Abu Dhabi will no longer be sharing their precious groundwater.
Dubai’s water scarce neighbor Abu Dhabi recently announced that it has banned all groundwater exports, Gulf News reports. Established yesterday at a Ministerial Service Council meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ban will keep the Emirate’s dwindling groundwater supply within its own borders.
Water is more important than oil
Last year General Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, proclaimed that water is more important than oil, even though the country relies on this fossil fuel as a main source of income.
He added that water research, action plans, and solutions should be placed at the top of the nation’s priorities.
The Ministry of Environment and Water subsequently compiled a study of the Emirates water sources, which prompted the Federal National Council (FNC) to propose a ban. It was upon this recommendation that the Council cancelled all future groundwater exports. This ministry will also be responsible for framing the necessary legal matters.
Drought dries up wells
Abu Dhabi’s rainfall is limited to 100mm per year, according to 2006 statistics listed by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, and only C .4% of the annual amount of groundwater used is replenished.
All other water comes from five main desalination plants along the Gulf coastline, including at Mirfa, Abu Dhabi, Um al Naar and Taweelah and one on the Gulf of Oman at Qidfa, Fujairah, and 23 sewage treatment plants.
Gulf News reports that prolonged drought has put 13,000 wells in the country at risk of drying up completely.
For a list of simple ways to conserve water in Abu Dhabi, visit the Ministry of Environment and Water’s website, which lists important ways to save water in the house, in the garden, and outside the home.
:: Gulf News
image via Morguefile
More on water issues in Abu Dhabi and other Gulf Countries:
Feeding Abu Dhabi With Water From Air
What Abu Dhabi Plans for When the Water Runs Out
Abu Dhabi’s Costly Desalination Prompts Wastewater Treatment Plans
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
