Master plan to regulate water usage in pipeline

Abu Dhabi: Extravagant landscaping, consuming huge amounts of water may be a thing of the past as new regulations will be recommended in the 'Water Master Plan for Abu Dhabi' to be announced next month, a senior official said.

"We will recommend increasing the water tariff and regulations on use of water in industry, agriculture and landscaping, and new measures for recycling, as part of the water conservation measures in the plan," said Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary General of Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD).

"The plan will have programmes for extensive awareness and educational campaign", said the official.

"Water scarcity is a major challenge in the country and its use has to be regulated to avoid a future disaster," said Al Mansouri. "Most of the landscaping, using exotic plants and grass takes a heavy toll on water reserves because they are 'tropical designs'; unfit for the desert environment here. We will regulate such designs and recommend using local plants and grass for landscaping, said the official. Fresh water must not be used for landscaping but only recycled water," he explained.

Modern technology will be used to enhance the amount of water recycling.

"Water tariff has to be hiked to make aware the people of the value of water. "When you get something on low cost, you don't recognise its value", said Al Mansouri.

"Our industries and agricultural practices have also to be restructured in accordance with water availability. We will explore all modern conservation technologies like sub-surface irrigation system to improve our conservation plan," said Al Mansouri.