Statute Details
- Title: Sewerage and Drainage (Sanitary Appliances and Water Charges) (Revocation) Regulations 2013
- Act Code: SDA1999-S69-2013
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Sewerage and Drainage Act (Cap. 294)
- Enacting Authority: Public Utilities Board (PUB), with Ministerial approval
- Legal Basis: Powers under sections 72 and 74 of the Sewerage and Drainage Act
- Citation: These Regulations may be cited as the Sewerage and Drainage (Sanitary Appliances and Water Charges) (Revocation) Regulations 2013
- Key Provision: Section 2 (Revocation and savings)
- Revocation Date: Effective 1 February 2013
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per provided extract)
- Related Instruments: Sewerage and Drainage (Sanitary Appliances and Water Charges) Regulations (Rg 1); Sewerage and Drainage (Late Payment Charge) Regulations 2013 (G.N. No. S 68/2013)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Sewerage and Drainage (Sanitary Appliances and Water Charges) (Revocation) Regulations 2013 is a short, targeted piece of subsidiary legislation. In substance, it revokes an earlier set of regulations dealing with how sewerage and drainage charges are imposed in relation to “sanitary appliances” (such as water-closets, bidets, slop-sinks, and urinals) and how those charges are calculated using a combination of appliance counts and water consumption.
Although the instrument is framed as a “revocation” regulation, it does not simply wipe the slate clean. It contains a “savings” mechanism that preserves the ability to collect certain charges that relate to a transitional period ending on 31 January 2013—specifically where a bill had not been issued by that date. This is a classic legislative technique used to avoid unfairness or administrative disruption when regulations are replaced or repealed.
Practically, the Regulations are about continuity of billing and charge collection during a regulatory transition. They also clarify that late payment consequences under the separate Late Payment Charge Regulations continue to apply to the relevant charges.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation (Section 1)
Section 1 provides the short title: the Regulations may be cited as the Sewerage and Drainage (Sanitary Appliances and Water Charges) (Revocation) Regulations 2013. While this is standard drafting, it is important for practitioners because it identifies the instrument for referencing in submissions, correspondence, and enforcement contexts.
2. Revocation of the earlier sanitary appliances and water charges regulations (Section 2(1))
Section 2(1) states that the earlier Sewerage and Drainage (Sanitary Appliances and Water Charges) Regulations (referred to as “(Rg 1)”) are revoked with effect from and including 1 February 2013. This means that, as of that date, the revoked regulations no longer govern future charge calculations (subject to any savings or transitional provisions).
3. Savings for unissued bills relating to the period ending 31 January 2013 (Section 2(2))
Section 2(2) is the core transitional safeguard. It provides that, notwithstanding the revocation, the charges referred to in regulations 3 and 4 of the revoked regulations continue to be payable in relation to any premises for any period ending on 31 January 2013 where a bill had not been issued as at that date.
This provision is significant for two reasons. First, it prevents occupiers or owners from arguing that revocation automatically extinguishes liability for the earlier period. Second, it addresses a real-world administrative issue: billing cycles and issuance dates may not align neatly with the effective date of regulatory repeal.
4. Determination of liability and the formula-based charge components (Section 2(3))
Section 2(3) sets out how the Board determines the sums payable for the transitional period under Section 2(2). It also specifies who is liable depending on whether the premises are occupied.
(a) Who pays: The Board determines that every occupier of premises is liable to pay the sums. Where the premises are vacant, the owner is liable. This allocation is practical and consistent with how utilities charges are often structured: the person in possession/benefit of the premises bears the charge, unless there is no occupier.
(b) Appliance-based component: The Regulations define a component based on the number of sanitary appliances connected to the relevant sewerage system. The extract indicates that the calculation uses variables A, B, and C.
- A is the proportion which the period referred to in Section 2(2) bears to the billing period for the charges in regulation 3 of the revoked regulations in which 31 January 2013 falls.
- B is the total number of water-closets, bidets and slop-sinks in the premises connected to any sewer or sewerage system vested in or owned by the Government or controlled, supervised, maintained and repaired by the Board.
