Capacity limits :: Khaleej Times

Sharjah Municipality has not been able to keep up with the rapid pace of development. The result is rationing by denying some units access to public utilities:

According to real estate agents, over 300 newly constructed buildings located in different areas were still awaiting power and water connections since the end of last year.

Even with rationing, reserves for system emergencies are being used routinely an official stated:

“Two additional water units are present to tackle emergency situation and a reservoir with a capacity of seven million gallons is already operating, though it should only operate during any sudden breakdown."
. . .
He also suggested that owners of residential buildings should ensure that the water tanks are big enough to store extra water for 24 hours.

Thus, if there is an emergency, such as the breakdown of a desalination plant, Sharjah may not be able to respond to the emergency because its own reserves are being used for everyday consumption. The official is quite right to inform the public and encourage them to create their own reserves (private water tanks). Has your building owner taken these precautions?

More:

He also said that in order to meet the demands of the mushrooming population, Sewa has recently signed a mutual agreement with the Abu Dhabi Electricity and Water Authority and according to the accord, Sewa will be supplied with 10 million gallons per day through the transmission main or water main which is passing through Sharjah boundary near Shawka area.

It's good to see Abu Dhabi and Sharjah cooperating. (I note that Dubai lies between Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.) But why not locate more desalination in Sharjah rather piping water a distance the Abu Dhabi emirate? One reason might be that interconnection allows both systems to come to the others aid if one faces a breakdown. But then the question becomes why not interconnect the neighboring systems in Dubai and Sharjah? Is it rivalry, and, if so, is the rivalry economic or political?