'Going down the drain': World needs rethink of how we use water, expert says

Climate security expert says everyone can play a role in conserving precious supplies

Climate change means reuse and recycling of water will be crucial in the Middle East and North Africa, experts say. AFP

A climate expert who works for the Arab Water Council has called for a radical rethink of how we use water.

Dr Martina Jaskolski, also a climate security consultant with the United Nations, said perfectly good water was being thrown “down the drain”.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Arab Water Convention in Dubai on Tuesday, Dr Jaskolski said the practice was not sustainable and more water needed to be reused as climate change, surging populations and depletion of freshwater has put huge pressure on supplies in the region.

“There is no extra water coming,” said Dr Jaskolski. “The population is growing. Economies are growing and there isn’t any more water.

“Climate change is making it worse: making droughts worse and disrupting rainfall patterns. We have to reuse what we have.”

Dried up fields in eastern Iraq. The Middle East is facing huge pressure on water supplies. AFP

Reused or recycled water is known in technical parlance as “non-conventional water resources” and refers mainly to treated waste water and desalination — basically anything that doesn’t come from groundwater or rivers.

The issue was in sharp focus at the two-day event that attracted ministers including UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Al Mazrouei, officials and experts from more than 20 countries to address water scarcity.

Mena region worst affected by water scarcity

The statistics are clear. According to the UN, the Middle East and North Africa are among the most water-scarce regions in the world. Out of the 17 most water-stressed countries in the world, 11 are in the region. Conflict in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Sudan, urbanisation, population growth, poor management, deficient infrastructure, lack of finance and bad governance exacerbate the problem.

The UN has also reported that very low proportions of waste water are recycled or reused in the region. Many countries in the Gulf, for example, have looked to desalination plants to solve the water question but these can be costly and come with a large carbon footprint. Research is pouring into solar desalination but, according to Dr Jaskolski, this is “not the golden solution yet”.

“From my perspective I can see a lot of sustainability issues with desalination. Maybe in five or 10 years that will look different but they are very energy intensive. So it has to be a combination,” she said, referring to using desalination and reuse of existing supplies.

“We are throwing really good water down the drain. It goes into a sewer and it doesn't have to. Even in the household, the water from your shower or kitchen isn’t all that dirty, so why is it going in the sewer?”

This water could be used to irrigate crops or in gardens, she said, adding that in some countries there are cultural considerations regarding the reuse of waste that need to be overcome.

Water sector to be hit hard by climate change

Recycling water is also an important part of the climate change conversation. Known as “adaptation”, reuse is one of the ways people can “adapt” or deal with aspects of climate change that can no longer be prevented. Using heat-tolerant crops is another.

Adaptation figured centrally at the UN climate talks, Cop27, in Egypt last November. Cop28 takes place in Dubai this year and adaptation is expected to again feature prominently.

“Climate change is really going to be felt in the water sector,” said Dr Jaskolski. “Water sources will decrease. There will be more drought, more heat and more evaporation meaning less water. So developing non-conventional water resources is clearly an adaptation strategy to the climate change impacts we are expecting in the region.”

What can be done to boost the amount of water we all recycle?

Governments can establish robust rules and encourage research, said Dr Jaskolksi. More education is also vital but she said solutions can be as simple as installing a device that separates run-off tap water in your home, for example, into a separate tank. This could then be used to irrigate a garden.

Every house can look into water consumption,” she said. “There is a big focus on [reuse] in the region … because it is clear this is the future. But it has to happen a lot more.”

Cop27 in Egypt - in pictures

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A presentation at the American University in Cairo Pavilion. Reuters

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Akihiro Nishimura, minister of the environment of Japan, reviews notes with others at the COP27. AP

US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, right, and Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate greet each other at the COP27 UN Climate Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. AP

Brazilian president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva poses for a group photograph with representatives of his country's indigenous people. AFP

People attend the COP27 UN Climate Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh. EPA

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Climate activists demonstrate in the designated protest zone. AP

Sheikh Abdullah, Director General of Environment at the Public Authority of Kuwait, speaks at Cop27. AFP

Visitors at the Sharm El Sheikh International Convention Centre. AFP

A display outside the convention centre. AFP

A fountain in the green zone at the International Convention Centre at sunset. AFP

Mohamed bin Daina, right, Bahrain's Special Envoy for Climate Affairs and Chief Executive at the Supreme Council for Environment, at the conference. AFP

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From left, Fahad Al Maskari of the Khalifa University, Frank Hartmann, Ghaleb Al Breiki of the UAE University, and Mouna Maroun of the University of Haifa, sign an agreement at Cop27. AFP

John Kerry, US special presidential envoy for climate, at Cop27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. AP Photo

Australian climate activists offer bananas to climate summit participants. AFP

Climate activist Sabrina Elba. AP Photo

Egyptian security forces stand guard during the protest. AFP

US President Joe Biden. AFP

Mr Biden with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi. AP

A Cop27 sign in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, provides the backdrop for this woman's selfie. Reuters

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi speaks to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the climate summit. AFP

A water wonderland greets this child at an acquarium in the Cop27 Green Zone. Reuters

Mr El Sisi, second left, takes part in a cycling marathon on the sidelines of Cop27. EPA

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Frankie the dinosaur. Reuters

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Reuters

Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan, CEO of the Alliances for Global Sustainability; Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment and Minister of State for Food Security; and Hatem Dowidar, group CEO at e&. AFP

Sameh Shoukry, Cop27 president, centre left, poses for photos in the youth pavilion. AP

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Participants visit the Ukrainian pavillon. AFP

Mr Kerry speaks during a session on accelerating the clean energy transition in developing countries. AP

Youth climate activists. Pictured, from the left, Eric Njuguna of Kenya, Nicole Becker of Argentina, Vanessa Nakate of Uganda, Sophia Kianni from Iran, and Mitzi Jonelle Tan of the Philippines. AP

Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, right, chairman of the Islamic Development Bank Group, poses for a photo with Mohamed Hadi Al Hussaini, the UAE's Minister of State for Financial Affairs. AFP

Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund. Bloomberg

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United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres. AP Photo

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