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Common Ground News

How hard is the water in Singapore?

Author

Carter Sullivan

Updated on March 15, 2026

How hard is the water in Singapore?

The higher the amount of minerals, the “harder” the water is. In Singapore, the “hardness” of tap water ranges between 25mg/litre (soft) and 145mg/litre (hard).

Similarly, you may ask, is Singapore hard or soft water?

Singapore's water comes mainly from rainfall (domestically and in Malaysia) and recycled waste water. Hence, unlike many places where water is drawn from aquifers and inland lakes, the water in Singapore has a very low mineral content and is considered soft, very soft.

Furthermore, how clean is the water in Singapore? Singapore's tap water is certified clean and safe enough for drinking after it is filtered, before it enters the pipes for our houses. But, you never know what is in the pipes, or in the water storage tanks, or even growing inside your taps.

In this regard, is it OK to drink tap water in Singapore?

It is safe to drink directly from the tap, says the PUB. Singapore's tap water is well within international guidelines set by the World Health Organisation, as well as the United States Environmental Protection Agency's drinking water standards. It is suitable for drinking without further filtration or boiling.

Is tap water hard or soft water?

Hard/soft classification

Classificationhardness in mg-CaCO3/Lhardness in ppm
Soft0–600–60
Moderately hard61–12061–120
Hard121–180121–180
Very hard≥ 181≥ 181

Is it OK to drink water in Singapore?

It is safe to drink directly from the tap, says the PUB. Singapore's tap water is well within international guidelines set by the World Health Organisation, as well as the United States Environmental Protection Agency's drinking water standards. It is suitable for drinking without further filtration or boiling.

Do we need water filter in Singapore?

Water in Singapore is definitely safe for consumption
Yes, you can go ahead and drink directly from the tap – it's safe. In fact, PUB encourages you to drink straight from the tap, without using filtration devices such as water filters and purifiers.

Is Singapore still buying water from Malaysia?

It entitles Singapore to draw and use 250 million gallons of raw water per day from the Johor River. The Water Agreements were guaranteed by the Government of Malaysia in the Separation Agreement signed in 1965 that established Singapore as an independent and sovereign state.

Is Singapore water bad for hair?

Yes, it takes an extra step, but using boiled water is said to help chlorine and other heavily processed minerals evaporate. Showering in hot water is also said to damage the scalp, leading to shrinking of strands, narrowing of follicles, and leading to hair thinning and loss.

Is water filter necessary in Singapore?

Water in Singapore is definitely safe for consumption
Yes, you can go ahead and drink directly from the tap – it's safe. In fact, PUB encourages you to drink straight from the tap, without using filtration devices such as water filters and purifiers.

Is Singapore River man made?

The Singapore River is not man-made as one might think; its size, shape, length and location was naturally created. The Singapore River precinct, with its three distinctive quays – Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay, is the historic heart of the city and the foundation upon which Singapore has been built.

Is there chlorine in Singapore tap water?

While Singapore's tap water is safe to drink directly from the tap, the chlorine used as a disinfecting agent in tap water may not be suitable for some types of fish.

Is it safe to eat street food in Singapore?

It is nigh impossible to find street food in Singapore because it is illegal to set up a stall and sell food by the street. If you are after the local fare, these food vendors can be found in covered food centres or air-conditioned food courts. To answer your question, the food is extremely safe.

Why do foreigners come to Singapore?

Singapore is very well-known of its stable political environment, low crime rates, low corruption, world-class education system as well as the good climate. It's sometimes called the expat-friendly city-state because the country has the policies that welcome foreigners to live comfortably in the city.

Is ice safe in Singapore?

In my experience you can drink the tap water in both Singapore and Penisular Malaysia. But the water is safe so no need to worry about ice in drinks being made with local water etc.

How much water should I drink for my weight?

“In general, you should try to drink between half an ounce and an ounce of water for each pound you weigh, every day.” For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, that would be 75 to 150 ounces of water a day.

Which country has the freshest water?

The following countries are said to have the cleanest drinking water in the world:
  • DENMARK. Denmark has better tap water than bottled water.
  • ICELAND. Iceland has stringent quality control, ensuring that they have a consistently high quality of water.
  • GREENLAND.
  • FINLAND.
  • COLOMBIA.
  • SINGAPORE.
  • NEW ZEALAND.
  • SWEDEN.

How long do thunderstorms last in Singapore?

The Southwest Monsoon Season experiences showers and thunderstorm activity between predawn to midday. However, thunderstorms usually last for less than 30 minutes.

How much is bottled water Singapore?

TL;DR: How Much Are We Paying For Bottled Water In Singapore?
Bottled Water BrandPrice Per Litre
Aqua Mountain Spring Bottled Water$0.93
Dasani Drinking Bottle Water$0.40
FairPrice Pure Drinking Bottle Water$0.33
FIJI Natural Artesian Bottle Water$2.37

Is Singapore safe?

