Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE) has announced its strategic approach to support the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative.
Launched by UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan back in February, the initiative targets global water scarcity as part of the country’s broader efforts on water. Priority areas include:
- Managing water resources sustainably,
- Raising awareness of the severity of the crisis,
- Bolstering international cooperation
- Driving investment, and
- Accelerating technological innovation.
Outlining how its work aligns with the initiative, EtihadWE shared that in recent years, it has invested over two billion AED in enhancing its transmission and storage capabilities through projects like the Khuraijah Water Distribution Center (WDC), one of the largest in the region with 9 x 20 MIG of storage.
Further, the company, which is the only utility in the UAE with fully Reverse Osmosis (RO) based production, noted that at facilities like NAQA’A, Ghalila, and Zawrah, its RO production capacity totals approximately 190 Million Imperial Gallons per Day (MIGD).
To reduce the amount of water lost before it reaches the customer due to leaks and metering inaccuracies (Non-Revenue Water (NRW)), EtihadWE is also implementing a comprehensive strategy involving network rehabilitation, district metering establishment, and advanced acoustic inspection using smart ball technology and data loggers.
This approach is supported by awareness campaigns and the finalisation of a smart metering strategy.
Further, it shared that the water Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) focuses on reducing pumping costs and electricity usage, contributing to the reduction of overall water losses.
SCADA is a system utilised for remote control and monitoring of industrial processes.
EtihadWE’s efforts also include community engagement through programs like ‘Lel Khair Norashid’ in Water, which highlights water conservation and sustainable usage among the populace.
Yousif Ahmad Al Ali, CEO of EtihadWE, said: “Innovation underpins our roadmap to combat water scarcity. By leveraging new technologies and our unique RO capabilities, we are taking significant steps to enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of our operations.”
Adding: “Through our initiatives, we are not only improving water reliability and security but also reinforcing the UAE’s leadership in sustainable water management. Our work aligns with the national vision and the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for all.”