FRiday Shoot out: Water

This is Sarawak in Borneo, where I was born. There are 144 inches of rain fall a year. Every afternoon, it was bound to rain, and we were on alert at around 3 pm, we had to watch the skies. We had to be quick as a flash to collect our laundry, because when it rains, it buckets. At the end of the year. we always have floods when the North east Monsoon blows. As kids, we loved swimming, paddling and just waddling in the meter high flood.

Rejang river is 350 miles long, and big ships come up 90 miles to my town of birth, Sibu.


Having married to a water engineer for more than 30 years, it is inevitable that part of his water knowledge is passed on to me.
The river traffic  has increased, and the banks get eroded. Once, near my maternal grand father's village house, two of those aeroplane looking like boats had a head on collision. Many drowned.
I am passionate about erosion and the dam's effects on the environment. How do we draw a balance?
Look at Rejang River, all 350 miles of it.  I am told by an expert that life has changed a lot since I was there. There is a need for dredging.





In New Zealand, especially here in Auckland, we have plenty of water. I love this place Western Springs. Here ducks, geese, swans and other water fowls thrive.






This waterfall is New Zealand's most visited natural attraction. The roaring sound of the fall sounds like thunder. This holds much fascination for water engineer who as an a water engineer, has been charmed to take so many photos. As for me who had been to the Niagara Falls, this is like a mole hill compared to a mountain. Lake Taupo is big to the Singaporeans as the whole of Singapore Island can fit into this lake.





The reverse is in Singapore. For decades, Singapore has to import water of her water consumption from Malaysia. As of 2009, imported water had been reduced to 40% of total consumption. There is a dispute regarding the price of water. The government of Singapore decided to increase self-sufficiency in its water supply.

It is not Evian. But Singaporeons are very proud of NEWater. When it was introduced, the then Prime Minister Mr. Goh drank it in front of TV to show his support. NEWater is reclaimed water produced by Singapore's Public Utilities Board. It is treated wastewater (sewage) that has been purified using dual-membrane (via microfiltration and reverse osmosis) and ultraviolet technologies, in addition to conventional water treatment processes. The water is potable and is consumed by humans, but is mostly used for industry requiring high purity water. When they gave out free bottles to the school children, my son brought it for me, I refused to drink it. My son to date doesn't drink any water that comes in a plastic bottle. I told my friend, it was time I left, I do not want to drink shit water.

Today, Singapore has 14 reservoirs and a network of stormwater collection ponds that help prevent flooding during heavy rains. The photos show Selatar Reservoir. It is by the Zoo.




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The shoot out this Friday is Water / Lakes / Streams - by Nicole Howard (Father's day - June 20 what did you do for DAD?)
New Zealand celebrated Father's day in September.