OVERALL RISK : LOW
Generally, Singapore is very safe to visit. It is probably the safest country in Asia to travel to, but it has its dangers. Use your common sense and keep your valuables closely by your side, since the most common type of crime is petty theft.

How safe is mineral water?

Risks. Mineral water is generally safe to drink. Very little research points to any immediate negative health impacts associated with drinking plain mineral water. Carbonated mineral water contains carbonic acid, which can cause hiccups or bloating.

Do we need to boil water in Singapore?

Q Is it necessary to boil tap water before I drink it? A Tap water in Singapore is perfectly safe to drink. So unless one requires hot water, there is no need for further boiling, which would be a waste of energy.

Why should we not drink tap water?

Those who decide to rely on tap water for all of their drinking and cooking needs are leaving themselves exposed to various chemicals and bacteria over the long haul. Drinking tap water that is filled with chlorine and various other toxins significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer.

Is toilet water drinkable?

In some parts of the world, the wastewater that flows down the drain – yes, including toilet flushes – is now being filtered and treated until it's as pure as spring water, if not more so. It might not sound appealing, but recycled water is safe and tastes like any other drinking water, bottled or tap.

Where does Singapore get water?

Singapore imports water from Johor state in Malaysia through a pipeline that runs along a 1 km bridge, the Johor–Singapore Causeway, that also carries a road and a railway.

Does boiling remove chlorine?

Boiling. If you water contains only chlorine and not chloramine, you can drive the chlorine off by boiling the water for 15 minutes. Pros: Faster than waiting for it to off-gas at room temperature.

Is NEWater safe to drink?

NEWater is high-grade reclaimed water produced from treated used water that is further purified using advanced membrane technologies and ultra-violet disinfection, making it ultra-clean and safe to drink. In fact, NEWater is cleaner than PUB water.

How can you tell if water is drinkable?

One helpful way to check if your water is safe is to pour a glass from the tap and move to another room. After swirling the water around, if it still smells like fish, it could mean that contaminants are present.

WHO limits for drinking water?

According to WHO 1984 and Indian standard drinking water specification 1991 the maximum permissible limit of fluoride in drinking water is 1.5 ppm and highest desirable limit is 1.0 ppm.

Is it necessary to boil water?

Boiling. If you don't have safe bottled water, you should boil your water to make it safe to drink. Boiling is the surest method to kill disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Bring the clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for three minutes).

What are the disadvantages of having soft water?

The disadvantages of soft water
  • Soft water can easily lead to lead poisoning if it is transferred through lead pipes or kept in lead containers.
  • Soft water does not help in strengthening our bones and teeth since it contains no calcium.
  • Soft water has a taste which is not pleasant in the mouth.

Why does soft water feel slimy?

Soap scum film on skin makes our skin dry and itchy. Soft water leaves your skin and hair “hydrated and clean”, not squeaky. Since water is wet and there is not scummy film on your skin to cause friction, the water feelsslippery”. That slippery feeling is the indication of healthy, clean skin and hair.

Does hard water cause kidney stones?

Kidney stones form when urine contains too high a concentration of crystal-forming elements such as calcium for the urine to dilute. Although hard water has a higher presence of calcium than soft water, some research concludes that hard water is not a probable cause of kidney stone formation.

Is bottled water hard or soft?

Bottled water is naturally soft, thanks to low levels of calcium and magnesium. Higher levels are often found in municipal water, which is often “softened”—particularly in the United States—to be used at home. The taste of water is impacted heavily by softening.

How can I soften my shower water?

A: The ONLY WAY to soften water in a shower is by using resin beads through a process called “Ion Exchange”. This involves using a MUCH larger volume of resin than what would fit inside a shower filter. And the resin needs to be regenerated with salt water.

How does soft water affect hair?

But it's possible to have too much of a good thing—and soft water may flatten your hair or give it a greasy texture. “Soft water can make hair limp and lifeless,” says Ward. But it's less damaging than hard water, and you can negate its effects by washing with a volumizing shampoo and lightweight conditioner.

Are water softeners worth it?

They are quite expensive but worth the investment as softened water does offer some significant benefits. Softened water feels silkier and makes hair softer and easier to manage. Water softeners work by removing the minerals (calcium and magnesium) that cause the hardness, the process is called ion-exchange.

How can I soften water without a water softener?

Luckily, you can still soften your laundry water without relying on a water softener.
  1. Rinse and wash an empty plastic milk jug.
  2. Add washing soda and borax to the clean milk jug.
  3. Fill the jug half way with warm water and secure with the lid.

Is hot water harder than cold?

"Cold water does not boil faster than hot water. As a result, cold water will be absorbing heat faster while it is still cold; once it gets up to the temperature of hot water, the heating rate slows down and from there it takes just as long to bring it to a boil as the water that was hot to begin with.