The Department of Energy of Abu Dhabi (DoE) has announced a new Recycled Water Policy to ensure the best use of reclaimed water in the emirate and preserve water resources, including drinking and groundwater, into the future, reports Middle East Utilities.
The new policy was presented at a DoE workshop attended by all stakeholders, including representatives from different authorities in charge of urban planning, agriculture, and the environment, and public companies in charge of power, water and sewerage services.
The DoE recognises water as a strategic resource, and the need for an integrated policy to manage all water resources in the emirate, including recycled water. The new policy will support efforts in this regard, and is aligned with the objectives of the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036. H.E. Mohamed Bin Jarsh Al Falasi, Undersecretary of the Department of Energy in Abu Dhabi, has said ‘We are dedicated to using the latest water recycling technology to make best use of water that would otherwise be wasted - this is a quantum leap in terms of water supply reserves that helps reduce reliance on water desalination and groundwater in Abu Dhabi’.
The new policy promotes the reuse of recycled water for its economic, social and environmental benefits, and will apply to all sector and activities that involve recycled water across Abu Dhabi. Implementation will be in the hands of the DoE, together with the Abu Dhabi Distribution Company, Al Ain Distribution Company, Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company and the independent sewage treatment plants.
The Recycled Water Policy establishes requirements, terms and conditions for the purchase, distribution, supply and storage of reclaimed water, in a manner that is efficient, safe, and economic. It provides frameworks for purchase and supply contracts, and establishes the development of security and safety plans to protect human and environmental health, including water quality monitoring and reporting.
The policy also looks at the future and contemplates exploring new markets for reclaimed water and waste water treatment by-products, and will provide support for continuous improvement of the treatment, use and promotion of reclaimed water as an alternate water resource.
