The obstacles that the Gulf region faces when it comes to clean water are imminent. According to various sources, Arab countries receive approximately 2 percent of the world's rainfall and have a mere 0.4 percent of the world's recoverable water resources, with less than 150 billion cubic meters of total water resources allocated to the 22 Arab states. By 2030, the population in Arab countries is expected to more than double. According to estimates, the population of Saudi Arabia has increased from 3.8 to 4 percent per year. As a result of this escalation, demand for water in Saudi Arabia has risen from 1 million to about 5 million cubic meters per day over the last 25 years. By 2030, the country is projected to consume 12 million cubic meters a day. With the country's booming population, the potential for water shortage is ever increasing. At the Water, Electricity and Power Generation Conference & Exhibition 2009 (WE Power 2009) being held in Dhahran, Dow Water and Process Solutions, a business unit within the Dow Chemical Company, dedicated to providing innovative, technology based solutions to a broad spectrum of water issues, addressed the Kingdom's pressing topic of water desalination Dr. Andreas Gorenflo, global large project manager, desalination, Dow Water and Process Solutions, elaborated on these challenges in a WE Power 2009 conference panel discussion entitled, “Strategies for the Future Development of Desalination in the Kingdom.” Gorenflo said: “At Dow Water and Process Solutions, we realize that Saudi Arabia faces dry conditions, a rise in population and a limited availability of water sources. This is why desalination plays a vital role here in Saudi Arabia, more than anywhere else in the world.” Noting the huge investment in the region in water and wastewater reuse facilities to supply the development needs and anticipate the needs of its population in the face of water scarcity, Gorenflo said “our strong presence in the Middle East and the Gulf and our innovative technology is helping meet the country's needs by providing millions of people with a sustainable source of fresh water.” __
