JEDDAH – Ahead of the Saudi Water & Power Forum (SWPF) 10th edition that will be held on Jan. 12-14, 2015 at Al Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh, the president of SWPF and an industry expert at that, issued warning on rising dependence on central water desalination plants and at the same time called for multiple sources of local water production near consumption centers. Dr. Adil Bushnak, Chairman of Bushnak Group, and a global water authority in the field of water desalination and water reuse, has warned of the growing reliance on central desalination plants to provide drinking water in Saudi Arabia. He suggested as an alternative opting to move from central to decentralized solutions confirming the necessity to achieve financial sustainability and reliance on renewable energy sources to provide drinking water. According to Bushnak, the Saudi water sector unfortunately continues to build larger central plants which are based on import. “It is illogical to pump water hundreds of kilometers. This requires costly and large amounts of energy consumed by mega desalination plants. Yet they are continually exposed to risks or crashes, which will end up with a shortage of water in the Kingdom,” Bushnak averred. Dr. Bushnak added that it is better to build small plants with lower costs within cities and close to residential areas. In addition to dealing with the private sector to buy local fresh water, which costs the state less to produce and pump water. It also helps to empower young Saudis to own and manage these plants to localize the water industry. Bushnak stressed the importance of adopting and implementing comprehensive, integrated, and strategic plans for the sustainability of water, food and energy to move forward. Government priorities should be to manage demand and ensure local financial and operational sustainability involving diverse segments of society, through non-traditional solutions. At present there is poor water security lack of strategic plans. Bushnak lauded the Ministry of Water and the National Water Company's efforts to set up several plants near the capital Riyadh for groundwater desalination. He has emphasized the need to use non-renewable groundwater as a source of drinking water to be sufficient for hundreds of years rather than continuing to drain it in few decades in traditional agriculture. Also emphasized the need to store drinking water underground sufficient for six months not six days close to all cities. These issues are being discussed by experts from the Ministry of Water & Electricity, Aqualia and Schneider Electric during Session 6 at the Saudi Water & Power Forum. Bushnak has urged the ministry to use the valleys as storages to replace traditional surface dams with groundwater dams, to reduce rainwater evaporation and increase rain harvesting. To achieve food security, Bushnak has called for spreading the use of greenhouse and vertical agricultural homes within cities. This will train and empower the Saudi youth to use renewable water sources, and produce the Kingdom's need for food. Bushnak has also recommended reviving water endowments in cities and provinces to achieve the financial and administrative sustainability for water provision under all circumstances. He suggested that the Ministry of Water, in cooperation with the National Water Company, aims to establish water endowments in each region, under the presidency of Emir from the region, with the participation of the community leaders. With regard to leakages and wasting water, the president of Saudi Water Power Forum (SWPF) believes that desalinated water leakage in some districts and especially Jeddah is up to 50% or more. The ratio may vary from one city to another, which in turn causes groundwater to rise and the loss of sewage treated water, which must be re-used for industrial and agricultural purposes to contribute in achieving food security. Bushnak was surprised that despite the hard work on expanding networking projects, lots of poor people who are not connected to the water network (and due to the shortage of services) pay double the cost of desalinated water and disposal of sewage compared to the rich. He expects active participation of the Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council in the forthcoming Saudi Water Power Forum to review what has been achieved in electricity connection. The current working of the Secretariat is to set up a comprehensive strategy of water in Gulf states. Bushnak has explained that the Gulf states electrical connection would save all Gulf countries millions of riyals and will assist with helping to export renewable energy. Bushnak underscored the objectives of the upcoming Forum held in Riyadh the tenth consecutive year, confirming continuity of its successes achieved by attracting all government parties, officials, experts and internationals. “With an increase in the number of company involvement doubling, this edition promises to deliver and ensure the continual development and sustainability of the water and power sectors with Saudi Arabia.” — SG
