Aims to ensure sustainable water supplies in UAE; increase water productivity index ‎and reduce water ‎scarcity index

The Ministry of Energy has today unveiled the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, which aims to ‎ensure sustainable access to water during both normal and emergency conditions in line with ‎local regulations, standards of the World Health Organization, and the UAE’s vision to ‎achieve prosperity and sustainability. The announcement was made at the UAE Annual ‎Government Meetings taking place in Abu Dhabi. ‎

The overall objectives of the strategy are to reduce total demand for water resources by ‎‎21%, increase the water productivity index to $110 per cubic meter, reduce the water ‎scarcity index by 3 degrees, increase the reuse of treated water to 95%, and increase national ‎water storage capacity up to two days. ‎

HE Eng. Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy, affirmed, "The UAE ‎Water Security Strategy 2036 came as a result of consolidated efforts between federal ‎and local water authorities to explore and define a vision for the water sector in the UAE ‎and to ensure adaptability to future demands on water resources."‎ He added, ‎"The strategy aims to ensure sustainable water supplies in ‎various circumstances to meet the needs of the community and the economic prosperity ‎of the UAE."‎

Al Mazrouei pointed out that the comprehensive, long-term strategy covers all components of the ‎water supply chain throughout a time frame of twenty years. It focuses on three main ‎programs: the Water Demand Management Program, the Water Supply Management ‎Program and the Emergency Production and Distribution Program. ‎

The strategy also tackles policy development, legislation, water conservation awareness ‎campaigns, use of advanced technologies, innovation, and building national capabilities ‎in the field of water security. ‎

‎"The Water Security Strategy 2036 seeks to ‎reduce average consumption per capita by half as well as focus on sustainable practices, for instance one of its key aims is increasing the reuse of treated water ‎to 95%," Al Mazrouei explained. ‎

The strategy seeks to develop a storage capacity for the water supply system that lasts ‎for two days under normal conditions, which would be equivalent to a capacity of 16 ‎days in emergency situations, and enough to supply water for more than 45 days in ‎extreme emergencies. ‎ Water networks will be able to provide 91 liters of ‎water per person per day in cases of emergency, or 30 liters per person per day in cases ‎of extreme emergencies. ‎

‎The strategy also includes the establishment of 6 connecting networks between water ‎and electricity entities across the UAE. Once implemented, the Water Security Strategy ‎‎2036 will achieve savings of 74 billion dirhams and reduce the emissions of carbon ‎dioxide (CO2), associated with water desalination process, by 100 million metric tons. ‎

The long-term strategy addresses the challenges of future water security taking into ‎account a number of concerns which include the scarcity of freshwater resources, ‎depletion of groundwater, high water demand, high water consumption per capita and ‎high water losses in the water system due to efficiencies in both irrigation and usage of ‎treated water. ‎

The Water Security Strategy 2036 seeks to encourage initiatives focusing on water ‎efficiency, waste reduction and behavioural change. It will also introduce reforms to ‎current water subsidies that have a negative effect on the sustainable development and ‎the environment. ‎

A number of programs will be launched to ensure the protection of non-renewable ‎groundwater, the development of non-traditional and sustainable water sources, increasing ‎the use of renewable energy in the water sector, and ensuring compliance with water ‎quality standards. ‎

The strategy also takes into account strategic water storage and transport improvements, ‎as well as prevention of tainting of water supplies as a result of oil pollution. ‎

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Media Contact
Serine Srouji
Serine.Srouji@pdo.gov.ae
+971 52 9869852

© Press Release 2017