Singapore legislation
Clause 20
Clause 20
Consequential and related amendments to Sewerage and Drainage Act
(1)
Section 2 of the Sewerage and Drainage Act (Cap. 294, 2001 Ed.) is amended —
by inserting, immediately after the definition of “industrial water”, the following definition:“ “licensed plumber” means an individual who holds a plumber’s licence as defined in section 2 of the Public Utilities Act (Cap. 261);”;
by deleting the words “, in relation to any sewerage or drainage works,” in the definition of “qualified person”;
by deleting the words “the sewerage or drainage works” in the definition of “qualified person” and substituting the words “sewerage works, drainage works or sanitary works”;
by inserting, immediately after the definition of “sanitary facilities”, the following definition:“ “sanitary works” means —
constructing, altering, repairing, replacing, discontinuing or closing up any discharge pipe, ventilating pipe, drain‑line, fitting, floor trap, inspection chamber, grease trap, pump or any other appurtenance related to the conveyance of sewage or sullage water from any sanitary appliance or sanitary facility to a sewerage system; and
installing, fixing, altering, repairing or removing a sanitary appliance or sanitary facility, and any other connected works;”; and
by deleting the words “the construction and alteration of sanitary facilities” in the definition of “works” and substituting the words “sanitary works”.
(2)
Section 11 of the Sewerage and Drainage Act is amended —
by deleting subsection (1) and substituting the following subsection:“(1) No person may —
construct, alter, discontinue or close up any sewerage system; or
carry out any sanitary works,unless the person obtains a clearance certificate or the approval of the Board under section 33 for those works.”;
by deleting the words “any sewerage system or sanitary facilities are constructed, altered, discontinued or closed up” in subsection (2) and substituting the words “any sewerage system is constructed, altered, discontinued or closed up, or any sanitary works are carried out,”; and (c)by deleting subsection (5) and substituting the following subsection: “(5) Any contravention of subsection (1) in respect of any sanitary works must not be dealt with by the Board under section 40Q of the Public Utilities Act (Cap. 261).”.
(3)
Section 33(4) of the Sewerage and Drainage Act is amended by deleting paragraph (a) and substituting the following paragraph:“(a)to be made by any of the following persons as the Board may decide:
a qualified person whose qualifications the Board considers are appropriate to the works to which the application relates;
a licensed plumber; and”.
(4)
Section 34(1) of the Sewerage and Drainage Act is amended by inserting, immediately after the words “a qualified person”, the words “whose qualifications are appropriate to the nature of those works”.
(5)
The Sewerage and Drainage Act is amended by inserting, immediately after section 35, the following section:“Directions to qualified persons36.—
Where the Board is of the opinion that a qualified person has contravened, or is likely to have contravened, any requirement imposed by or under this Act, the Board may give a direction, verbally or in writing, to any person specified in subsection (2), and the person must comply with the direction.(2) The persons specified for the purposes of subsection (1) are —
the qualified person;
if the Board is of the opinion that the qualified person is incapable of carrying out any requirement specified in the Board’s direction, another qualified person;
where the contravention or likely contravention relates to any sewerage system or sanitary facilities, the owner or occupier of any premises to which the sewerage system or sanitary facilities belong or for the use of which they are maintained; or
any person authorised to construct, alter or demolish the sewerage system or sanitary facilities.(3) A direction given under subsection (1) —
may require the person specified in subsection (2) to do, or to refrain from doing, such things as are specified in the direction or are of a description as specified in the direction;
is to take effect at such time, being the earliest practicable time, as is determined by or under that direction; and
may be revoked at any time by the Board.(4) The Board is not liable for any cost or expense incurred by any person specified in subsection (2) in complying with any direction given by the Board under this section.(5) Where a qualified person receives a direction from the Board under this section, the qualified person must notify the owner or occupier specified in subsection (2)(c) of the direction.(6) Any person to whom a direction is given under this section who fails to comply with the direction shall be guilty of an offence.”.
(6)
Section 74(1) of the Sewerage and Drainage Act is amended by inserting, immediately after paragraph (a), the following paragraph:“(aa)prescribe matters relating to the requirement for a clearance certificate or the approval of the Board under section 33 in respect of the works mentioned in section 11(1)(a) and (b), including —
the persons who are required to submit applications for the clearance certificate or approval (as the case may be), the qualifications required of those persons and the duties of those persons in submitting the applications;
the types of works that require the clearance certificate or approval (as the case may be); and
the persons who are required to carry out works that require the clearance certificate or approval (as the case may be) and the duties of those persons in carrying out such works;”.