The report called for realistic water pricing to attack waste in the Asia-Pacific, a strategy for which it singled out the Republic for praise.
It also called for the new cities sprouting in Asia to be "water-sensitive" from the start.
The UN report warned that water problems in many parts of the world are chronic and will worsen as demand for food soars and climate change intensifies.
It also encouraged the use of treated waste water as a source of drinking water, citing Singapore and the International Space Station as examples where it had been implemented with no ill effects.
The report recommended that areas facing water scarcity use more reclaimed water.
One of Singapore's winning ways was its 'flexible' approach.
Its public awareness campaigns, household tariffs based on amount of water consumed and taxes for those who waste water were effective, hence other countries facing similar challenges should consider Singapore's approach, an author of the paper said.
Pricing, conservation and recycling are three key elements of Singapore's strategy. National water agency PUB uses a tiered tariff which charges heavy users of water a higher rate and imposes a water conservation tax which is based on total water consumption.
It also charges a sanitary appliance fee and waterborne fee every month to offset the cost of treating used water and for operating and maintaining the public sewer system.
Singapore plans to achieve water self-sufficiency by 2061, with Newater and desalinated water contributing 80 per cent of the Republic's water needs.
The remaining 20 per cent will come from local catchment areas.
Currently, up to 60 per cent of Singapore's water is provided for by local catchment areas and imports from Malaysia.
10 per cent comes from sea water and 30 per cent from Newater.
ORIGINAL SOURCE
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