Whether witnessing the thoughtless sploshing of one of the city’s many fountains, or listening to a friend’s tale of a day out at the waterpark, we’ve all at some point rolled an eyeball at the UAE’s apparently endless squandering of the world’s most precious resource. In most cases, however, this fleeting green epiphany is swiftly followed by a long, deep bath and a good half an hour on the driveway, hosing the grime off of our pride and joy as we curse those careless water-wasters.
As Tamara Withers, Sustainability Officer with the Emirates Wildlife Society explains, the environmentally concerned among us could benefit from looking much closer to home when it comes to saving Abu Dhabi’s water. ‘It’s alarming to look at the rate of water consumption in this city,’ she says. ‘The average UAE resident uses 550 litres per day. That’s three times the global average.’
Fair enough, we’ve got the desert heat to contend with, but still – that’s a pretty staggering statistic. And though we’re not quite facing the prospect of drought just yet, with groundwater resources being tapped up at 24 times the rate of replenishment, it’s a rapidly growing concern. But since 99 per cent of the water we use requires industrial desalination before it’s fit for use, the broader, ongoing problem is the contribution of this energy-sapping process to Abu Dhabi’s already colossal carbon footprint.
But enough doom and gloom. What can we do to put things right? We’ve all heard the importance of simple measures – such as not leaving the tap running while we brush our teeth – drummed into us by frugal parents. These things aside, there are less obvious actions we can implement to prolong the drying of the wells.
‘By changing just three things around the home you can halve the amount of water you waste on a personal level,’ explains Tamara. ‘A really easy thing to do is put a one-litre bottle or a brick into the cistern of your toilet. That way, when you flush you’ll reduce the amount of water you use. Over time, this really adds up.’ Still, even this is just a drop in the ocean. With 60 per cent of our wastage estimated to come from outdoor domestic areas, exercising some restraint with the hosepipe is your best bet for making a difference. ‘People take pride in their cars in this city, some even washing them every single day.’ Tamara’s advice? ‘A hose wastes 180 litres per wash, so switching to a bucket and sponge will significantly reduce waste.’ Smart irrigation will do you some favours too. ‘Aim to water the lawn either early in the morning or late in the evening when the sun’s at its lowest. It’s more efficient, since you’ll lose less through evaporation.’ A greener lawn for you, more water for your city.
All this may seem rather trivial, but if everyone in the country got involved, the UAE would stand to save a whopping 410 billion litres of water a year – the equivalent of 164,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. If the pressure all feels too much, don’t fret – the government is pulling its weight too. If you haven’t already, in the coming months you’ll receive a knock on the door from a handsome man in blue overalls, who’ll fit a small device known as the Watersaver to the nozzle of your taps. The valve-like gizmo decreases the flow of water, without noticeably affecting the resulting pressure. The benefit? 73,000 litres less wastage each year from the average tap.
Plans were also recently announced for a Dhs1.6 billion underground reservoir to be built near Liwa, capable of storing three months’ worth of emergency fresh water supplies, should the desalination plants suddenly pack up. It’s a huge project that’s still some years away from realisation, but underlines how serious the city’s predicament is. And while a safety net is certainly reassuring, by making small changes on an everyday level, we ought to ensure Abu Dhabi never needs it.
For further information, visit water.heroesoftheuae.ae
