New mosque taps to save Dh20m a year
ABU DHABI // More than 800 mosques will receive new taps in a move that will save nearly Dh20 million and 1.75 billion litres of water a year.
The mosques use 9 billion litres a year, accounting for 1 per cent of all water used.
Abu Dhabi Distribution Company said up to 20 litres is typically used for wudhu, or ablutions before prayer.
The utilities company will replace taps with newer, more efficient models as part of its Tar- sheed programme, which aims to cut water and electricity use by a fifth before 2030. “The programme is one of a series that we’re making available to our customers to help them reduce water and electricity consumption,” said Saeed Al Suwaidi, its managing director.
The project was launched in conjunction with facilities management company Musanada, and the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments.
It is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Retrofits can save even more money, with the energy-efficiency industry growing yearly as a result.
The International Energy Agency estimates that global investment in this sector was more than US$ 220 billion (Dh808bn) in 2015, a 6 per cent increase from the year before.
There are more than 1,300 mosques in Abu Dhabi but those built after 2010 already comply with the sustainability code, known as Estidama.
The utilities provider began testing the project last year with five mosques and the results showed automatic shut-off on the taps reduced water use by up to 40 per cent.
The retrofit taps have a flow of 4 to 6 litres a minute each – unlike the older ones that deliver water at 10 litres a minute – and have a 15-second shut-off time to further reduce waste.
Mr Al Suwaidi said the programme would reinforce the “culture and practices of water efficiency across mosques” in Abu Dhabi.
There will be sermons delivered during Friday prayers to relay the message, he said.
Retrofit taps have a flow of 4 to 6 litres a minute as against 10 litres from the old ones