Monitoring water usage could improve water sustainability in the region   DUBAI – With the UAE having one of the highest water consumption rates in the world, water saving strategies should be a high priority for companies and individuals this summer, experts say. Recent statistics showed that the number of water consumers in the country rose by over 36,000 to 666,430 last year. Water consumption rose significantly over the past 12 months, highlighting a need for consumers and businesses to understand the importance of reducing their usage, said Levent Taskin, President of engineering firm Danfoss. Over 117,300 million imperial gallons of water have been consumed in the UAE over the past year, which is a growth of 3,081 million imperial gallons of both groundwater and desalinated water, according to statistics from Dewa. “In recent decades, the rate at which demand for water has grown has outstripped population growth by more than double, making this a serious subject. The mutual dependence of water and energy and the increasing global demand for each has an enormous impact on economic growth, environmental sustainability and our future,” Taskin said. But Taskin said he is seeing a positive trend continuing this year that shows a “keen interest and dedication for water sustainability in countries around the world, including the UAE.” There is a need to “rationalize the consumption of water” through raising awareness and changing consumer habits, said Fady Juez, manager of water management solutions provider, Metito. “We are all so busy in our daily lives that we hardly stop and think how our work, our attitudes and actions affect our surrounding environment and a critical resource such as water,” Juez said. “It’s the only truly sustainable solution for this region,” he added. Danfoss’ Taskin said: “If businesses and residents make conscious efforts and small changes to their consumption habits, water sustainability in the UAE would increase dramatically. Adjustments to individual routines such as using taps for a shorter period of time will reduce wastage and help protect this finite resource for future generations.” He said that simple techniques, such as taking shorter showers, minimizing AC usage where possible, turning taps off and doing less laundry, can all result in less water wastage throughout the season. DAJ/Expat 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