Q&A: UAE Minister for Water and Environment

H.E. Dr Rashid Bin Fahad, UAE Minister for Water and Environment

H.E. Dr Rashid Bin Fahad, UAE Minister for Water and Environment talks to Utilities-ME.com.

How big a problem is water conservation in the UAE?

The UAE is trying to raise awareness regarding water conservation due to the relationship between water and energy in the UAE where our desalinated water is cogenerated with electricity. This cogeneration of energy and water consumes fossil-fuel based energy (mainly gas), releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which increases our carbon footprint and exacerbates climate change. In Abu Dhabi alone, desalination capacity has increased by 360% between 1998 and 2007.

The UAE has the highest per capita Ecological Footprint in the world, meaning that if everyone in the world lived and consumed like an average UAE resident, we would need 4.5 planets to supply that level of consumption. Over 80% of the UAE’s Footprint is related to carbon dioxide emissions, mainly due to energy consumption. Thus conserving energy and water can help to reduce the UAE’s Footprint.

Our per capita water consumption is another reason for concern, being three times the global average. We are also wasting some 250 litres of our daily consumption and this can be minimised by implementing the simple tips on www.heroesoftheuae.ae.

The UAE is also facing a water crunch, where there is risk that demand for water could outstrip supply by 2012, due to gas shortages. Increasing supply is only part of the solution and managing demand through water conservation also has a crucial role to play.

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What more can the UAE do to conserve water?

People can:

Take a 5-minute shower instead of a bath
Turn off the tap whilst brushing my teeth, shaving, doing dishes
Drop a water saver in the toilet tank
Fix leaking pipes and taps promptly
Wash your car with a bucket and sponge instead of a water hose
Water plants early morning or late evening when the sun is not at its peak
Use native plants in landscaping
Allow the Government to install water saving devices

What is the long term water strategy for the UAE?

The Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi is one of the founding partners of the heroes of the UAE campaign which aims to raise awareness about water consumption and encourage people to change behaviour.

EAD and Adwea will also be installing water saving devices for free in mosques, schools, commercial and government buildings, and households throughout 2010 in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. These devices will reduce the water consumption of the Emirate by 30%, and will have a significant positive impact on the environment.

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