While the Middle East is rich in oil, the region is increasingly struggling with the lack of a more important natural resource: water. Changing climates, population growth, and desertification—the process by which fertile land becomes desert—have made water scarce. Experts acknowledge that there is no one solution and that multiple ideas and approaches will be needed to ensure that the region has an adequate supply of clean water.
The landscape and climate of the Middle East create unique challenges for the region’s water supply that already have left millions without regular access to clean water. Especially in Syria, Jordan, Iran, and Iraq, drought and human activities, such as overgrazing and deforestation, alter ecosystems and cause deserts to expand. As a result, water sources diminish and less land is available for farming. Even seemingly rich and luxurious Middle Eastern population centers, such as the UAE, struggle with water scarcity. The region’s water table has dropped about one meter per year for the past three decades, and the UAE, which has one of the highest per capita water consumptions in the world, must figure out how to conserve water before its supply disappears.
According to some water experts, desalination plants also are part of the problem. The Water Project states that 70 percent of the world’s desalination plants, which create fresh water from sea water, are in Middle East, and the concentrated salt extracted from the water usually is put back in the oceans. This increases the water’s salinity and negatively affects ocean ecosystems. Additionally, the desalination process requires a significant amount of energy, which raises energy and water prices for consumers. Experts say that the region should focus on promoting water conservation rather than using costly methods to produce more clean water.
Here are some of the innovative ways Middle Eastern countries and businesses are approaching water scarcity issues:
Wastewater reuse
Saudi Arabia reuses about 18 percent of the wastewater it produces each day and is on track to become the third-largest market for water reuse in the world. The country has announced plans to reuse more than 65 percent of its water by 2020 and more than 90 percent by 2040. Billions of dollars in capital have been pledged toward this goal over the next decade.
Agriculture reuses the most water in Saudi Arabia, followed by landscaping, industry, and recreational activities. Along with educational campaigns and policy changes, Saudi Arabia is expanding sewer plants to treat and distribute more reused water. Technological advancements are allowing innovators to install better, more efficient filtration systems that can treat water faster in a variety of industries, including forestry, landscaping, and aquifer recharge.
As Middle Eastern officials move forward on water reuse programs, success will depend on tariffs and economic incentives to make sure they are cost effective and sustainable. Farmers also will need to focus on crops that grow well when irrigated with reused wastewater.
The potential impact of expanded wastewater reuse is significant. Treated wastewater could irrigate and fertilize more than 2 million hectares of farmland in the Middle East and could lead to higher conservation of freshwater for domestic use.
Solar-powered irrigation
Some countries are introducing solar-powered irrigation systems that should positively impact water, energy, and food markets. This technology is especially effective in the Middle East, where the technology is cheaper and the weather typically is sunny.
In Egypt, for example, solar technology has been installed to irrigate 630,000 hectares, and Morocco plans to install more than 100,000 solar pumps by 2020. Solar technology will replace diesel pumps, which pollute and are expensive. Some governments also are reducing subsidies for traditional fuels, thus motivating farmers to switch to renewable energy sources.
Experts note that solar irrigation may create one major downfall. If solar-powered technology allows producers to extract water from the ground at a lower cost, it could result in overuse of groundwater. Installing remote-controlled pumps and smart water meters could somewhat alleviate this issue by allowing governments to monitor and control water use through solar-powered irrigation.
Simple innovation
One simple change in irrigation methods could result in significant decreases in water use. Decades ago, an Israeli man noticed that some trees in an orchard, where a pipe was dripping, were significantly larger and bushier. He then created a drip irrigation system, which became a popular irrigation method beginning in the 1970s. The system provided a steady drop of water to a plant’s roots, thereby saving water that would otherwise be lost through evaporation or waste through flood irrigation. Some estimates say that drip irrigation could save 40 percent of water per acre while significantly increasing yields.
Officials also can save water through monitoring and fixing links in water systems using automated systems, which can detect leaks and quickly repair them before they become bigger, more expensive leaks. Israel already has implemented technology that can fix leaks by injecting putty into the hole—without workers digging a hold into the ground to find the pipe. Technology also can help officials detect hackers who can disrupt water systems and investigate and stop instances of overuse.