UAE | Environment
GCC 'consumes more water than average'
There is a lack of updated studies and statistics on the consumption of water in the Arab world, said most presenters at a GCC workshop held on Wednesday.
- By Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:17 March 27, 2008
Dubai: There is a lack of updated studies and statistics on the consumption of water in the Arab world, said most presenters at a GCC workshop held on Wednesday.
On the occasion of GCC Water Week, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) organised a workshop on "Water conservation is the responsibility of all", bringing together leading officials in the field of water and electricity conservation.
"The absence of a comprehensive water resource management policy is our biggest problem," said Dr Ahmad Ghosn, natural resources programme officer and regional coordinator for UNCCD in Bahrain.
The UAE is considered the top consumer of water in the Gulf region with an average of 480-500 litres of water per person per day. Average consumption per person is 180 litres.
"Dewa has increased its production capacity and also concentrated on reducing water loses from 42 per cent in 1992 to less than 13 per cent now.
"This result is considered the best figure regionally and internationally," said Saed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dewa.
Agriculture
The daily consumption of some countries in the GCC is more than 600 litres a day, said Dr Ghosn.
The agricultural sector in the GCC uses around 85 per cent of the available water reserve, but less than 3 per cent of the gross domestic product results from this high water consumption, he said.
More from UAE Environment
More from UAE
Latest news
- New road widens Jumeirah Lakes Towers access
- Filipino students, groups attend cultural meet
- For this maestro, it's all about the sound
- Experts can't tell old instruments from new
- Sound of violins
- Facilitators: Helping others find joy
- Volunteers remove garbage from Mamzar beach
- Clean-up campaign set to raise awareness
- Sharjah landmarks bathed in light
- Shaikh Mohammad meets South Korea leader
- New rules for Abu Dhabi buildings
- Four poised to chase their dreams in Dubai
- In the pursuit of happiness
- Get friends on board, zip away with Salik bonus
- Dubai hospitals debut life-saving procedure
Community Reports
-
Bridges needed
Al Ittihad Road has no pedestrian facilities as one nears Sharjah
-
Street lights needed
Authorities urged to act with haste before a major accident occurs in Al Nahda, Dubai
-
Motorists ignore stop sign on buses
Overtaking school vehicles can put students' lives at risk
-
Safety regulations flouted at Dubai work place
In Al Nahda 2, two workers were seen working on the crane boom at a height of 20m without a full body harness or safety net in violation of rules
