Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) recently held a community lecture during which it explored the water challenge in the UAE and called for water conservation practices in order to achieve sustainable water consumption.

EEG held its eighth community lecture for the year at the Emarat Atrium in Dubai.

During the event, Sarfraz Dairkee, an experienced mechanical engineer and general manager of corporate development and engineering of Mahy Khoory, discussed the present paradigm of increasing demand for water in the country and the challenge of dwindling resources.

“Population and fast economic growth have pushed up demands for water significantly over the last few years,” said Dairkee. “The challenge now is to meet these demands adequately given the fact that the country sits in an arid zone and water resources are diminishing,” he added.

Dairkee also explained the concept of “Water Footprint” by pointing out the related carbon footprint in the production and delivery of water in the region.

He added that the magnitude of production of water in the country to meet local demands could not pass without having a corresponding impact on the environment as the process depends on fossil-based energy and huge amounts of brine are dumped in the sea.

Dairkee also pointed out how sustainability in water production and consumption can still be achieved, and outlined several innovative ways to address the water challenge as an individual and as a society.

He mentioned simple conservation measures for families and homes and hi-technology co-generation plants for recycling as some of the solutions. He also mentioned the need for water recycling in homes, buildings and factories.

“We may get clean and adequate water every time we open the tap in our homes but we do not see the process of producing it,” said Habiba Al Marashi, chairperson EEG.

“We do not hear the humming of huge desalination plants. Certainly we do not feel the pinch of the extra cost of getting water ready and available when we get our water bills… Given the current realities, a new call is therefore being made to conserve water resources by adopting local solutions.”

She then urged the public to become more proactive in environmental protection. She added that consumption of water should be done with growing efficiency to serve more people now and in the future. – TradeArabia News Service