Qatari nationals blamed for high water usage

Desalination provides the majority of potable water in the GCC region.

According to a study issued by Qatar's Permanent Population Committee, the free supply of water to citizens has led to the Gulf state becoming one of the highest water users per capita in the world.

The report cited "the extravagant use of water", indicating that water consumption by nationals was much higher than that of the expatriate workforce, said the Qatar Times newspaper.

"There is a need for conserving water as Qatar's per capita water use is higher than that of the US, which is estimated at 575 litres a day, and Europe, which ranges between 200-300 litres, and in poor countries like Mozambique where the daily consumption is 10 litres a day," the report indicated.

Recent data from Qatar's Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) said that annual per capita water use rose from 182 cubic metres in 1990 to 247 cubic metres in 2005.

The situation is similar in other Gulf countries, where the provision of water is highly subsidised, despite the heavy cost in terms of desalination.

Advertisement

FEATURED COMMENT Please click here to comment on this article