Watersecurity is a preference for Abu Dhabi and the emirate is dedicated to deciding the best ways to make optimal use of natural and desalinated water resources, as part of an ambitious plan to enhance projects that make sure sustainable water supply for future generations, stated His Excellency Eng. Mohammed bin Jarsh Al Falasi, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE), in a statement on World Water Day on March 22.

Abu Dhabi performs a leading local and regional role in the water sector, and the Department of Energy adheres to global standards in all projects and services to supply water in the emirate, most recent of which was the Recycled Water Policy, unveiled last June to support efforts to preserve water resources and offer sustainable supplies of recycled water in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, H.E. explained, citing several other leading projects, such as the strategic freshwater storage facility in Liwa the largest manmade reservoir for desalinated water in the world.

H.E. Al Falasi mentioned that the rate of water consumption in Abu Dhabi is among the highest in the world due to the desert climate and high temperatures, making the emirate highly dependent on desalination. Abu Dhabi has nine desalination plants with a total production capacity of about 960 million imperial gallons per day.

H.E. mentioned the significance of reverse osmosis technology as the preferred and most affordable approach to water desalination, drawing attention to the growing use of desalinated water following the declaration of the new desalination plant project in the Taweelah B Power & Desalination Complex with a production capacity of around 200 million imperial gallons, which is anticipated to be operational in 2022.

Furthermore, H.E. Al Falasi explained that there are concrete efforts and projects underway in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to improve the usage of rainwater and groundwater for agricultural activities and other uses.

The DoE undersecretary stated that the coming period compels the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to raise community awareness about water consumption to curb water waste. At the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, we have set vivid aims to cut water waste to 10%, as well as to curb indoor and outdoor consumption to 12% and increase usage of recycled water to 100% by 2030, he stated, noting that the DoE had also unveiled the Abu Dhabi Demand Side Management and Energy Rationalisation Strategy 2030, inclusive of nine programmes to minimize electricity consumption by 22% and water consumption by 32% by 2030.