Water scarcity and quality remain biggest problems

The biggest problem with water is, and will remain, scarcity and quality says Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water
 

Dubai: UAE residents are still among the largest water consumers in the world, with a daily consumption of around 550 litres per day three times the global average, according to experts.

The biggest problem with water is, and will remain, scarcity and quality said Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water. Speaking to commemorate World Water Day, Bin Fahd said water is essential for urban development and plays a fundamental role in life.

World Day for Water is celebrated by the General Assembly of the United Nations every March 22. The slogan being observed for 2010 is, "Clean Water for Healthy World".

The day aims to raise awareness on the sustainable ecosystems and human well-being and addressing the growing challenges in the field of water management in order to achieve better water quality.

"The issue of water quality and the rationalisation of consumption is not only the responsibility of the State and all its bodies, but also certainly the responsibility of all residents. Children should be taught within the family the importance of non-pollution of water and correct the wrong behaviours that cause waste and extravagance of this vital resource," he said.

"The emphasis is also on the private sector to conserve water and minimise pollution during industrial activities."

Bin Fahd added that governments, organisations and communities all over the world should be encouraged to assume proactive roles on this issue and act to prevent pollution and set up clean-up activities.

To save water the ministry has constructed 114 dams to store a capacity of 118 million cubic metres of water. It is estimated that 19.2 million cubic metres of water per year is needed to feed the aquifers with fresh water.
Desalination, a necessary but energy-intensive technology, produces 1.3 billion cubic metres of fresh water to meet the needs of the population and industry. Around 400 million cubic metres of water is produced from treated greywater to irrigate parks.

In collaboration with the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture, the ministry is looking to develop fodder grown in saline water.

The Emirates Wildlife Society, in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature, which launched the ‘Heroes of the UAE' water campaign, urging residents to adopt simple tips to reduce their water wastage, just a few simple changes could save each household up to 46 per cent, or 252 litres of water per person.

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