SINGAPORE: Singapore's commemoration of World Water Day this year will see a record 25,000 people gathering at 15 locations islandwide in support of water this Saturday.
10,000 of these participants will walk, cycle and paddle across waterways, reservoirs and between ABC Waters (Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters) sites with small blue pails.
Symbolic of how
people in developing countries have to walk an average of six kilometres
every day to fetch water, both the distance and the pails serve as a
reminder to conserve water.
PUB, the national water agency, said
that 20,000 people took part in last year's activities and it aims to
have a 20 per cent increase in community participation this year.
Themed
"Singapore Celebrates World Water Day: Active, Beautiful and Clean
Waters for All", activities on the day also include cleaning up of water
bodies, water monitoring, guided nature walks, and the launch of
learning trails.
National water agency PUB's 3P Network Director
George Madhavan says there's a growing awareness that water is a
precious resource in the community.
"Last year we had 100
partners, this year it's gone up to 125 partners. We also see more
interest groups being formed to keep our water ways clean and also to
share the important message that water is scarce," he said.
One
of the things that will be launched at the event is an iPad application
that students can use to bring others on learning trails at Lorong Halus
Wetlands. Six new ABC Waters learning trails that will also be launched
on Saturday.
Adding to the festivities will also be some
attempts to make it into the Singapore Book of Records. Jurong Lake, for
example, will host Singapore's biggest-ever Mass Water Filtration
Exercise.
Another attempt at the record books will be at Sengkang
Floating Wetland, where 300 Anderson Secondary School students will try
to build the largest floating raft made from recycled drink cans.
Various other organisations will also be recognising World Water Day.
Singapore
Post, for example, has launched a "Reservoirs of Singapore" stamp
collection, profiling 10 different reservoirs in Singapore. It features
designs by Don Low of Urban Sketchers, a local sketching interest group.
A
glossy photo book of 17 ABC Waters sites, "Knowing Your ABCs", will
also be launched by the National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) and PUB.
PUB
will also recognise winners of the Water Conservation Video Competition
2010/2011, which saw primary school students creating 45-second videos
of what water conservation means to them.
MacRitchie Reservoir
will see the launch of the Learning Trail Passport, a collection of
learning trails at seven different ABC Waters sites.
400 scouts
from the Singapore Scout Association will also attend the NEWater
Scientist Programme at The NEWater Visitor centre on Saturday. The
programme will teach them how to install water saving devices in their
neighbours' homes to spread the water conservation message to the
community.
On March 24, cub scouts from the association will also
qualify for the NEWater Scientist Badge, as well as the Coca Cola Live
Positively Water Badge by attending the World Water Day Special Water
Badges Programme.
International World Water Day is held annually
on March 22 to raise awareness on the importance of caring for water and
water sustainability.
World Water Day in Singapore will kick off
on March 24, with a 2km morning walk for 3,000 participants from
Gardens by the Bay to Marina Barrage.
Simultaneously at Kolam
Ayer ABC Waterfront, Minister for Information, Communications and the
Arts Dr Yaacob Ibrahim will lead 80 kayakers and 50 dragonboaters on a
5km rowing expedition to Marina Barrage.
100 runners from Team
Fatbird and 100 cyclists from Joyriders Singapore will also be
travelling from various locations, before ending their routes at Marina
Barrage.
President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Minister for the
Environment and Water Resources Dr Vivian Balakrishnan will launch
Singapore's celebration of the day at Marina Barrage, where the
cyclists, kayakers and dragon-boaters converge.
-CNA/ac