Comprehension Open-ended
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions in complete sentences.
LONGEST WATER RATIONING
| Water rationing was made necessary by the severe drought which affected Johor and Singapore in early 1963. Water stocks were down to dangerously low levels at the Tebrau waterworks in Johor, and the MacRitchie, Seletar and Pierce reservoirs. The rainfall for March and April 1963 was the lowest in ten years. On the other hand, the hot and dry weather encouraged Singaporeans to use more water to cool themselves. There was also heavy demand on our water sources as more factories were set up in Jurong as part of our drive to industrialise. In addition, water was needed by the expanding population who increasingly lived in HDB flats with piped water. On the afternoon of 23 April 1963, water rationing began. Singapore was divided into seven zones. Each zone was supposed to get no water six hours a day four times a week either from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. However, despite the water rationing and the appeal for the voluntary reduction of water usage, the amount of water saved proved inadequate as the drought became more serious and the water stocks fell further. A week later on 30 April 1963, a 12-hour rationing was imposed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; each zone received no water for 12 hours three times a week. When this too did not produce any significant result, an island-wide 12-hour rationing from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. was finally introduced on 7 May 1963. The severe water rationing remained throughout the rest of 1963 and was relaxed only in January 1964. Water rationing only completely ended on 28 February 1964 with the return of heavy rainfall and when water stocks returned to an overall average of 75.1% in both the water catchment areas in Singapore and South Johor. Water rationing inconvenienced many Singaporeans. They needed to be aware of the zone they were in and what the rationing hours were. To beat the rationing hours they had to wake up early or stay up late to store the water they needed. The containers they used were often also bought at inflated prices. The dry weather dried many wells in the more rural parts of Singapore, thus badly affecting the livelihood of the farmers. As consumers, Singaporeans had to pay more for the vegetables they bought. Roadside hawkers however, had very good business since more had to eat out with such long rationing hours. The water rationing also meant that PUB officers had to move round the country shutting off and turning on the valves controlling water supply. To ensure that production at our factories did not halt and jobs were not lost, the major industries were exempted from water rationing. The hospitals and bigger hotels were also able to operate without any disruption to their water supply. The public sectors were asked to determine how they could save unnecessary loss of fresh water. It was decided then that seawater, for instance, was to be used to flush the public drains. A similar disruption to our water supply now can not be ruled out. Our demand for water is increasing each year. With increasing affluence, Singaporeans enjoy a good standard of living and now own many modern appliances which demand ever greater use of water. On the other hand, Singapore is still not self sufficient despite the construction of 11 more reservoirs since 1964. The stability of our water supply from Malaysia depends very much on the state of relationship between Singapore and Malaysia. Malaysian politicians have always brandished the threat of cutting off water whenever there is a spat between the two countries. Singaporeans have to recognise that our shortage of water is one of our key constraints. It is up to all Singaporeans to make sure that we put whatever water we have to good use and not waste a single drop unnecessarily. | 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 |
1. Why was there a need for water rationing in Singapore in 1963?
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2. Explain how the hot weather encouraged Singaporeans to use more water?
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3. What was the final action taken to reduce water usage?
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4. What were the two things that Singaporeans had to be aware of during water rationing exercise?
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5. In what way do you think the farmers in Singapore were affected by the water shortage?
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6. Why do you think the water supply to the factories was not cut off?
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7. Explain in your own words what is meant by the statement “Singaporeans have to recognise that our shortage of water is one of our key constraints.”
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Reflections:
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