World Water Day 2012

Water is one of the world’s most important resources but issues relating to it still remain very much in the backseat as compared to those of global warming and carbon emissions.

This year’s World Water Day theme was ‘Water and food security’ and Nikki Shaw from our water engineering team was invited to share more about her work in relation to this. To support the theme, packed lunches were brought in from Food for Thought, a local social enterprise that donates part of their proceeds to non-profit organisations like Living Water International and the UN World Food Programme.

According to figures from the University of Michigan, there is just 2.5% of fresh water on earth and less than 1% that is accessible and usable – most of which is used to produce food. Animal products, especially, use ten times more water than non-animal products, such as wheat. Large scale industrial processes like fertiliser production also involve equally huge amounts of water. The industry should therefore look at more efficient water management strategies and use of more natural fertilisers. On an individual level, we can play a part by eating less meat.

Nikki also underlined the importance of reducing water pollution caused mainly by the discharge of raw sewage into natural waters. This can be addressed through making sanitation facilities available to people; especially in developing countries.

Nikki wrapped up the session by inviting everyone who attended the presentation, to sign up for an upcoming volunteering initiative by the Singapore International Foundation; Water for Life. The initiative, planned for June, aims to provide remote villages in Cambodia access to clean water.