Saudi Arabia: Moving Towards Sustainable Use of Water Resources

Transcription

1 Saudi Arabia: Moving Towards Sustainable Use of Water Resources Dr. Abdulbasit Sairafi Deputy For Environment and Sustainable Development Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME)

2 Presentation Water Resources Regulatory and Institutional Arrangement Current consumption rates Latest Approach for achieving sustainable development Role of Engineering Community in Achieving Sustainable Development

3 Consumption Pattern of Resources Today s consumption is undermining the environmental resource base. It is exacerbating inequalities. The dynamics of the consumptionpoverty-inequality-environment nexus are accelerating. The real issue is not consumption itself but its patterns and effects.

4 Consumption Pattern of World Resources Inequalities in consumption are stark. Globally, the 20% of the world s population in the highest-income countries account for 86% of total global Resources consumption

5 Water Resources 70-90% of total water consumption goes to agriculture, followed by industrial, commercial and municipal consumption United Nations Human Development Report notes the following: Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water 2.6 billion people lack basic sanitation

6 Water Resources Cont. Lack of water is closely related to poverty: Almost two in three people lacking access to clean water survive on less than $2 a day, with one in three living on less than $1 a day More than 660 million people without sanitation live on less than $2 a day, and more than 385 million on less than $1 a day. Some 1.8 million children die each year as a result of diarrhea

7 Water resources Cont. 443 million school days are lost each year from water-related illness Access to piped water into the household averages about 85% for the wealthiest 20% of the population, compared with 25% for the poorest 20%. 1.8 billion people who have access to a water source within 1 kilometer, but not in their house or yard, consume around 20 liters per day.

8 Water Resources Cont.. In the United Kingdom the average person uses more than 50 liters of water a day flushing toilets (where average daily water usage is about 150 liters a day. The highest average water use in the world is in the US, at 600 liters day.) Close to half of all people in developing countries suffer at any given time from a health problem caused by water and sanitation deficits

9 Water Resources Cont.. Millions of women spending several hours a day collecting water To these human costs can be added the massive economic waste associated with the water and sanitation deficit. The costs associated with health spending, productivity losses and labour diversions are greatest in some of the poorest countries. Sub- Saharan Africa loses about 5% of GDP, or some $28.4 billion annually, a figure that exceeds total aid flows and debt relief to the region in 2003.

10 Water Resources in Saudi Arabia

11 Surface Water Resources Dams and Their Capacities Purpose Storage Drinking Irrigation No. of No. of Province Storage* No. of dams Drinking Irrigation dams dams Riyadh Makkah Madina Asir Jazan Najran Baha Qassim Tabuk Hail Northern borders Jouf Total

12 Groundwater Resources Aquifer Reserve (MCM) Estimated Annual Recharge (MCM) Water quality (Total Dissolved Solids) ppm Saq 290, ,000 Tabuk 210, ,500 Wajid 220, ,200 Minjur-Dhruma 180, ,100-20,000 Wasia-Biyadh 590, ,000 Umm Er Radhuma 190, ,000-5,000 Dammam 45, ,600-6,000 Khuff & Tuwal 30, ,800-6,000 Aruma 85, ,600-3,000 Jauf & Sakaka 100, ,000 Jilh 115, ,800-5,000 Neogene 130, ,400-4,000 Total 2,185,000 2,762

13 Year Annual Water Production Million Cubic Meter Annual Electricity Production Million Megawatt/Hour

14 Planned Desalination Capacities Project Name Type Water Capacity Design M 3 /day Project Status JEDDAH PHASE III R.O. 240,000 Under construction RAS ALKHAIR MSF & R.O. 1,025,000 Under construction RABGH PHASE III R.O. or MED 20,000 Under study HAQL PHASE III R.O. 9,000 Under study DUBA PHASE IV R.O. 9,000 Under study ALWAJH PHASE IV R.O. 9,000 Under study RABGH PHASE IV R.O. 600,000 Under study ALUQAIR PHASE IV R.O. 10,000 Under study

15 Reclaimed Wastewater Currently sewerage network covers 42% of the Urban area of the Kingdom There are around 70 operational sewage treatment plants Planned to cover 60% area by the end of 2014 The remaining population uses septic tanks and cesspits causing environmental issues such as shallow water table rise and possible pollution to groundwater

16 Reclaimed Wastewater Cont. Approximately 1,460 MCM of wastewater is generated in the country About 671 MCM (46%) is treated Approximately 240 MCM treated wastewater is reused This is a low value and should be increased

17 Actions Taken to Achieve Sustainability in Water Sector Reorganization of the Ministries to have water and electricity in one ministry Establishment of National water company Regulations developed for treated wastewater reuse PME has revised regulations to control pollution of water resources including groundwater resources Emphasis is on outreach programs to involve all stakeholders

18 How can we achieve Sustainability in water sector By involving all stakeholders By raising public awareness By strengthening public private partnership By encouraging voluntary compliance of regulations By enforcing regulations By technology development By giving incentives on different aspects of production and By Rewarding environmentally compliant facilities while penalizing non-complying facilities

19 Actions Taken to Achieve Sustainability in Water Sector Reorganization of the Ministries to have water and electricity in one ministry Establishment of National water company The company id implementing plans to cover all population of the Kingdom by potable water and sewerage network in next decade. Regulations developed for treated wastewater reuse PME has revised regulations to control pollution of water resources including groundwater resources Emphasis is on outreach programs to involve all stakeholders

20 Role of Scientific Community In rationalized distribution and consumption of water resources. Spreading awareness in the community regarding the importance of natural resources in general and water resources in particular and their sustainability Cooperation with scientific community in developing low cost efficient systems for reuse and recycling of water resources.

21 Role of Scientific Community In developing cleaner technologies to minimize and control pollution. In developing technologies to reduce consumption of water resources, increasing system efficiencies

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