(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- The Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC) celebrated World Water Day on Wednesday.
The event highlighted issues related to wastewater and how to reduce and reuse it through different activities like paper presentations, art competitions, and walks amongst others. The theme for this was 'Water and Wastewater' which seeks to find sustainable solutions to water scarcity.
In his welcome speech Ciaran O'Cuinn, centre director, MEDRC said, 'We are looking for solutions to fresh water scarcity in Oman and the region. We brought together schoolchildren in our area to show them ways to preserve water and the scientists whom we support in Palestine, Jordan and Oman who have come here today to tell us what they have done.'
Welcoming H E Barbara Joziasse, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Oman who was the guest of honour at the event, O'Cuinn said, 'Netherlands is very similar to Oman. Water is the centre of agriculture in both the countries. In the Netherlands, you have too much water and here you have too little. So we should put together our technological, social and cultural prowess to improve access of water to people.'
He also congratulated MEDRC employee Hilmi al Kindi and his colleague who walked from Sifah Hotel wastewater treatment plant to MEDRC office.
H E Barbara said, 'We all know that life is water and water is life. We have water issues in the Netherlands too. The Netherlands has partnered with MEDRC which is an important institution for the region for many reasons.'
The winners of the World Water Day Art Competition were also declared at the event. Students of two schools (Al Awael Private School and Khouris Lal Haboos School Oman) designed a mural-based on 'Water and Wastewater'.
The winning designers (from Al Awael Private School) were invited to the MEDRC office to paint their mural on the Garden Terrace Wall.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between the International Maritime College of Oman (IMCO) and MEDRC in the presence of Dr Hilal Ali al Hadhrami, dean of IMCO and O'Cuinn.
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