Written reply to Parliamentary Question on Toilet Infrastructure in Hawker Centres by Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment

05 OCT 2020

Written Reply by Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, to Parliamentary Question on Toilet Infrastructure in Hawker Centres, on 5 October 2020

Ms Joan Pereira: To ask the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment in view of COVID-19, whether screw taps for wash basins and manual flushing systems in hawker centre toilets can be replaced with automatic ones.

Answer:

  1. The Code of Practice on Environmental Health currently states that public toilets should install sensor-operated taps and flushing systems. All new building developments, including hawker centres, are required to comply with the Code.

  2. Of the 33 MSE-owned hawker centres, 25 already have sensor-operated taps and flushing systems installed. We will install these provisions in the remaining centres during upcoming periodic renovations. I encourage Town Councils to install sensor-operated taps and flushing systems in HDB-owned hawker centres. This is particularly important in view of public health concerns amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

  3. To support the Town Councils, NEA is providing co-funding under the Toilet Improvement Programme for improved toilet designs that facilitate cleaning and maintenance, including the installation of sensor-operated taps and flushing systems.