SINGAPORE - More than 500 Geylang Serai residents marked Singapore World Water Day with a slew of activities next to the Geylang River on Sunday morning (March 5).
As part of the constituency's water conservation efforts, 20 residents were recognised for saving the most water in a contest organised by water agency PUB and the Geylang Serai Resident's Committee (RC) between October and December last year (2016).
One household managed to save 34,000 litres, or the equivalent of washing a full load of clothes 610 times using a water-efficient washing machine.
Polytechnic student Gerald Oh, 18, and his mother, sales adviser Sindy Lim, 51, managed to save 31,000 litres over three months.
"I used to spend up to half an hour in the shower, but now I've cut it down to just a few minutes," said Mr Oh, adding that his family also reused water from washing clothes to clean the toilets.
Ms Lim said: "It's important not to use water unnecessarily. You save water and save on your utility bills too."
Housewife Halifah Mohamed Kassim, 66, said she made sure to properly turn off the taps in her house to avoid leaks. She also advised her children and neighbours to do the same.
"A lot of the residents at Haig Road are elderly, so sometimes they forget to turn off the taps when they leave the toilet," said Madam Halifah, who saved 5,000 litres during the competition.
Each of the 20residents received $100 NTUC FairPrice vouchers for their efforts.
As part of the event, residents also participated in a mass work-out session, using 350ml bottles of water as weights.
A race was also held, where 40 residents carried 10-litre pails of water along a 70m route around a playground at Lorong 40 Geylang.
The event also marked the launch of the Young At Heart Community Emergency Response Team.
The group is made up of about 120 elderly Geylang Serai residents, trained in first aid techniques - such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the proper use of automated external defibrillators (AED) - to help them respond to emergencies in their neighbourhood.
The team is expected to expand to about 200 residents by year-end, said Geylang Serai RC chairman Steven Oh.
The event was attended by Associate Professor Fatimah Lateef, Member of Parliament for Marine Parade GRC.
