Continuing collaboration ‘boosts water management’
SHARJAH: Continuing collaboration and partnership between and among individuals and stakeholders would boost water management leading up to global water supply for the present and future generations, according to government and private sector representatives.
Italian Ambassador to the UAE Nicola Lener told Gulf Today: “The role of international partnership is fundamental to ensure commitment in a paradigm shit in which the value proposition of wastewater in a circular economy is recognised.”
“Changing the entire economic model, from a linear to a circular one, is a challenge that can only be achieved by involving many leading institutions as much as possible,” he also said.
Lener added the socio-economic benefits of a circular economy would be fully maximised, sustained and reaped as well by future generations if individuals and stakeholders band together.
He mentioned the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that target improving water quality, implementing water resource management, achieving water use efficiency across sectors, and reducing the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
Sharjah Electricity, Water & Gas Authority chairman Rashid Alleem said: “Too much water is not good because there would be floods. Too litle water is not good as well because of drought.”
He believes the way forward is for small and medium enterprises (SMES), with their respective innovations, to take part in water management: “My hope is to empower SMES and bring them to the table as they can make a significant difference.”
Alleem said the Novel Coronavirus pandemicrelated lockdown had registered a 50 per cent increase in water consumption.
Khalifa University of Science and TechnologyCivil Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering professor Dr. Linda Zou said: “It is always a continuous ongoing process to advance and sustain the water supply, treatment and recycling and disposal.”
The need is particularly acute in the UAE as the country ‘s arid climate makes the natural water resources scarce.”