(Sukuk.net - Khaleej Times) The Gulf states are among the 14 countries under the water poverty line, said a senior official in the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa).

Mohammed Al Jariri, Senior Manager, Business Excellence and Environment, Dewa, stressed the need for the Gulf countries to address the water crisis as they are located in dry areas with low rainfall.

"If we do not revise our policies, then we are inevitably heading towards a situation that is definitely not encouraging. We should be prepared for regional conflicts over water resources as they happened in the 1960s. Besides, water scarcity would affect the food independency and hence create social instability".

Speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the two-day Global Water Management Congress on Sunday, Al Jariri mainly attributed the water crisis to the fact that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries do not have advanced irrigation systems while having very excessive water consumption.

Al Jariri said Dubai is the best city as far as water wastage due to leakage is concerned. "We reached a water wastage level of 13 per cent. The same is 42 per cent in most countries as it used to be in the UAE in the 1990s."

SCADA (System Control Data Acquisition) is the main reason behind the reduction of water leakage, according to Al Jariri. "Dewa is controlling water networks by applying remote-sensor system which detects any leakage or flaw and stems it automatically. There are sensors used in the water networks all over Dubai for early location of any flaw affecting the pipes and fittings and interrupt water supply".

He said efforts should be integrated. "Everyone can make a difference. It is a partnership between the producers, consumers, contractors and the public utilities. It is a cycle. So there has to be cooperation from all members of the society. There are two main sides to tackle in the water management policies: the production side that is the job of Dewa and the demand side, which is the role of the communities, industries and government departments."

District cooling, Green Buildings Code, slab tariffs and SCADA are some of the initiatives and practices that are embraced by Dewa to combat water scarcity. "At the end of the day, our main concern is to enhance our performance, use the best and modern technologies and maintain our customers' satisfaction. But this should be done while taking into consideration water-saving requirements."

For Al Jariri, the approach has to invite a win-win situation. "The society's cooperation is a must to alleviate the burden of the national economy and the limited national resources. It has to be a win-win situation whether for the communities or for the government."
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