Groundwater is a separate issue to desalination

Readers discuss the cause of groundwater running out. Other topics: Sadiq Khan, Muslim social media, drug guidelines and the 70-year-old mother.

Readers discuss the real reasons why groundwater is predicted to run out. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

With regard to your news article, Running dry: 'lack of awareness' risks Abu Dhabi water reserves (May 12), some people are confusing this issue with the use of desalinated water.

I agree that water conservation is immensely important. However, Abu Dhabi mainly relies on desalination, and thus tap water is desalinated water, not groundwater.

I would not worry about the oceans drying up, but more so about the fuel that’s used to run these desalination plants.

Also, irrigation water used for landscaping is mainly treated sewage water. Using drinking water for irrigation in a desert city would be crazy.

Mohsin Akil, Dubai

You can put all the conservation elements you want into place but every single tourist who comes and stays in a hotel here has at least one shower a day – with fresh water. The desert wasn’t made to support such large numbers of people.

Alexis Martin, Dubai

I encourage everyone interested in this to read about Abu Dhabi’s Estidama system. It’s been around since 2010 and it’s essentially like the United States’ LEED system, but more stringent and customised to the UAE’s climate.

Every new development, building, community and villa needs to have water conservation elements in place before it gets government approval.

In terms of golf courses, I believe the majority in Abu Dhabi at least have been using treated sewage water since 2013.

Laila Al Hassan, Abu Dhabi

‘Muslim’ taglines come at a cost

After reading Faisal Al Yafai's opinion piece (Calling Sadiq Khan a Muslim mayor is a dangerous myth, May 10), it seems to me that most of the media in this case are guilty of producing a tagline – Muslim Mayor of London – because it sells newspapers.

It’s simply commerce without the awareness of the baggage they are dumping on the local and national communities.

There is a price to be paid here beyond the profits earned by the newspapers involved.

Name withheld by request

Stun the world with kindness

My thoughts, after reading Muslims must work to change the world's perception of Islam, says Saudi princess (May 12), are that anyone can write anything – even a computer bot could generate positive posts about Islam – but actions are much more meaningful.

We should all help others and help the world. Let us go out and stun the world with selfless acts of kindness.

Jeffrey Martin, Abu Dhabi

Guidelines will help fight drugs

After reading your editorial, Drug abuse is more than a social issue (May 12), one of the key changes to the problem should be to stop handling it like a taboo.

More information should be communicated to parents about how to look for signs of drug abuse by their children. Teachers also need to be given guidelines to detect suspected drug abuse, so they can inform the child’s parents.

Parents are often scared to take their children for a blood test to find out if they are abusing drugs. Overall, it should be a more open campaign, and it should not only be done in schools but also in clinics.

Kristina Margit, Dubai

A right to bear a child, even at 70

With regard to your editorial, Is it right to be a mother at 70? (May 12), my view is why not?

It is a right of every couple to be a parent at any age. Being a parent is a blessing, and if you are capable of fulfilling that blessing, others have no right to object.

This couple prayed and waited for 45 years and finally it happened. We should wish them all the best, not look for controversies.

Julie Bir, Dubai

I think it’s selfish. Yes, their dreams of having a family have come true but not long from now, this child will be left without a mother and father.

Patricia Cooksey, Al Ain