The clean and readily available water Singaporeans have today is a result of political will, sheer determination and creativity, said Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong yesterday.
At an event at the Marina Barrage to mark World Water Day, he recalled how Singapore, at the time of independence in 1965, was almost totally dependent on imported water from Malaysia.
That is no longer the situation following investments in technology and water infrastructure.
‘Today, we talk about our four national taps as if setting them up was as easy as building roads or houses,’ he said to a crowd of more than 2,000.
‘Be assured it was not,’ he added.
The ‘four national taps’ strategy, realised around 2000 when Mr Goh was prime minister, refers to the current four sources of water supply: imported water, water from local catchments, Newater and desalinated water.
Mr Goh said that come 2061, when the second of Singapore’s two water agreements with Malaysia expires, the country will have enough water for itself even if new agreements are not signed.
The first water agreement will expire in August this year.
The event was among a string of celebrations held by national water agency PUB and civic groups across the island to mark World Water Day yesterday.
Singapore leaders and MPs joined cyclists, kayakers and participants in mass exercises, as well as students and members of the public in a range of activities at eight places around Singapore.
The leaders included Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who flagged off an ‘amazing race’ in Jurong to teach people about water conservation.
In Sembawang, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam led a fun walk at Lower Seletar Reservoir, while Foreign Minister George Yeo teamed up with, among others, students of Damai Secondary and Temasek Polytechnic to clean up Bedok Reservoir.
In addition, several companies and schools, like Hwa Chong Institution, cleaned up or adopted reservoirs, pledging to care for the water bodies.
At Marina Barrage, the celebration had an extra touch of colour.
Sharing the spotlight was the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO), which was celebrating its 62nd anniversary. The scene was a lively picture of Catholic nuns in habits and Taoist priests in robes mingling with excited schoolchildren and grassroots volunteers.
Mr Goh later joined religious leaders on the grass-covered roof of the Barrage, where they observed a minute of silence for Japan, which was hit by a devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis in the past week.
He then witnessed a taiji display by more than 700 practitioners from Taoist temples in Singapore, and helped to launch a massive, multi-coloured kite imprinted with the IRO’s logo.
The joint celebration was a happy coincidence. As the IRO’s honorary secretary, Sister Theresa Seow, explained to reporters, the organisation had booked the Barrage last September for its anniversary activities.
PUB had also eyed the venue for its event, and so suggested a collaboration.
The IRO, representing 10 different faiths, spent three weeks considering the offer, Sister Seow said.
‘We realised that underlying all religions, there’s a use of water in our rituals, as cleansing and also as a symbol of life,’ she said.
‘Joining the PUB today has awakened our consciousness that we really have to promote among our followers the sacredness of water and our duty to do our part to preserve it.’
