It was indeed encouraging to read that there has been a dip in water use, albeit due in part to the price increase (Daily water use dips sharply, due in part to 2017 price hike; March 7).

While we cheer this news, there is one area we need to address: water wastage caused by auto-flush toilets in many of our hotels, shopping malls and other public buildings.

I wrote about this some time ago after my experience at a toilet in a relatively new mall, where theauto-flush system activated too many flushes.

I thought the relevant authorities, which promised to look into the matter, would correct such high-volume water-wasting systems not only at the affected mall, but also at other malls and public buildings with such sensors, if not replace them. But a few days ago, I faced a similar problem at a toilet in a shopping mall in Orchard Road. The toilet self-flushed 12 times in the short five minutes I was in the cubicle.

I urge the authorities to rectify such senseless water wastage.

I would also like to highlight another common source of water wastage in many of our public buildings - leaking taps and flushes.

Most cleaners do not seem bothered by the leaks. Perhaps a small reward or token might motivate them to report such leaks to the management.

Lim Boon Seng