On Thursday 2nd July 2010, foreign delegates from all around the globe gathered together in one place to mark the end of an incredible seven days – the Singapore International Water Week.

I was one of the lucky few who attended this closing dinner. Held at the newly built Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), water experts from countries across the globe came to this event to celebrate the closing of the SIWW, with foreign delegates from Australia, America and, of course Singapore, attending the event. I must say that I was awed at the fact that there were so many people coming from numerous backgrounds with different perspectives, yet they all have the same passion – to conserve water and save the earth.

Starting from simple chatter (and a little networking) with a church friend that I coincidentally met there, I got to meet and mingle with many kinds of people. From one of the student volunteers from Nanyang Polytechnic, to water experts all the way from America! I also met up with familiar faces like Ms Constance Ward and Mr Keith Morrison, who I consider to be “super bloggers” of water and really strong advocates of saving water. They’re also really friendly people!

There were several highlights for me during the night. Of course, being a teenager, one of them was “the mummy” ride (which took my breath away!), but the other one had to be the interview with Professor Robert Glennon, a law professor at the University of Arizona. A softly-spoken man, Professor Glennon’s wise words on water conservation were witty, interesting and extremely valuable to anyone who wants to know more about the topic! His constant emphasis on the reuse of water as a good water strategy made me realise how Singapore was on the right track through NEWater, who has done the very same thing. Well done Singapore!

In summary, I learnt a great deal from these awesome intellectual people about the topic of water. Having a new perspective on the topic, as well as a renewed passion to conserve water as well, I have come out of SIWW a much wiser and more informed person, and like Ms Ward and Mr Morrison, an advocate to saving a precious, priceless commodity.

By Joshua Tay Han Wen, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, School of Film and Media Studies.