More desalination plants on Arabian Sea urged

A water expert called on planners to build more desalination plants on the Arabian Sea rather than the Gulf waters to ensure safety.

Dr Tariq Al Zibt, from Al Ain University, said building plants on the East Coast offered a better solution due to the chemical characteristics of water in the Gulf.

He said Gulf water was found to be saltier and more polluted with oil waste from passing tankers. Al Zibt warned that dependence on Gulf water must shift towards ensuring the safety of desalination plants and the water they produce should meet hygienic standards throughout the year.

During a lecture on Water in the UAE… Problems and Solutions on the fifth National Earth Day, at the centre of food and environment control in Al Ain Municipality, he called for more care in selecting the location of new desalination plants taking the safety factors into account.

Al Zibt explained a number of water problems faced by the country. He said efforts should be doubled to find new sources of water because underground water is not enough for agricultural, industrial and domestic needs.

Al Zibt also highlighted zones lacking in rain water which results in shortage of underground water sources. He stressed that the demand for water in these regions was far greater than the supply.

Farmers and other agriculturists were urged to specify their water needs, according to the area under cultivation and the crop cultivated.

An economic policy should be adopted, he added, to solve the water problem. He also provided some solutions to tackle water problems in agriculture. He called for programmes to be drawn up to check the distribution of water.