Dubai: To mark World Water Day on March 22, authorities are targeting schools and pupils to get them to adopt measures to conserve water.
As of 2013, water consumption in the UAE is highest in the world with an average per capita consumption of 500 litres a day, around 82 per cent above the global average. Water consumption in the UAE is three times higher than the per capita consumption in European Union countries.
“We carried out 88 initiatives up until 2013 throughout the year, so they are not restricted to certain events. We have also managed to save 2 billion gallons of water that was worth almost Dh662 million, and this was a result of carrying such initiatives,” said Khowla Al Muhairi, vice-president of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa).
For this year’s Water Day, 600 pupils from Kindergarten to Grade 3 from public and private schools took part in the campaign. They were addressed by Dewa representatives on steps they can take to save water, such as turning taps off when brushing your teeth, and taking showers instead of baths.
From 2009 to 2013, Dubai saved a total of 12 per cent of electricity at 1.011 billion kilowatts and 32 per cent of water at 4.914 billion gallons.
Educational institutes contributed to saving 10 per cent of electricity at 82.834 million kWh, and 24 per cent of water at 583.163 million gallons. Meanwhile, the residential sector saved 20 per cent of electricity at 42.789 million kWh, and 30 per cent of water at 297.705 million gallons.
For the academic year 2013-2014, Dewa launched a campaign in coordination with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, targeting 400 schools.
“We are holding a competition for schools on their best practices in water, electricity and energy conservation, and the first place winner will receive a prize of Dh10,000,” said Sultan Al Za’abi, project manager, Conservation – Outreach and Engagement Department at Dewa.
“The schools are required to meet a number of criteria, and are then judged on their efforts and achievements,” he said.
