Commonwealth Secondary lauded for recycling water from sinks
Liaw Wy-Cin, Straits Times 12 Jul 08;
A WASTEWATER treatment centre - albeit a modest one - has found its way into a school here, and is helping to recycle dirty water from its sinks.
But instead of huge machines at the new West Coast campus of Commonwealth Secondary School, a number of outdoor ponds use plants like lotuses and cattails, along with micro-organisms and activated carbon, to do the job.
Together, they can make water clean enough to be used for watering plants and washing various parts of the school.
Opening the new campus yesterday evening, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim commended the school's project, adding that it was a good way to teach students about conservation in water-scarce Singapore.
He also named the school the first centre of excellence for environmental education in Singapore.
Schools are named centres for excellence if they show outstanding achievements in specific areas, such as language and information technology.
Commonwealth Secondary will conduct training sessions in environmental education for both teachers and students from schools in the west. This year, its focus will be on air quality.
The part that schools can play in the national environmental effort is important, Dr Yaacob noted.
'We are moving very fast, we're developing very fast... I think it's important for the younger generation to understand what the challenges are, embrace them, and help us to find solutions,' he told reporters.
Commonwealth Secondary launches small wastewater treatment centre
Chan Eu Imm, Channel NewsAsia 12 Jul 08
SINGAPORE : Commonwealth Secondary School has been designated as a Centre of Excellence for Environmental Education.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Dr Yaacob Ibrahim launched its Green Hub on Friday.
A constructed treatment wetland is part of the school's efforts to teach students about water conservation in an authentic setting.
It is a series of ponds containing aquatic plants that treat non-industrial waste-water - like sink water - and turns it into usable water for washing and watering.
The wetland was developed in collaboration with national water agency PUB, Vision Network, and Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
The Green Hub is also used by other schools in the West Zone - for research and training workshops.
Dr Yaacob said, "Water is a scarce resource and if young Singaporeans can appreciate water the way we appreciate water, then I think our efforts in conserving water and ensuring we have a sufficient supply of water will be met.
"The environmental challenges are upon us, and I think it's important for the younger generation to understand what the challenges are, embrace them and help us to find solutions, because they'll be part of the future generation." - CNA/ms
