Pitch
All households can know and control "live" how much water they actually use rather than depend on month end statements or estimates.
Description
Make life easier/more difficult for Singapore?
Easier
Describe the change
We all know we need to save water but pronouncements often fall on deaf ears. To help us be mindful of the need, in a smart nation, each tap will be able to keep track of actual usage, much like how mobile phones track data usage. Imagine every household tap linked into a household network or tap-work. One can set water quota for each tap or set a total household quota. So when you use the tap during a bath or when you wash the dishes, you can immediately see on some indicator on the smart tap the actual usage "live". And be able to see how much of that quota is left. The quota can be set by the water company based on the household's average usage or better yet, by the household who will get incentives to set a realistic usage goal and meet it.
How will this change impact Smart Nation Singapore in 2030?
It will no doubt be stressful for families with very young children, those with elderly parents, those with unique water usage needs or those with family members diagnosed with OCD (e.g. frequent hand washing). This can be an opt in "tapnology", with suitable incentives. Rebates for savings each month can be passed on to another month to further encourage a water saving culture. Water rationing is for dire times of extreme water shortage and one cannot or does not often edict this. So, smart tap technology can encourage a lifestyle where one sets environmental goals in water usage, starting at home.
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