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Can You Find the Hero in You?
DUBAI - Be a hero by saving water, the planet and, most importantly, millions of dirhams.
- PUBLISHED: Wed 24 Feb 2010, 8:39 PM UPDATED: Fri 12 Jul 2024, 10:54 AM
This is the mantra of the two-pronged national campaign jointly launched by Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS), World Wild Fund (WWF) and Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD).
The campaign, which started last month and will run for two years, has a series of events, workshops, awareness drives and road shows etc planned across two years. As water and energy consumption are intrinsically linked and water being the single largest issue in the environmental stratosphere, we thought it high time to take you on a rough journey through choppy waters.
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Water, as it is known, is the most essential commodity for the survival of all forms of life and yet it is the most wasted commodity in the world. Consequently, the already dilapidated water resources of potable water are fast exhausting. The clip at which the human population is currently growing will only add strain to the already precarious situation.
According to experts, by the first half of the 21st century water will be the most prized commodity on earth, far surpassing oil, gold and other natural resources in value. Some analysts have even gone on to predict that water would be the next biggest cause of wars in the world.
Seeing the present level of water wastage (particularly in UAE), we have a good chance of proving these predictions right sooner than expected.
With very few resources of fresh water, the UAE depends on desalinated water for a majority of its needs. And the rate at which we are consuming, we are not only draining the ocean but also hastening climate change.
According to data provided by EWS, UAE's per capita water consumption is three times the global average. Not only that, the UAE has the highest per capita ecological footprint in the world, meaning that if everyone in the world lived and consumed like an average UAE resident, we would need 4.5 planets to supply that level of consumption.
Over 80 per cent of the UAE's footprint is related to carbon dioxide emissions, mainly due to energy consumption. Energy and water in the UAE are inextricably linked, due to its dependence on desalinated water, which consumes fossil-fuel based energy, releasing millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Thus, reducing water and energy consumption and being more energy efficient can help reduce the UAE's footprint as well as millions of dirhams.
EWS's 'Heroes of the UAE' campaign aims to do just that.
“Heroes of the UAE water campaign was launched just last month and the response from the various sectors has been positive so far. Many organisations are eager to participate in the campaign and help spread the water saving message. We are very encouraged by this enthusiasm, and are presenting them with practical tools they can readily use in their offices and in schools. In the coming months we will be participating in several events to educate people about water consumption, its relationship to our carbon footprint, and what can be done to stop water wastage,” said Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director of EWS-WWF.
Nearly 1.3 billion people across the world have no access to safe drinking water. More than half a million people have died this year after consuming water that was unfit to drink. Yet, how many of us even think before running those taps while brushing our teeth or indulging in extravagant baths.
Recent statistics show that people in the UAE waste around 410 billion litres of water per year, which, with a little care, can be easily saved. Al Mubarak explains how: “Much of the water conservation can be achieved by implementing very simple tools. When you're brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing vegetables or dishes, remember to switch the tap off when you're not actually using the water. You'd be surprised how much it will save.
“A quick shower uses around three times less water than a bath. It saves time too and it gets you just as clean. Don't wash your car every day; it really isn't necessary. If you wash it at home use a bucket, not a hose. Better still, take it to an automatic car wash, as it uses less water.”
With the government setting ambitious targets to reduce water consumption, the EWS and its campaign band are going on an overdrive. “We are doing all that we can to support the government in achieving its targets. The 'Heroes of the UAE' will work with schools, government, private sector, and the public across the UAE to educate them about the water problem, its connection to our carbon footprint, and what individuals and organisations can do to reduce water consumption. We will do this through educational workshops, public events, case studies, water audits and installation of water saving devices. Our results, including demonstrated savings will be showcased through the campaign and our website and will be used to encourage even more participation,” added Al Mubarak, elucidating on the steps being taken to spread awareness and reduce consumption.
For more information visit www.heroeoftheuae.com
Fast Facts
UAE statistics on ecological footprint, water consumption and CO2 emissions
The UAE has the highest per capita ecological footprint in the world, meaning that if every person lived like an average UAE resident, we would require 4.5 planets to sustain that level of consumption.
