 |
| |
Arab Government Control Modern technology To Conserve Water Resources | |
| Sumita Pawar |
According to the report, water insecurity has exacerbated conflicts and political tensions in many Arab countries, significantly impacting the health and well-being of their people. In nations such as Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and even several of the Gulf states, many communities lack access to plentiful clean water.
Even though about 40% of the world's population has trouble getting enough water, the MENA region is thought to be one of the most water-stressed in the world, with about 90% of children living in areas with high or extremely high water stress.
 |
According to UNICEF, the region is home to 11 of the world’s 17 most water-stressed countries.
In a conversation with Arab News, Walid Saad, CEO and co-founder of World of Farming, said, "Countries with rapid population growth, an arid climate, and heavily water-consuming agricultural activities are at a much higher risk of facing significant water scarcity before 2050." As a result, larger counter-operations will be required in order to mitigate the looming impact."
He believes this is a challenge that requires a collaborative approach between public and private sector organizations and the implementation of technology and innovative solutions across industries to help ensure greater water efficiency and security for future generations.
A 2020 report by Orient Planet Research found that the Gulf Cooperation Council area’s water needs will reach 33,733 cubic metres per year by 2050. However, the region’s projected future storage is just 25,855 cubic meters.
As the report highlighted, identifying ways to mitigate and adapt to climate pressures has become a top priority for regional governments. The coming year is expected to be one of the hottest on record, with extreme weather events likely to grow in scale and frequency and, in the process, exacerbate existing problems in the water-stressed region.
It went on to say that the MENA region is home to 11 of the world's most water-stressed countries (out of a total of 17).
90% of children live in areas of high or extremely high water stress in MENA.
A 77% increase in water stocks is needed by 2050 to meet the GCC population’s requirements.
In addition to extreme weather, climate-related water scarcity is expected to wipe up to 14 percent off the region’s gross domestic product over the coming 30 years, according to the World Bank.
Since about 60% of the freshwater in the region comes from outside the region, international relations are also very important for water security.
In response to these problems, the report said that several Arab governments are now putting more money into new innovations and technologies that will help save freshwater sources, recycle and reuse wastewater, and lessen the damage that desalinating seawater does to the environment.
"Technologies such as membrane bioreactors, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet disinfection are being used to treat wastewater to a high standard, making it suitable for reuse in irrigation, industry, and even potable uses," Fawzi Al-Dibis, manager of sustainability and climate change at WSP Middle East, told Arab News.
As per the report, another solution is localised greywater treatment, which allows for the use and reuse of water at the source, thereby avoiding additional pumping costs.
According to the UN, about 80% of the world's wastewater is dumped into the environment without being cleaned.
Atmospheric water harvesting is another promising means of overcoming water scarcity by collecting water from the air through various methods, including condensation, dew collection, and fog harvesting.
Agriculture accounts for almost 80 percent of the MENA region’s water usage, compared to the 70 percent global average. According to the World Bank, freshwater is being drawn from natural underground aquifers faster than it can be replenished.
Al-Dibis said, "New smart water management systems that use artificial intelligence technology are being made to track and control this dwindling resource."
"These technologies help to analyse data from various sources, such as weather forecasts and sensor networks, to make more accurate predictions of water availability and to optimise the distribution and use of water resources," he added.
Clean technologies and other innovations are also being deployed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful byproducts during the desalination process. Al-Dibis says that the science of new materials is giving desalination plants new ways to solve problems.
As mentioned in the report, the UAE launched its Net Zero 2050 strategy in 2021, aiming to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in line with its global climate commitments and to address its own environmental challenges.
The UAE’s water table has dropped by about 1 metre a year over the past 30 years, giving the country less than 50 years until all its natural freshwater resources are depleted.
Similarly, Saudi Arabia has rolled out its Vision 2030 initiative, part of which focuses on the optimal use of water resources, reducing consumption, and using renewable water, which, together with its Saudi Green and Middle East Green initiatives, elaborates the report.
The NEOM smart city giga-project, which is being built by the Kingdom on the coast of the Red Sea, aims to reduce average water loss from 30% to 3% by building infrastructure and using new technology through its energy and water subsidiary, ENOWA.
"While acknowledging that technology and real-time innovation are essential to reducing water waste, Saad believes the preservation of natural resources can only be achieved through cooperation between governments, businesses, and consumers," said the report.
"The decisions we make when we source and consume our food and the way we live our day-to-day lives can all have an impact," he said.
"Everyone can contribute to the overall goal of sustainability by addressing their own day-to-day habits and decisions."