- C relates to urinals: it is the total number of bowls or stalls, or every 610 millimetres length of slab, connected to the same type of sewerage system.
In other words, the charge is not merely a flat fee; it is scaled to the relevant portion of the billing period and to the number/type of connected sanitary appliances.
(c) Water-consumption component: Section 2(3)(b) introduces a second component based on water volume supplied during the transitional period. It defines D as the volume of water in cubic metres supplied to the premises during the period referred to in Section 2(2). The charge then applies a unit rate E of:
- $0.2803 per cubic metre where the premises are domestic premises; and
- $0.5607 per cubic metre where the premises are non-domestic premises.
This distinction reflects different pricing for domestic versus non-domestic premises, which is common in utility charging regimes.
5. Interaction with late payment charges (Section 2(4))
Section 2(4) provides that nothing in Section 2(1) prevents the Sewerage and Drainage (Late Payment Charge) Regulations 2013 (G.N. No. S 68/2013) from continuing to apply in relation to any charges under regulation 3 of the revoked regulations or under Section 2(3)(a) of these Regulations.
This is an important enforcement clarification. Even though the main sanitary appliance and water charges regulations are revoked, late payment consequences remain available for the relevant charges. For practitioners, this means that arguments framed around “revocation equals no further enforcement” are unlikely to succeed where the savings and express continuation clause apply.
6. Making and parliamentary presentation
The Regulations were made on 31 January 2013 by the Chairman of the Public Utilities Board, with the instrument noting that it is to be presented to Parliament under section 74(2) of the Sewerage and Drainage Act. This indicates compliance with the statutory oversight mechanism for subsidiary legislation.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Regulations are extremely concise and consist of:
- Section 1 (Citation): provides the short title.
- Section 2 (Revocation and savings): contains all substantive content—revocation of the earlier regulations, transitional payment rules for unissued bills relating to the period ending 31 January 2013, the formula for determining payable sums, and an express statement that late payment charges continue to apply.
There are no separate Parts or extensive schedules in the extract provided. The operative mechanics are embedded in Section 2, particularly in the formulaic determination of charges.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Regulations apply to “premises” connected to sewerage and drainage systems vested in or owned by the Government or controlled, supervised, maintained and repaired by the Public Utilities Board. The charge framework is therefore tied to connection to the relevant sewerage infrastructure and to the presence of specified sanitary appliances and water supply.
Liability is directed to the occupier of premises. Where premises are vacant, the owner is liable. This allocation is critical for disputes: in billing or recovery proceedings, the identity of the liable party will depend on occupancy status during the relevant period.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although it is a revocation regulation, its practical importance lies in the transitional savings provisions. Utility charging regimes are operationally complex, and billing may lag behind regulatory change. Section 2 ensures that the Board can still collect charges that relate to the period ending 31 January 2013 even though the underlying regulations have been revoked.
For practitioners advising occupiers, owners, or property managers, the Regulations provide a clear legal basis for liability during the transitional window. They also provide a defensible framework for calculating charges: the appliance-based component (with defined variables for appliance counts and the proportion of the billing period) and the water-consumption component (with domestic/non-domestic unit rates).
From an enforcement perspective, Section 2(4) is equally significant. It preserves the applicability of late payment charges under the Late Payment Charge Regulations 2013. Accordingly, where a bill is issued after the revocation date but relates to the transitional period, late payment consequences may still attach if the statutory conditions for late payment are met under the separate instrument.
Related Legislation
- Sewerage and Drainage Act (Cap. 294) (authorising provisions, including sections 72 and 74)
- Sewerage and Drainage (Sanitary Appliances and Water Charges) Regulations (revoked by these Regulations; referenced in Sections 2(1) and 2(2))
- Sewerage and Drainage (Late Payment Charge) Regulations 2013 (G.N. No. S 68/2013) (continued application preserved by Section 2(4))
- Drainage Act (listed in the provided metadata as related legislation; relevant context for sewerage/drainage regulatory framework)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Sewerage and Drainage (Sanitary Appliances and Water Charges) (Revocation) Regulations 2013 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.