Eco body reveals key challenges in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI: The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) revealed that Abu Dhabi’s scarcity of naturally renewable water resources has been worsened by the increased demand for groundwater and withdrawal from aquifers.

This has imposed significant environmental challenges which have contributed to the increase in salinity, pollution, lower water levels, depletion of stocks and deterioration of the groundwater reserves. As a result, some areas within the emirate have been classified as depleted, while digging new wells is prohibited, EAD said in a statement to the Emirates News Agency ( WAM).

Abu Dhabi faces the issue of water resources scarcity due to its location in the dry zone belt, which is characterised by low rates of natural renewal of the aquifers. This is a result of weak rates of precipitation, which range from 90 to 140 million cubic metres per year only. The water scarcity rises with the increasing rates of development and population, and there is a higher demand for water for human consumption, which is also due to economic development. EAD stressed how meeting water needs is necessary towards maintaining healthy ecosystems, preserving the environment, and providing food.

Dr. Sheikha Salem Al Dhaheri, SecretaryGeneral of EAD said: “Groundwater is considered a non-renewable resource in Abu Dhabi, and its natural recharge rate is extremely limited. In fact, it only occurs in the Hajar Mountains area. Groundwater represents around 60 per cent of the total water resources used in the emirate, while desalinated water accounts for approximately 30 per cent, and the remaining 10 per cent is atributed to treated wastewater. About 65 per cent of the water resources are used for irrigation in the agricultural sector, forests, gardens and parks.”

She stressed that among the most significant threats are excessive use of groundwater for agricultural purposes, insufficient awareness of users, and the limited natural regeneration of groundwater. The problem is aggravated by the increasing rates of the current pumping of groundwater in the emirate due to the expansion of the agricultural sector and the need for water, which currently reaches 2,100 million cubic metres annually. This represents about 20 times the quantities of natural feeding of underground reservoirs.