PUB launches new initiative to beautify Singapore's waterways

Active, beautiful,
clean waters for all
Let your imagination flow: The possibilities are endless with the Active, Beautiful, Clean Water Programme
Imagine a clean, green and also blue Singapore. Over the years,
Singapore has built up its reputation for being a clean and green
city. ˚Under PUB s new ABC Waters programme, the national
water agency will do a lot more to the blue spaces in Singapore.˚˚
The Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme (or ABC
Waters for short) will beautify and transform the water bodies
and make them a feature of Singapore s landscape. It will create
community spaces for new lifestyle activities and attractions,
offering more recreational options, and making the water bodies
gorgeous to behold.
The programme will spell new opportunities for commercial
participation too. PUB intends to appoint watershed managers
from private sector companies to manage different water bodies
under the ABC Waters programme. These watershed managers
will oversee both the hardware and the software of the water
bodies — they will take care of the physical aspect and also come
up with ideas to improve the water bodies. In the process, they
will cultivate and consult partners from the 3P (public, private
and people) sectors.
With their participation and ideas in the various initiatives to
liven up and beautify the waterways, we hope the public, private
and people sectors will build a closer relationship with water
and from there, develop a sense of shared ownership for it.
said Yap Kheng Guan, Director of PUB s 3P Network.
Kolam Ayer as a showcase
A 200 m stretch of Kallang River at Kolam Ayer will be the
first to benefit from the ABC Waters Programme. As a major
river with great potential for transformation, Kallang was a
prime candidate for the launch of the programme. In the first
phase, PUB will work together with the National Parks Board
to transform this stretch of Kallang River.
Residents at the launch on 16 April were excited to see the
upcoming plans at Kolam Ayer. Lush greenery such as flowering
shrubs, ornamental grasses and even willow trees will be planted
along the banks of the river to create a sense of softness and
serenity. Boardwalks, pathways and floating decks will lead to
the waterfront, allowing people to rest and recreate right by
the river. Residents and visitors alike will be able to rollerblade,
fish or simply dangle their legs over the water.
The centrepiece of this project will be Singapore s first water
wheel. A natural spot for people to gather, people can pedal
it to make the wheel turn. And the water flowing from the
wheel will be a constant reminder to people to keep the
water clean.˚
4