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Abu Dhabi: Multiplying the yield of an oasis

Posted by: Maven on September 2, 2010 at 8:48 am

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates and it’s second largest city, has invested heavily in desalination plants along the Persian Gulf to meet the water demands of its 1.2 million residents, which puts them in a rather precarious position, according to this article in the New York Times:

” … Abu Dhabi may be a desert country, but its daily water consumption per head is higher than that in most places in the world, at about 650 liters, or 170 gallons. In the United States, for example, daily consumption is 300 liters per person, and in many European countries, it is less than half that. Desalinated water is used for golf courses, agriculture and car washes. As much as half is used to water public spaces.

But all this conspicuous consumption is based on a shaky foundation: If something — an attack, a natural disaster or a major oil spill in the Gulf — should put the desalination plants out of operation, the emirate’s reserves, now stored in above-ground water tanks, would be exhausted within 48 hours. “That would be a disaster,” said Mohamed Dawoud of the water resources department at the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency, acknowledging the emirate’s weak spot. … “

Read the full text of this article from the New York Times by clicking here.

September 2, 2010 · Filed Under International Water Issues

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