• Home
• /
• Opinion

Arrogance of Wasting Water

Most of us living in the UAE are probably not aware of this but in January of this year several initiatives were taken to combat water wastage in the Emirates.

Even fewer of us are freighted with any sense of responsibility when it comes to conservation despite an avalanche of advice designed to underscore our flirtation with danger. And danger it is, for the world is drying up and potable water is now dramatically in short supply.

The irony is that we could save 30 per cent of our daily intake of water or as much as 400 billion litres of water in the UAE alone, which is enough water to launch an aircraft carrier or fill as many as 150,000 Olympic sized pools.

But we do not do it. By some fracture on our sense of logic and the equation between waste and self esteem, we have this psychological barrier that saving habits are not for us. So, we use up 35 litres per person letting the tap run while we shave and brush our teeth. We shower for much longer than necessary. We use up gallons of fresh water keeping our gardens green but won’t invest in boring a well. The grand irony is that if you as an individual could change three daily habits with regard to how you use water you could save 1000 litres a month and imagine a family of five doing that and saving 5000 litres and then the building’s residents, then the neighbourhood, then the emirate, in ever increasing circles of common sense.

There is no argument that we all understand the problem and much of the commentary is stating the obvious. The hard part is coming to terms with our arrogance and the misplaced pride inherent in the fact that we can afford to waste.

On the contrary, it is up to the more privileged section of society to set the standard and one of the simple ways in which they can make a significant contribution is to stop hosing down their cars. Savings: 200 litres. Use a mop and bucket. Added value. You don’t create muddy pools in the vicinity and mess up the place.

So, why don’t people do these things to save themselves? Echo answers why.