We all know how to save water and that we should really save water. But at the same time, we do not really take water consumption seriously because we don’t feel the pinch.
Water bills are sort of subsidised and the amount of water consumed in Oman is disproportionate to what average citizens pay for it.
Average domestic water consumers rush to utility offices if they get inflated bills, but otherwise they don’t really bother to figure out how uninterrupted water reaches home in an arid region.
According to a World Bank blog of 2015, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is home to six per cent of the world’s population and less than two of the world’s renewable water supply.
It is the world’s driest region with 12 of the world’s most water scarce countries — Algeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Libya, Oman, the Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen.
On average, water availability is only 1,200 cubic metres — six times less than the worldwide average of 7,000 cubic metres.
The blog says with population growth and increased demand, water availability per capita in MENA is expected to be halved by 2050.
According to the Public Authority for Water and Electricity (PAEW), 85 per cent of tap water comes from sea, which is treated by desalination plants. Most people in Oman save water to cut on their monthly bills but do they save water for the future?
“For years, people have been told the next World War will be fought over water, but I am not sure how many of us really take those words seriously,” said Muttasim, an elderly citizen over a casual conversation on the issue.
“The problem is people won’t take such issues to themselves unless they are personally affected. A few years ago, I was in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu for a few months and I found people there had a really hard time over water,” he said.
Muttasim said still he found people there were not serious about water conservation as one would often come across pipe bursts that let water go waste for hours.
Even in Muscat, average residents and citizens do not bother to fix their faulty taps unless the problem gets reflected through inflated water bills. It is important that an average water consumer in Oman is reminded of some hard facts.
The blog also added that climate change is expected to bring around 20 per cent reduction in rainfall and higher rates of evaporation that will make water scarcer.
The region’s population growth coupled with projected climate change will make the water situation even more pressing.
Such reports should be of importance only to policy planners, but also for households. “Water conservation begins and ends at home. Every small thing we do at home — washing, cleaning, flushing, gardening, etc — will go a long way in helping save water,” said Mussalam, a public sector employee in one of the utilities company.
“I think we have enough awareness among children these days, but it’s the parents who do not take the issue easily because there is no impact on their wallets. You may afford to pay water bills, but that is not the point. Already water is a big social, political and economic problem in many parts of the world,” he said.
PAEW’s guidelines say if you’re taking a shower, washing hands, hair or shaving, do not forget to turn off the tap while doing so. “Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth can save 25 gallons a month.”
Don’t waste water by letting the water run. Wash fruits and vegetables in a pan. At the end of your washing, use the water to water your houseplants. If you have a swimming pool or fountain, make sure they are equipped with recirculation pumps.
Two years ago when there were water cuts in Muscat due to technical disruptions, people got serious about its conservation, but we should not just not wait for a crisis, said a source at PAEW.
Vinod Nair
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