Qatar stresses on discreet usage, production of water

Qatar's policy regarding water supply provides for a reserve production capacity of at least 10% to ensure that the increasing demand for water in the coming years is covered, in addition to following international best practices in operations and the optimal use of water.
There are also plans to treat and recycle shallow groundwater and industrial wastewater to benefit from it in the fields of agriculture and irrigation.
These observations were made by HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali al-Thani during his speech at the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York City, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.
HE the Minister stressed Qatar's firm position regarding water, and its proactive plans to ensure the supply of water in the long run.
In his speech, HE the Minister reviewed the achievements of Qatar in the field of water desalination, stressing that it follows the best and modern technological methods in desalination plants. The country produces 35% of the desalinated water using reverse osmosis technology, which contributes significantly to improving energy efficiency. The total production of desalination plants amounted to 538mn gallons per day, while the total demand for water has reached 400mn gallons per day.
Regarding water recycling, HE Sheikh Dr Faleh said Qatar follows the best international technological methods in the triple treatment of wastewater, as 80% of the treated water is used in various fields such as irrigation, agriculture, cooling, etc. There are also plans to treat and recycle shallow groundwater and industrial wastewater to benefit from it in agriculture and irrigation (in addition to treated water), pointing out that Qatar seeks to treat 50% of such water by 2027.
He referred to what Qatar has done by aligning the goals and objectives of the 2030 sustainable development plan with the goals of the country's national development strategy, in order to achieve most of the indicators of the sixth goal of the sustainable development goals, related to ensuring access to clean water and sanitation services for all as well as ensuring their sustainable management, the QNA report says.
During his speech, HE the Minister said Qatar is currently carrying out a number of projects and research to find more solutions to meet water-related challenges, including the phenomenon of fish deaths due to the high salinity of seawater, as a result of the disposal of desalination brine from plants in the sea. He stressed the importance of this environmental issue for the countries bordering the Gulf, which depend to a large extent on water desalination.
Regarding the catastrophic effects of desertification, HE Sheikh Dr Faleh drew attention to the launch, by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, of an initiative to establish the Global Dryland Alliance, which is one of the international mechanisms aimed at confronting climate change and achieving food security. He pointed out that Qatar will host the International Horticultural Expo 2023 under the slogan, 'Green Desert, Better Environment', with the participation of many countries to review the most important mechanisms and technologies that contribute to combating desertification and its effects.
He noted Qatar's fulfillment of its obligations as an active partner in the international community, through its active membership in the Group of Friends of Water, and its accession to the international steering committee of the first high-level international conference on the international decade for action for sustainable development held in Tajikistan in 2018.
HE the Minister noted that the UN Water Conference "is taking place at a watershed stage, marked by loud voices calling for saving the environment, especially since water is at the core of the challenges the world is facing in the current period, including those related to droughts, food crises, the climate crisis, and others".
He affirmed Qatar's aspiration for this conference to be able to unite international efforts and agree on taking decisive decisions, which will contribute to ending the suffering of the world with regard to water.
At the end of his speech, HE the Minister reaffirmed solidarity with all efforts that aspire to unify the actions of countries in the field of water, expressing his optimism about the success of the meeting in mobilising the political will to face global water challenges in a comprehensive and action-based manner. (QNA)