SOUTH KOREA // A comprehensive study of water use in Abu Dhabi, which could inform decisions about how to best allocate resources, is to be completed by the end of the year, said an official.
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) commissioned UAE University, in collaboration with the University of Leeds in Britain, to conduct the study of the emirate’s water resources and how best to use them.
Abu Dhabi, like the rest of the UAE, has few freshwater resources. It also has high per capita use of desalinated water, which is costly to produce and has several negative effects on the environment.
The study would approach the issue by managing demand, rather than focusing solely on expanding supply through the use of desalination, which had been the predominant approach, said Dr Mohammed Al Madfaei, the EAD’s executive director of integrated environmental policy and planning.
“The water budget will be looking at the three types of water – desalinated water, treated water and groundwater. So we are looking for the right mix and the right amounts to give to the different sectors for them to be sustaining their water usage,” he said.
Dr Al Madfaei is among the UAE delegates at the World Water Forum, a five-day conference and exhibition in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, South Korea.
He presented the concept of a water budget at the event.
Abu Dhabi produces a billion cubic metres of desalinated water a year for residential and business use. It also treats 285 million cubic metres of effluent a year, and uses the treated effluent to irrigate public parks and city landscaping.
About 45 per cent of recycled water is unused and discharged at sea, although the Government wants to ensure the full use of recycled water by 2018.
Agriculture in the emirate relies mainly on groundwater, but unrationed use in the past has caused damages to aquifers and urgent changes are required.
In the future, treated effluent would be used to support farming, said Dr Al Madfaei.
EAD and its partners have carried out pilot projects to test the use of recycled water in agriculture.
The Government has put forward plans to build a 35-kilometre pipeline carrying recycled water to Al Samha near Abu Dhabi’s border with Dubai.
“When it comes to the treated water the priority goes to the agriculture sector,” said Dr Al Madfaei, explaining that food security was a key consideration for the country.
A comprehensive view of Abu Dhabi’s water budget is expected to emerge at the end of the year or early next year.
Dr Mohammed Dawoud, water resources manager at EAD, said there was a need to look at water resources strategically.
“The problem now is that there are some people who do not understand the whole water budget as one unit. Everyone is dealing with one angle of the whole issue,” he said.
“Our aim is to produce an integrated programme – including all available resources – in planning their allocation to individual sectors and how they could be managed efficiently.”
The study will also look at the economic impact of allocating water to various areas of demand.
Besides agriculture, district cooling plants and industrial establishments also need water to operate. However, their need for water is small compared with the agricultural sector, according to Dr Dawoud.
For example, Abu Dhabi’s district cooling industry “only needs about 10 million gallons a day”, he said.
Dr Al Madfaei said decisions on the water budget would be made in consultation with other Government departments such as the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, the Regulation and Supervision Bureau, the municipalities and the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority.
“We will be discussing with them the concept, we will be putting the modelling and what can be done. Once that is ready, we will be communicating it to everybody,” he said.
The approach will also need to be reviewed by the Executive Council.
“We need to go to the Government and see if they like that approach,” said Dr Al Madfaei.
“But I hope that it will be an innovative approach that will be driving efficiency and innovation when it comes to water reduction.”
vtodorova@thenational.ae
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
ATP WORLD No 1
2004 Roger Federer
2005 Roger Federer
2006 Roger Federer
2007 Roger Federer
2008 Rafael Nadal
2009 Roger Federer
2010 Rafael Nadal
2011 Novak Djokovic
2012 Novak Djokovic
2013 Rafael Nadal
2014 Novak Djokovic
2015 Novak Djokovic
2016 Andy Murray
2017 Rafael Nadal
2018 Novak Djokovic
2019 Rafael Nadal
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
RESULT
Arsenal 2
Sokratis Papastathopoulos 45 4'
Eddie Ntkeiah 51'
Portsmouth 0
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
What is a calorie?
A food calorie, or kilocalorie, is a measure of nutritional energy generated from what is consumed.
One calorie, is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C.
A kilocalorie represents a 1,000 true calories of energy.
Energy density figures are often quoted as calories per serving, with one gram of fat in food containing nine calories, and a gram of protein or carbohydrate providing about four.
Alcohol contains about seven calories a gram.
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Gordon Corera, Harper Collins
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
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Brief scoreline:
Toss: South Africa, elected to bowl first
England (311-8): Stokes 89, Morgan 57, Roy 54, Root 51; Ngidi 3-66
South Africa (207): De Kock 68, Van der Dussen 50; Archer 3-27, Stokes 2-12
