Engaging the Community on Water Conservation: SMU Verts’ Reflections on Singapore World Water Day (SWWD)
SMU Verts collaborated with PUB to raise awareness on water conservation, participating in Singapore World Water Day (SWWD) events at Our Tampines Hub on 8 March 2025, and at SMU on 21 March 2025. Here, the student sustainability club shares their community engagement experience, from planning the activities, refining key messages, to engaging with ministers, stakeholders, and the wider community on responsible water usage.
With increasing water demand across all sectors, water conservation is a shared responsibility to ensure a resilient long-term supply.
At SMU Verts, the University’s main student sustainability club, we were proud to spread awareness on water conservation and celebrate Singapore World Water Day (SWWD) this year. We kicked off the celebrations at PUB’s event at Our Tampines Hub (OTH) on 8 March 2025, followed by our roadshow at SMU’s concourse on 21 March 2025.
Both events were the result of meaningful collaboration between government agencies, fellow students, and the wider community—proof that when we come together, real change happens.
Engaging with the public on water conservation
At the heart of SWWD lies public engagement, and for us, that meant connecting with people of all ages and backgrounds to promote responsible water use. From young children to seniors, it was encouraging to see so many come forward to learn about Singapore’s water challenges and solutions.
We were excited to showcase our self-designed interactive booths, quizzes, and information board tours—all aimed at raising awareness of water conservation and spotlighting SMU’s efforts in this space.
Gaining insights from various stakeholders
A key highlight at OTH was sharing our sustainability initiatives with the event’s guests of honour: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Gan Kim Yong, and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Ms Grace Fu.
Thanks to helpful speech training with our Office of Student Life Manager, our Public Relations Director Snehal, and Honorary Finance Secretary Shamitha confidently presented SMU’s growing portfolio of sustainability efforts.
The event also gave us a valuable opportunity to engage with other distinguished guests. During the networking sessions, our President, Felicia, and Vice President, Shuvan, had the chance to hear directly from key stakeholders about the broader water sustainability landscape—gaining insights into how individuals, universities, and corporations all play a role in shaping Singapore’s water future.
Spreading the word at SMU
Fuelled by passion—and just a touch of nervous energy—we launched our second event at SMU’s concourse with infectious enthusiasm (and yes, ice cream!). Armed with crowd-pleasers like Nasty Cookies, we attracted a lively and curious group of students eager to learn more about water conservation.
We were encouraged by the strong turnout and deeply heartened by how many stayed to take part in our games, visit our booths, and explore the interactive displays. PUB mascots Wally and Sally were a hit with the crowd, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. With over 400 meaningful interactions and overwhelmingly positive feedback, we were proud to call our SMU roadshow a resounding—and refreshing—success.
From planning to execution: Our learnings
Balancing schoolwork with planning a large-scale public event wasn’t easy, but it was incredibly rewarding. Throughout the process, we leaned on the principles of the SMU Resilience Framework, which helped us stay grounded, adaptable, and focused amidst tight deadlines and unexpected challenges.
Each of us had a unique journey—some spoke to policymakers for the first time, while others managed logistics under pressure. As a team, we refined our key messages, aligned them with PUB’s goals, and designed engaging and meaningful outreach. This experience deepened our understanding of water issues and strengthened our teamwork, communication and resilience.
Our takeaways on water conservation
One of our major takeaways from the SWWD events was that awareness of water conservation varies widely. While some participants were familiar with PUB’s initiatives, others were learning about Singapore’s water challenges for the very first time.
It was clear to us that continued outreach and education are essential. Through both events, we were proud to share insights into Singapore’s four national taps—local catchment, imported water, NEWater, and desalinated water— and their role in building a resilient water supply.
We also highlighted SMU’s water conservation efforts, such as water meters on campus and the rainwater harvesting system at our Campus Green—initiatives aligned with the SMU Sustainability Blueprint. To keep things fun, we ran a quiz based on our exhibition materials—where up to 84 per cent of participants answered correctly, and many told us they found the experience at our booth both informative and enjoyable.
Empowering more changemakers for the future
Our SWWD journey was a powerful reminder that sustainability isn’t just a policy—it’s a movement fuelled by people, passion and purpose. From meaningful conversations with government leaders to sparking curiosity among our peers, we’ve witnessed how collective effort, no matter how small, can ripple into real impact.
Water conservation is a shared responsibility, and as young changemakers, we’re driven to be part of the solution. By raising awareness and fostering a culture of sustainability, we’re making waves—one step at a time—for a more resilient future.
Learn more about SMU Verts and how it promotes environmental responsibility here!
