Emirates Environment Group's 3rd General Meeting highlights importance of water conservation - Arab Wide Web
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The meeting, held on March 30, 2004 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dubai focused on the water crisis created by “Human Practices and their impact on natural resources”. It was addressed by Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson, EEG and Mr. Mohammed S Shelli, Research and Development engineer in the Department of Water Resources Studies in the office of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of UAE.
“UAE, as indeed most of the Arab world, is situated in one of the most arid regions of the world. The region is characterized by large variability in rainfall, limited renewable groundwater resources, problems with groundwater salinity, and the absence of rivers and lakes,” said Al Marashi. “Recent socio-economic development, high population growth, the availability of modern water pumping and irrigation technology, as well as expanded urbanization and agricultural activity, have placed substantial strains on water resources, particularly in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. The population of UAE alone is set to double by the year 2025. The high rate of population growth in combination with increase in per capita water consumption, owing to needlessly high consumption patterns, has contributed to the overall escalation in the use of this scarce resource.
The intensive use of groundwater resources from shallow and deep aquifers to meet rising demand has led to exploitation of water resources in excess of natural renewability and has contributed towards water-quality deterioration, especially in the coastal zones.
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By necessity, desalination has become a major component of the water-supply system in these countries for providing water to satisfy domestic requirements. However, desalination of seawater has proven outrageously expensive and leaves behind brackish water mostly uninhabitable for marine life” pointed out Al Marashi.
The water consumption levels in the Emirates is very high and available statistics for average consumption rates have indicated a rising curve, which is a source of growing concern among the authorities as well as other organisations active in the field of water conservation and management. For e.g. the average daily consumption in Abu Dhabi emirate is 150 gallons per day, in Dubai it is 90 gallons per day, while the average international standard is 25-80 gallons per day.
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The meeting focused on these wasteful human practices and their impact on the natural resources, specifically water resources. In his presentation, the expert of the day addressed issues like Water Scarcity and water shortage worldwide; Water Scarcity and water shortage in the Arabian Peninsula; major driving forces behind sustainable water development in the Arab region and Islam’s remedy for water problems.
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Emphasis added.
---QUOTE---
The meeting, held on March 30, 2004 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dubai focused on the water crisis created by “Human Practices and their impact on natural resources”. It was addressed by Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson, EEG and Mr. Mohammed S Shelli, Research and Development engineer in the Department of Water Resources Studies in the office of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of UAE.
“UAE, as indeed most of the Arab world, is situated in one of the most arid regions of the world. The region is characterized by large variability in rainfall, limited renewable groundwater resources, problems with groundwater salinity, and the absence of rivers and lakes,” said Al Marashi. “Recent socio-economic development, high population growth, the availability of modern water pumping and irrigation technology, as well as expanded urbanization and agricultural activity, have placed substantial strains on water resources, particularly in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. The population of UAE alone is set to double by the year 2025. The high rate of population growth in combination with increase in per capita water consumption, owing to needlessly high consumption patterns, has contributed to the overall escalation in the use of this scarce resource.
The intensive use of groundwater resources from shallow and deep aquifers to meet rising demand has led to exploitation of water resources in excess of natural renewability and has contributed towards water-quality deterioration, especially in the coastal zones.
...
By necessity, desalination has become a major component of the water-supply system in these countries for providing water to satisfy domestic requirements. However, desalination of seawater has proven outrageously expensive and leaves behind brackish water mostly uninhabitable for marine life” pointed out Al Marashi.
The water consumption levels in the Emirates is very high and available statistics for average consumption rates have indicated a rising curve, which is a source of growing concern among the authorities as well as other organisations active in the field of water conservation and management. For e.g. the average daily consumption in Abu Dhabi emirate is 150 gallons per day, in Dubai it is 90 gallons per day, while the average international standard is 25-80 gallons per day.
...
The meeting focused on these wasteful human practices and their impact on the natural resources, specifically water resources. In his presentation, the expert of the day addressed issues like Water Scarcity and water shortage worldwide; Water Scarcity and water shortage in the Arabian Peninsula; major driving forces behind sustainable water development in the Arab region and Islam’s remedy for water problems.
---UNQUOTE---
Emphasis added.
Labels: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia
posted by John B. Chilton at 4/12/2005 05:54:00 AM
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