Reflection for Each Station

• Station 1 - Fishing Jetty

We learnt that the importance of cleanliness of water at the reservoir. The quality of the water has to be good, and it has to be clean and safe in order for living things to survive. The most common standards used to assess water quality is related to the health of ecosystems and safety for human contact and drinking. Water at Lower Seletar Reservoir is very clean as there is minimal debris on the water surface. The colour of the water is green due to the presence of algae, indicating that nutrients and organic matter are available in the water. Temperature of the water is around room temperature and the amount of oxygen in the water is 3-4 ppm which is sufficient for marine life. We were told to place a tablet in a tube containing water from the reservoir that we collected which then showed us the pH of the water by changing the colour of the water. We found out that the pH is 7 which showed that the water was a healthy environment.

• Station 2 - Rain Garden

We learnt that the plot of vegetation that we see was a rain garden and its purpose is to collect, detain and treat rainwater runoff from paved areas like footpaths and rooftops. Impurities in the rainwater pass through the plants and soil and are removed from the rainwater. The rainwater is then further treated and reused in the water play area and wading stream. This not only enhances the quality of the rainwater runoff but also promotes biodiversity. The rainwater go through the 4 processes of detention element, sedimentation, filtration and biological uptake. The plants in the rain garden act as filters and absorbs nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrate; and also prevent algae bloom so that marine life can survive.

• Station 3 - Litter Trap

From this station, we learnt that our activities affect the quality of water collected at our water catchment areas. Some activities such as littering, fishing and kayaking can cause the water to become dirty. We learnt that we should not litter anywhere we want because it may choke marine life and will block sunlight, which is needed the marine plants to make food, from entering the water.  Life baits used for fishing introduces harmful bacteria into the water and people who go for kayaking may spit into the water or litter results in introduction of harmful bacteria as well. This will cause marine life to die.

• Station 4 - Heritage Deck - Viewing Gallery

In this station,  we learnt about the ABC Waters Programme which aims to integrate Singapore’s parks, reservoirs and waterways and the community.The rain garden and bioretention swales are design features of the use of ABC Waters which help to keep our waters clean. The features also form ecological habits that benefit from the proximity to water sources.New community spaces are created allowing people to get closer to water. Apart from that, we were also told that the structure of the Heritage Deck is shaped like a fishing net which reminds us of one of the past activity of Lower Seletar Reservoir - fishing. The structure was build like that so as to preserve our heritage which later generations can appreciate.

• Station 5 - Heritage Deck - Heritage Panels

From this station, we learnt some interesting facts about the history of Lower Seletar Reservoir. It was actually a fishing village named selita/ seletar/salaeta which means straits. In the early days, early settlers would travel down Seletar to trade for goods such as tobacco and kerosene. Gambier and pepper were also cultivated. Later on, rubber and pineapple plantations were replaced as the demand for this goods increased. We also got to know how the reservoir changed from just an ordinary fishing village to how it is right now, clean, beautiful and still as active as before.