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  The Straits Times, 22 Feb 05
Have fun with water: It's official
By Radha Basu

AFTER years of being told to conserve and value the country's water resources, Singaporeans are now being urged to enjoy them as well.

To help them do so, the Public Utilities Board (PUB), the main custodian of Singapore's water resources, is opening up the reservoirs, traditionally regarded as out-of-bound areas, and encouraging water sports there such as canoeing and sailing.

However, not all reservoirs will be open to all types of recreational activities. Details will be announced later.

The authorities' more relaxed attitude comes now Singapore has ensured a diversified and sustainable supply of water. It has four national 'taps' - the local catchment area, imported water from Malaysia, Newater and desalinated water.

Yesterday, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim announced the PUB's new tagline - Water For All: Conserve, Value And Enjoy.

He revealed it at a ceremony to mark the completion of tunnelling works for the board's Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, the core of a dramatic overhaul of the country's sewage network.

'We want Singaporeans to save water, use water carefully. But we don't want to continue with the mentality whereby we are always looking behind how well we are using the water,' he said.

Instead, Singaporeans should take ownership of the country's water resources and 'enjoy' them. PUB director Yap Kheng Guan told The Straits Times the board believes building a 'relationship with water' will encourage people to treasure it even more. 'Not only are the reservoirs valuable assets for our water supply. They also hold a great amount of untapped potential for recreation,' he added. The board's new thrust will be publicised at future media and public events.

Dr Yaacob described the new 48km-long underground sewage tunnel as a 'praiseworthy feat of engineering'. The tunnel, which runs 40m below ground on average from Kranji to Changi, is the deepest subterranean project attempted here. It is part of the $3.6 billion first phase of the new sewage system, which will not need the pumping stations used now to move sewage. From the end of this year, it will be used to transport effluent from water reclamation plants across Singapore to Changi, where two undersea pipes will deposit the stuff 5km into the Singapore Strait. Dr Yaacob noted the tunnel had taken less than five years to complete, and that there had been little disruption to the public during this period.
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