Over 80 per cent of our footprint is due to consumption of carbon intensive goods and services.
Water consumption has significantly grown since 1960, when potable water met demand.
Groundwater resources are being exhausted as a result of urban and rural economy growth. Water stress index > 640 per cent.
To satisfy demand, UAE has had to turn to power plants that co-generate electricity and desalinated water. In Abu Dhabi alone, desalination capacity has increased by 360 per cent between 1998 and 2007. Most of these plants burn fossil fuels (gas and some oil) and release carbon dioxide, which means that rising consumption of desalinated water contributes significantly to our carbon footprint.
In Abu Dhabi, 21 million tonnes of CO2 per year is produced from co-generation plants .
Water consumption and use contributes between 4 and 9 million tonnes of CO2 per year.
36 per cent of Abu Dhabi's total CO2 emissions was from co-generative power and water plants .
High withdrawal of sea water and plant discharge of brine and high temperature water are impacting marine biodiversity.
At current levels of growth, ADWEC predicts that there will be possible challenges to meet demand beyond 2012 due to fuel (especially gas) shortages.
New water production plants cost $2 billion and take six years to build.
Currently, per capita water consumption of potable water in Abu Dhabi is 550 litres per day.
The residential sector relies almost 100 per cent on desalinated water and almost half of the total desalinated water is used by the residential sector.
Indoor use is responsible of the majority of residential water use (60 per cent); outdoor 40 per cent.
The highest water consumption indoors happens in the bathroom – showers, toilets and faucets.
For outdoor use 52 per cent is related to landscape irrigation, 45 per cent car-washing and 3 per cent from swimming pools.
A Little Effort and a Lot of Precious Water can be Saved
A) Showering instead of a bath (and installing a water saving valve in shower)
Assumptions and baseline:
One bath taken per day (replaced by one shower per day)
One bath uses 95 litres of water
Average shower is five minutes and flow rate is 11.4 litres per minute
Installation of shower valve reduces flow to 9 litres per minute
1) Taking a five minute shower instead of a bath saves 38 litres per day, which amounts to a 40 per cent saving compared to a bath.
a. Five minute shower at 11.4 litres/minute = 57 litres
b. 95 – 57 = 38 litres saving (or 40% compared to a bath)
2) Installing a water saving valve in the shower (and taking a five minute shower instead of a bath) can provide additional savings of 12 litres per day, or 50 per cent (compared to bathing).
a. Five minute shower at 9 litres/minute = 45 litres
b. 95 – 45 = 50 litres
c. Just replacing existing showers with low flow shower heads would result in a 12 litre saving per five minute shower (57l-45l = 12 litres)
B) Turning off the tap (and installing water saving faucets)
Assumptions and baseline:
Three taps used per day for eight minutes, with a flow rate of 11.4 litres/minute
Consumption per tap: 8 x 11.4 = 91.2 litres/day
Turning off the tap reduces consumption to seven minutes/tap/day
Installing a water saving faucet reduces flow rate to six litres/minute
1) Turning off taps in your house can save 34 litres per day, or 13 per cent compared to your normal use.
a. Saving per tap: 91.2l -79.8l = 11.4 litres
b. Saving for three taps: 11.4 x 3 = 34.2 litres
c. Per cent saving compared to inaction: (11.4/91.2) x 100 = 13%
2) Installing a water saving faucet in your tap can save up to 95 litres per day and 35 per cent compared to normal use of your tap
C) Car washing – bucket and sponge instead of a hose
Scenario 1:
ONE CAR WASHED PER DAY USING A HOSE WITHOUT A NON-AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF USES 190 LITRES
Scenario 2:
One car washed three days a week using a hose without a non-automatic shut-off uses 190 litres per wash or 95 per cent water.
1) Using a bucket and sponge and 10 litres of water, instead of a hose, can save 180 litres per day
a. Total saving: 190-10 = 180 litres per day; or 95 per cent saving
2) Scenario 2
a. 180 x 3/7 = 77 litres average saving per day.