Press Release Date: 17 Jul 07
The Public Utilities Board (PUB) today announced the nine winners of its inaugural Watermark Award 2007. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources presented the award at the National Day Parade Floating Platform @ Marina Bay earlier this evening. Temasek Polytechnic (TP) is proud to be the only tertiary institution to receive this prestigious award.
The Watermark Award is an award of higher recognition for PUB’s Friends of Water.It is given to those who have made significant contributions towards water conservation efforts, valuing water resource by keeping our waterways clean and promoting bonding with water through organising water activities.
TP has done exceedingly well in all three areas especially with regards to our water conservation efforts and the promotion of water activities at the Bedok Reservoir, which the polytechnic officially adopted in August 2005. TP stands committed to making significant contributions towards raising awareness about water and what it takes to sustain Singapore’s water supply.
The poly has consciously geared itself towards aligning its water related activities to the national cause, captured aptly in PUB’s corporate tagline of
Water for All: Conserve, Value, Enjoy.
Conserve Water, The TP Way
As part of TP’s ongoing water conservation exercise, the polytechnic explores various viable options to reduce its water consumption and its dependency on PUB water. When PUB introduced the High Grade Water (NEWater) as a viable alternative water resource, TP explored the feasibility of using it for its 14 cooling towers which use about 6,000 cubic meters of water a month.
With the use of NEWater, the poly now enjoys a cost savings of $16,000 per year. TP has also been using recycled rainwater collected from its open area to irrigate the 30-hectare campus since 1995. The non-potable water is served from an underground holding tank which collects rain water through the surface drains in the campus. It is treated with ozone before it is pumped out for use.
Currently, the Polytechnic uses about 8,000 cubic meters of non-potable water per month from the irrigation system and this has given rise to about $16,000 savings per month. The polytechnic further conserves water by using devices like the Docolmatic water taps, rain sensors and motorised valves.
Value Water, The TP Way
TP is the only Polytechnic that offers a water-related subject titled Water Technology to its students as a cross-disciplinary subject. The subject aims to create awareness among TP students about the importance of water as a natural resource, aspects of water conservation and the technology for water treatment. The Water Technology subject has also been offered to secondary school students as an Advanced Elective Module from 2006. Regular workshops are also conducted for secondary school students on the production of NEWater.
TP’s ultimate show of commitment to preserving clean waterways and water resource in Singapore, is when the poly adopted Bedok Reservoir on 24 August 2005, under PUB’s “Our Waters” programme. As guardian of Bedok Reservoir, TP’s main role is to coordinate all water activities at the Reservoir as well as work closely with PUB, NParks, Aljunied GRC, MOE and the various National Sports Association partners in the development of Bedok Reservoir.
Enjoy Water, The TP Way
TP champions water sports at recreational and competitive levels for its students, staff, alumni and the community at large. As part of the programme for the Polytechnic’s annual Open House, the Water Adventures @ Bedok Reservoir are organised for nearly 400 students from the secondary schools each year. Participants are introduced to canoeing, dragon boating and kayaking activities at the Reservoir.
Also each year, the Polytechnic, in collaboration with the Singapore Dragon Boat Association (SDBA) and PUB, organises Temasek Regatta at Bedok Reservoir as part of the finale of the orientation for new students to TP.
The Polytechnic also assists in activities organised by external parties at the Reservoir like the Wakeboard World Cup Singapore 2005, the Clean & Green Week 2005, the Community Mass Planting event at the Reservoir in November 2006 and the the Singapore Dragon Boat Festival in July 2006.
TP is also actively involved with the development plans of Bedok Reservoir to transform it into a recreation centre.
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