Latest Water Technologies of Abengoa Water - GineersNow GineersNow Engineering Magazine Issue No. 022, Abe | Page 36

Keeping Up With the Soaring Water
Demand in the Middle East
As concerns of water scarcity intensify across
the globe, the Middle East is being prudent in
dealing with this hypercritical resource. Nations
in the Gulf consume an average 816 cubic
metres of water per person per year, which is
65% more than the world average. At the same
time, the region is widely recognised for being
the vanguard of new technology adoption,
deploying thermal desalination, reverse
osmosis (RO) membrane desalination, and eco-
friendly, solar-powered desalination plants for
generating potable and process water.
Soaring Demand for Water in the Middle East,
a recent white paper from Frost & Sullivan”s
Environment & Water group, finds that
technological innovation, improved efficiencies,
and supportive policies will shape the region”s
water odds. Governments and policymakers
have already begun measures to promote
efficient water usage.
“The Middle East has shifted gears swiftly
to address the water demand-supply gap
and change its path of economic growth
to incorporate sustainability,” noted Frost
& Sullivan Program Manager, Energy and
Environment, Kshitij Nilkanth. “Like other parts
of the globe, the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) is looking to desalination and wastewater
reuse and recycling to bridge the supply-
demand gap. GCC must have balanced focus
towards reducing water consumption and
increasing recycled water usage, as well as
incorporating advanced water and wastewater
treatment technologies.”
While several measures will be taken
on demand-side management, it is key
technologies and processes that will drive the
supply side. For example, Dubai Integrated
Energy Strategy (DIES) 2030 aims to reduce