Financial issues have traditionally dominated the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report on the top perceived international risks, which if they occurred could have a significant damaging impact on several countries and industries within the next decade. So when the 2015 report listed water crises as the top global risk, it came as a surprise.

Even before that report was out, however, Eugene Heng, chairman of the non-profit non-governmental organisation (NGO) Waterways Watch Society (WWS), knew that our waterways needed protection: “Water is our giver of life. You cannot create or manufacture it. It is basically up to Mother Nature to give. With global warming and irregular weather patterns today, we cannot take our water supply for granted. As such, it is one of Singapore’s top risks. In history, wars have been fought over water. If we do not learn to respect and appreciate this gift, we will face a serious crisis. We will not have a sustainable environment or a liveable city,” he says from his Kallang Riverside Park office.

For the past 17 years, the 66-year-old retired banking executive has been inspiring love for our waters and environmental stewardship through education and awareness programmes. Almost daily, he conducts workshops from a classroom at the society’s premises beneath the Merdeka Bridge, telling students, working professionals and retirees about the impact of pollution on the environment. Then they hop onto boats, kayaks or bicycles and embark on a learning trail that merges environmental awareness, lessons about Singapore’s history and biodiversity, and lots of fun. Along the way, they’ll pick up any litter they see.

It is not the society’s job to collect rubbish, though. Eugene says, “There are paid cleaners to do that regularly but it’s not sustainable. The issue is why are we still pulling out plastic bottles, empty cans, shopping carts and other trash from our rivers and reservoirs during our patrols? Ultimately, we hope that our Values-in-Action programmes will encourage better social habits and inspire a society of champions for the environment.

“If we’re aware, we’ll know how very easy it is to pollute our very drinking water. In the past, the word longkang (Malay for drain) was used to describe a place where things were discarded, but today, 90 to 100 per cent of our longkangs collect our drinking water and the majority of them lead to a reservoir.”

Eugene had always loved the waters but it was while working in Raffles Place right beside the Singapore River and while serving on the Government Parliamentary Committee (Environment) from 1995 to 2000 that his involvement in environmental issues grew. During his time with the committee, he was given the opportunity to start a water society dedicated to helping monitor and protect the cleaned-up Singapore River and Kallang Basin. So in 1997, WWS was formed.

Some think that what Eugene does is really the government’s work, but the recipient of the 2014 President’s Award for the Environment is determined to change that mindset, even if it sometimes seems like he is swimming against the current. Until about three years ago, WWS was managed solely by volunteers. As its programmes grew, it became necessary to hire full-time staff but even then, people tend to scoff at the idea of a career in a non-profit volunteer organisation. That’s where Eugene’s former experience as country head of operations at Bank of America comes into play.

He now has two full-time staff to assist him, but he’ll probably need more help, judging from the whiteboard in his office that’s chock-a-block with programme bookings. Then there’s the new WWS office at Punggol Waterway. Opened last year, it operates with the same template as the Kallang office and marks a significant step in realising Eugene’s vision for WWS offices islandwide, where residents can come together as a community to take ownership of, appreciate and care for their environment.

What he is really excited about is a three-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) WWS signed with the National Parks Board (NParks) last November, which effectively gives the society greater ownership of the Kallang Riverside Park. This is the first time an NGO has signed an agreement with NParks to organise and run events in a park. Eugene lights up as he shares his plans to enhance and develop the space into a vibrant eco-park that will spread environmental awareness while offering outdoor recreational activities. 

“This beautiful park has great potential, but it can only be realised with support and commitment from the various agencies, the community and sponsors. Right now, there’s a missing sense of ownership, pride and passion for our parks. If we can create that and we make this park a success, it will be a model for others keen on doing something similar with another park,” he says.

And sometimes, to counter risks, we need to take a few calculated risks. “Time is not on our side especially when the world is facing global warming and irregular weather patterns. I hope to see more true partnerships and willingness by government agencies and schools to take some risks for the programmes we offer. We appear to be overly concerned with risk assessment management and public liability issues when society should be more open to outdoor activities and values in action programmes for our young.

“Gone are the days when we allowed kids to catch spiders, play hantam bola and so on. We’ve become overly protective of our kids. But if we expose them to the environment, they will become more aware of the real challenges we face,” says the father of two, who sits on the Public Hygiene Council and is on the Singapore Water Network panel.

What encourages Eugene is the rising number of WWS volunteers, which stands at over 400. Government and public interest is also growing for the cause, although not fast enough. “Seeing people enjoy themselves at our programmes gives me the ultimate satisfaction, and when someone becomes a volunteer after that, it’s a bonus! And never did we dream we’d sign an MOA with NParks to take over this place,” he says, beaming.

Building an Outdoor Eco-Classroom 

Under the three-year Memorandum of Agreement with NParks, Waterways Watch Society (WWS) will have greater control over Kallang Riverside Park, the space wherein it operates.

Chairman Eugene Heng says, “This is a beautiful park but its full potential hasn’t been realised so most times, it is quiet. My vision is for a vibrant eco-park that more people will enjoy, created with the support and help of different agencies and segments of the community. Imagine a lively, carnival-like atmosphere with people walking, jogging, playing games and indulging in water sports like canoeing or dragon boat racing. There’ll be a biodiversity pond to teach students about nature, art on the walls that reflects the area’s history, and bins shaped like otters, cats and other resident animals. Flowers and sculptures will make a lovely backdrop for wedding photography, too.”  

Ultimately, he wants to show that it is possible to create an eco-park that can offer learning and fun opportunities, and to instigate others to do the same and show what they can achieve as a community.  

He says, “And when they do it, you can bet your last dollar that they’ll keep it clean and ensure others keep ‘their’ park clean, too.”

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