SINGAPORE - Sanitary plumbers who work on the used water system, such as toilet bowls, urinals and sinks, will be licensed from April (2018), in a move to safeguard against contamination of the Republic's drinking water supply.

Steps will be taken to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to take on increasingly complex plumbing works, with the passing of the Public Utilities (Amendment) Bill in Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 6).

Water service plumbers, who work on the drinking water supply system, are already required to be licensed.

The act will also extend the scope of National Environment Agency's Drinking Water Unit's regulatory power to all drinking water, including water provided free of charge.

Besides this, the NEA unit will also be allowed to enter premises to conduct investigations of water quality incidents, similar to what PUB officers are currently allowed to do.

Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor said: "We have seen from water crises around the world how things can go from right to wrong very quickly, often with just one misstep in the long complex chain of supplying water."

"We are determined never to let this happen, and will continue to strengthen our water system," she said.

Some MPs raised concerns that plumbers, who are usually senior citizens, will have difficulties acquiring the skills needed to get certified and might be forced out of the profession.

"My concern is that in our bid to upgrade industry standards, these plumbers who are senior citizens may inadvertently be deprived of their jobs if they have difficulties learning all the required skills to get certified," said Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar GRC).

The new licensing requirement will come under the revised Licensed Plumber scheme.

Some 96 per cent of 863 existing plumbers already qualify for the scheme as they are either already licensed water service plumbers or members of the Singapore Plumbing Society.

The rest, however, will need to pass the BCA Academy's Builder Certificate Plumbing and Pipefitting Course and/or PUB's conversion course.

Mr Png Eng Huat (Hougang) said this could be too onerous for some plumbers who may converse only in their mother tongue or in dialects.

He asked if the courses and assessment can be conducted in languages other than English, and if plumbers who can prove they have the necessary work experience, and have been working in the industry for a long time, can be excused from the courses.

Dr Khor said unlicensed plumbers can continue to carry out plumbing works under the supervision of a licensed plumber. They can also carry out simple plumbing works on their own, such as clearing chokes and installing sinks, bath tubs and showers.

She added that while the courses are conducted in English, the instructors take a "practical approach in helping participants understand the content".

Dr Khor also told Ms Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon GRC) and Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Ang Mo Kio GRC) that foreign plumbers will also need to be licensed.

"Enforcement action will be taken against the unlicensed plumber and the consumer (who engages the plumber)," she said.

Unlicensed plumbers who infringe the law by carrying out critical plumbing works unsupervised can be fined up to $10,000, jailed up to three years, or both. The consumer who engages the plumber can be fined up $10,000, jailed for up to a year, or both.