(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
DUBAI, 22nd March, 2018 (WAM) -- The Dubai Water and Electricity Authority, DEWA, said that World Water Day, which is annually celebrated all around the world on 22nd March, is an ideal opportunity to raise awareness about water issues and challenges, and to inspire the public to make a difference and manage water resources sustainably.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, said that sustainable management of water resources is especially important now, in light of the worsening global water security situation and steady population growth.
"Today, over 663 million people live without water supplies close to their homes. They either spend countless hours or travel long distances to get water, or even face the negative health impacts of using contaminated water," he added.
He said that water is one of the most basic needs of humanity. It is also essential for creating jobs and supporting economic, social and environmental development. World Water Day 2018 draws attention to the importance of finding sustainable solutions, by depending on the environment and nature, in line with this year's theme ‘Nature for Water'. Through environmental solutions, many challenges can be solved including: planting new trees, use of wetlands, using clean and renewable energy in desalination and water production, and separating electricity production from water, among others.
"By 2030 DEWA intends to have 100 percent of its desalinated water production to come from a mix of clean energy that uses both renewable energy and waste heat. This will allow Dubai to exceed global targets to use clean energy to desalinate water. DEWA adopts a clear strategy to ensure that by 2030, 100 percent of desalinated water will be produced by a mix of clean energy that uses both renewable energy and waste heat. DEWA's production capacity is expected to reach 305 million gallons of desalinated water per day by 2030. This means reverse osmosis will produce 41 percent compared to its current share of 5 percent, and we will be able to produce 750 million gallons of desalinated water per day by 2030, compared to our current capacity of 470 million gallons per day. The increase in operational efficiency created by decoupling electricity generation and water desalination will lead to savings of up to AED13 billion by 2030, and reduce 43 million tonnes of carbon emissions by 2030," Al Tayer concluded.
WAM/Rola Alghoul/Esraa Ismail
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