Garden lawns blamed for half of water consumption

1,600 litres needed a year for a square metre of grass

Half of the water consumption in the UAE could be a result of of residents’ insistence on having lawned gardens, experts say. Keeping grass healthy in a desert environment requires 1,600 litres of water each year for a square metre of grass – which is enough water for a person to have a daily shower for a month , according to National Geographic. Some indigenous species of plants, however, needs less than half that amount of water to stay lush, according to the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council.

“The water consumption in the UAE is so high because it takes into account both indoor and outdoor use,” said Dr Mohammed Dawood, manager of natural resources policy at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.

He said the use of water in apartments in the UAE was on par with international standards. “It is in villas where you see higher use because of outdoor consumption,” Dr Dawood said.

The first step in reducing water consumption is to be aware of it. As water prices currently do not reflect the scarcity of the resource, residents are under the impression that water can be used with disregard.

“We published a report where the UAE has the third- highest water consumption in the world. Look around you, we are in a desert, so these things really don’t add up,” said Tanzeed Alam, climate and energy director at the Emirates Wildlife Society. The UAE has been working to develop various ways of reducing water consumption, including financial incentives to raise awareness.