18% reduction recorded in water consumption: Fewa

A worker drinks water using his hands at a construction site along the Business Bay in Dubai.-Photo Dhes Handumon

 The Federal Electricity and Water Authority (Fewa) has managed to save 53.44 million gallons of water last year.
The 18 per cent reduction in consumption, as compared to that of 2014, followed a nationwide conservation award that saw a stiff competition from housewives, schools and mosques.
Schools set a big example by saving up to 35.34million gallons of water that represented 25 per cent cut as compared to 2014's consumption, according to UAE Minister of Energy Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Al Mazroui.
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"Those were followed by the mosques category, which saved 10.04 million gallons of water or 18 per cent drop in comparison compared to 2014's water consumption."
Housewives came third after saving 8.1million gallons of water that represented nine per cent reduction in consumption compared to 2014's water consumption, he added.
"The Eastern region (B) led the country in rationing with 13.42 million gallons of water saved or 30 per cent drop as compared to 2014's consumption."
However, the Western region (A) managed to save 16.71million gallons of water, but that represented 22 per cent drop in comparison to 2014's water consumption, Al Mazroui, who is also Fewa chairman, pointed out.
"The Ministry of Justice, represented by the courts in the emirates of Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, and Diba Al Hisn in Sharjah saved 584,186 gallons of water whereas the Ministry of Interior in Fujairah saved 188,380 gallons of water."
Mohammed Khalil Al Shamsi, Director of Corporate Communication, Fewa, told Khaleej Times the Emirates Conservation Award is meant to promote conservative consumption of water and electricity, and instill the values of rationing in young generations, he added.
Al Shamsi said participation is open to all nationalities. The list of winners included Emiratis, Arabs and Asians.
"The targeted conservation was 12 per cent, however, some families managed to reduce consumption by up to 60 and even 80 per cent."
Al Mazroui said: "Fewa, in collaboration with strategic partners, has earlier installed 25,000 water-saving gadgets at 64 mosques and 60 schools."
The award
The first edition of the Emirates Conservation Award saw 2,810 residential participants, including 506 Emiratis and 2,304 expatriates, but only 1,124 were qualified.
Al Mazroui said the list of top winners included 18 homemakers - three in each of the six regions involved in the competition
"Winner were presented with Dh300,000, spanning Dh25,000 for the first, Dh15,000 for the second, and Dh10,000 for the third in each region."
Nonetheless, the winner schools were gifted Dh960,000; including Dh75,000 for the first, Dh50,000 for the second, and Dh35,000 for the third in each of the six regions.
"Winner mosques were awarded Dh90,000; Dh15,000 for a single mosque in each of the six regions."
The second edition of the award is to see 'We care for your house' initiative to encourage more consumers to take part in the Award, Al Mazroui disclosed.
"The award is aimed to pick 30 to 50 houses as per water and electricity consumption."
The Fewa has also launched a new initiative 'street lighting' to change the 'HP Sodium' lighting systems into high quality 'Induction Lights', he said.
"The new system will help curb consumption by 50 per cent."
He added that Fewa has also connected a farm with the authority solar-powered network to encourage consumers generate electricity from solar sources.
"More attention is to be given to electricity consumption in the next edition."
Al Mazroui said the level of water and power consumption in the UAE is far beyond international levels.
"Seven to 15kwph is the average consumption of electricity worldwide as compared to 25 to 35kwph here in the AUE."
The same applies to water consumption which amounts to daily 170 to 200 liters per person all over the globe while it hits 500 to 550 litres in the country, he added, urging the public to be more concerned about energy conservation.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com