Water consumption rates in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) exceed 500 litres per person per day, while annual renewable freshwater resources average less than 100 cubic meters per capitai. With growing populations and rapid economic and infrastructure growth, the region’s demand for water is accelerating and water equity matters are becoming increasingly important.
Water equity in the GCC does not only have to cope with the scarcity of water resources but also with the socioeconomic disparities that impact access and distribution. Urban areas in the region, often characterised by more advanced infrastructure and higher economic resources, typically enjoy better access to high-quality water services compared to rural and less affluent communities. In addition, the increasing pressure on natural resources impacts the resources left for future generations and compromises the environmental health of the region.
This article delves into the challenges facing the GCC in achieving water equity and provides practical solutions and a multi-faceted approach to ensure fair distribution and sustainable management of water resources across the region.
How do we address water scarcity?
Water scarcity remains a significant challenge for the GCC region due to its arid climate and low rainfall. To provide some context, the World Bank reports that the global average rainfall in 2020 was 1170 mm, whereas in the UAE, it was only 78 mm. This scarcity is further compounded by rapid population growth, urbanisation, and industrialisation, putting immense pressure on existing resources to meet the increased demand for water.
To address this, the GCC has turned to desalination as a major solution. GCC countries account for about half of the world’s output of desalinated water, with the UAE alone depending on 42% of its potable water from desalination. However, while desalination has enabled remarkable advancements in water accessibility, it also presents challenges related to energy consumption, environmental impact, and cost, all of which are integral to discussions of water equity.
To mitigate these impacts, it is important to optimise the design and operation of desalination plants, such as the strategic placement of intake and outfall pipes to minimise disruption to marine ecosystems. By locating these intakes in regions with fewer marine organisms, the potential harm to marine life can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, the treatment of brine before its discharge into the ocean is crucial. Proper brine management helps mitigate the environmental impact associated with high salinity and chemical content, which can adversely affect marine habitats if released untreated. Establishing and enforcing laws by national regulation will help set standards for desalination plant design and operation.
To further enhance sustainability, desalination plants should be powered by renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power. Utilising renewable energy can reduce reliance on fossil fuels, thereby decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and associated pollution. WSP in the Middle East has acted as an Operations Engineer on several Independent Water Projects (IWP) where a captive solar power plant is installed to reduce dependence on the grid and help developers reduce the cost of desalinated water. WSP has also advised off-takers and developers in the region, to include renewable energy in their projects, thereby assisting them in the achievement of their net zero commitments.
Reusing treated wastewater for agriculture, district cooling, and industrial purposes is another approach to preserving rapidly depleting freshwater resources. Advanced treatment technologies can harness the potential of treated wastewater as a valuable resource. These technologies should be complemented with strict quality and monitoring controls, better central transmission infrastructure, and improved distribution networks. Wastewater can also be collected from swimming pools, cooling towers and reverse osmosis (RO) reject waste and not only from potable use.
In addition to the conventional wastewater treatment plants across the GCC region, Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) technology is slowly gaining attention. ZLD aims to eliminate all liquid waste by treating and reusing wastewater and by-products, thus preventing any discharge into the environment. Although this technology requires high initial costs, their effective use of wastewater treatment recycling and reuse contributing to water conservation makes it appealing.
Conclusion
Addressing water equity in the GCC is a complex but critical task. Ensuring fair distribution and sustainable management of water resources is essential for the region’s long-term development and environmental health. By adopting innovative solutions and robust policies, the GCC can work towards achieving water equity for all its residents, ensuring that current and future generations have access to safe, reliable, and affordable water.
