes to help SMEs achieve cost savings in these lean times and will work with SPRING Singapore to promote the use of the Fund to SMEs.

'PUB's efforts in helping building and facility managers cut down their operating costs is timely in this economic climate. Having launched the 10 Litre Challenge in 2006 which encouraged all Singaporeans to reduce their water usage by 10 litres everyday, we are now extending our efforts to the non-domestic sector, which accounts for half of Singapore's water consumption,' said Mr Chong Hou Chun, Director for PUB's Water Supply Network.

He added that PUB has set aside $600,000 to roll out a nation-wide programme from April next year to install water-saving devices such as water efficient showerheads, constant flow regulators, thimbles and cistern water-saving bags in needy families with above-average water consumption based on their room types.

PUB will work with the People's Association and the Community Development Councils to extend the installation of the water-saving devices to needy families.

Preliminary findings based on a trial carried out this year show that these measures have helped these households halve their water bill, said Mr Chong.

To create awareness for the new 10% Challenge, share knowledge and build expertise in water management, a 10% Challenge website, Water Efficiency Manager Course and Water Efficient Building Design Guide Book will be rolled out.

The website www.tenpercent.org.sg, hosted by the Singapore Environment Council, consists of a tool to help facility and building managers drive and achieve continuous improvements in water management.� The tool helps to provide a complete assessment of the current status of the organisation's water demands, benchmark themselves against similar organisations, identify opportunities for improvements through an audit and list the various water efficiency measures for different building types.�

Dr Yaacob on Wednesday also presented certificates to the inaugural batch of 29 Water Efficiency Managers who completed the Water Efficiency Manager Course in October 2008 and launched the Water Efficiency Building Design guide book.�

Liew Pin Pong, Assistant Chief Engineer of Royal Plaza on Scotts and one of the participants of the course said: 'This is a very motivating and encouraging course for all building personnel, management teams, operators and owners.� I learnt how to carry out a water audit in my building as well as how to educate my staff on the importance of water conservation.�� I now know how important it is to monitor our water consumption and control water wastage in the hotel.� I hope that we can make it a mandatory course for all building owners.'