The water issue was again brought up by Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad recently, and it has been a source of dispute between the two countries.
Our dependence on Malaysia’s water has political disadvantages, and this could still cloud bilateral relations.
It is, therefore, a timely reminder of the importance of water conservation.
We should not take for granted the easy access of water in tiny Singapore, which has no natural resources.
Singapore is not without constraints despite investing heavily in technology to reduce reliance on water from Malaysia.
It also does not have enough land to rely on rainfall as a water source, for instance.
Unlike the older generation of residents who have been through water rationing in the 1960s, younger Singaporeans show little particular zeal for water conservation.
The days without flush toilets are long forgotten.
We seem to take for granted that clean drinking water is at the nearest tap.
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