Fifth Arab Water Conference Reviews Ways of Reusing Water
Participants in the scientific sessions of the Fifth Arab Water Conference, held in Riyadh on November 22-23, 2023, discussed plans and strategies to reuse wastewater. This aims to enable the region to face water challenges.
Addressing Water Scarcity in the Arab Region
Water experts, participating in a dialogue session entitled ” the value of water and circular economy” stressed that water scarcity is a global challenge. Furthermore, they added that this challenge stems from several factors including occupation, conflicts, pollution and climate change. This aligns with the conference’s theme of sustainable development in the Arab region.
During Fifth Arab Water Conference, the participants also emphasized the growing need for alternative water resources, like wastewater in light of growing demand on water.
Advancements in Sustainable Water Management
Several Arab countries have made progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6. This includes improving water quality and reducing untreated sewage.
Innovative Financing for Water Projects
Another session, “Innovative and Sustainable Financing Methods for Water Projects in the Middle East: challenges and opportunities,” stressed the need for investment in water infrastructure to achieve water security.
Experts noted the Arab region is the most vulnerable to climate change and water scarcity. Therefore, they emphasized the importance of using non-traditional water resources to tackle the water scarcity problem. The non-traditional water resources include waste water, desalinated water and ground water.
United Nations Report on Water Scarcity
According to a 2023 United Nations report, nearly 390 million people in the Arab region live in water-scarce countries. Moreover, access to basic drinking water remains a challenge for about 50 million people.
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