Category Archives: Water Management

Aquaculture Using Desalination Brine: Transforming a Waste Stream into Sustainable Food Production

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The rapid expansion of desalination capacity in arid and semi‑arid regions has generated an urgent need to find sustainable uses for the concentrated brine by‑product produced by seawater and brackish water desalination plants. Traditionally, brine has been treated as a waste stream, often discharged into the sea or terrestrial environments with little or no value recovery. Because most desalination technologies, especially reverse osmosis, produce brine with salinities significantly higher than natural seawater, improper disposal of this stream can lead to negative environmental impacts, including increased salinity in coastal zones, benthic ecosystem disruption, and changes in water column chemistry. However, over … Continue reading →

Water Pollution Worries in the Developing World

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Water pollution has become a major concern worldwide, especially in developing countries where around 3.2 million children die each year as a result of unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation. Access to adequate wastewater treatment facilities in the developing countries is very limited. For example, only 209 of India’s 3,119 towns and cities—less than one in ten—have even partial sewage systems and treatment facilities. As a result water bodies in developing nations are often used as open sewers for human waste products and garbage, which is evident at the Ganges River in India which receives over 1.3 billion liters of domestic waste, … Continue reading →

Integration of Renewable Energy and Agriculture for Sustainable Water–Food Systems

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The increasing pressure on water, energy, and food systems in arid and semi-arid regions has accelerated the search for integrated solutions capable of addressing these interconnected challenges. In the MENA region, where water scarcity is structural and climate change is intensifying hydrological variability, the convergence of renewable energy and agriculture has emerged as a strategic pathway toward sustainability. In particular, the coupling of renewable energy technologies with brackish water desalination offers a promising approach to support high-value crop production while minimizing environmental impacts and enhancing resource efficiency. This integrated paradigm aligns with the water–energy–food nexus framework, emphasizing synergies, co-benefits, and … Continue reading →

World Water Day 2026: Celebrate Water and its Richness for Humanity

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World Water Day is celebrated and recognised on the 22rd March each year. This year is no different. The United Nations chose to connect and celebrate World Water Day 2026 in the context of equality, namely gender equality with a focus on women. Let us manage water with equality. We appreciate that where there is water, plants grow, communities can grow, animals and humans can survive and prosper. But the question is whether there is equality where there is water. A great thought to ponder from many different perspectives. A simple yet critical question is multifaceted. Is there water? Is … Continue reading →

When Water Becomes a Strategic Weapon – Desalination Dependency, Geopolitics and Future of Water Security in the MENA

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Abstract Water scarcity is increasingly recognized as one of the most critical systemic risks of the 21st century. Nowhere is this challenge more evident than in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the most water-stressed region in the world. In response to structural freshwater scarcity, several Gulf countries have developed extensive desalination infrastructures that now supply the majority of their drinking water. While desalination has enabled rapid urban and economic development in extremely arid environments, it has also introduced new strategic vulnerabilities by linking water security to energy infrastructure, maritime transport routes and geopolitical stability. This article analyzes the … Continue reading →

Bottled Water vs Tap Water: Environmental, Economic and Health Implications

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Abstract Global bottled water consumption has increased significantly over the last two decades, exceeding 350 billion liters annually. Bottled water is often perceived as safer and of higher quality than municipal tap water. However, recent scientific research challenges this perception. Studies have revealed the widespread presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in bottled water, while life-cycle analyses demonstrate that bottled water production generates substantially higher carbon emissions compared with tap water distribution systems. This study provides a comprehensive comparison of bottled water and tap water in terms of water quality, environmental impact, and economic cost. The analysis suggests that under properly … Continue reading →

Economics of Desalination and Local Integration: Comparative Analysis of CAPEX, OPEX, and Industrial Dynamics in Water-Scarce Regions

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Seawater desalination has established itself as a cornerstone of water security in arid and semi-arid regions. Population growth, rapid urbanization, industrialization, and climate variability have significantly increased pressure on conventional water resources, making the use of non-conventional sources essential. Globally, installed desalination capacity has grown steadily over the past two decades, with tens of thousands of units in operation and daily production exceeding 100 million m³/day [1,2]. This expansion is particularly pronounced in the MENA region, which accounts for a majority of global capacity due to its structural water deficit.   Technological advances have profoundly changed the economics of the … Continue reading →

Water Management in the United Arab Emirates: Key Statistics

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The United Arab Emirates is among the top water-scarce countries in the world. However, the country has one of the world’s highest per capita water consumption of 550 liters per day. The country is experiencing a rapid increase in population which has in turn resulted in huge demand for water. In 2021, the total water consumption in UAE was 1754.5 million m3 (MCM) with the residential sector accounting for 981.4 MCM and the commercial sector 378.5 MCM. Water consumption in UAE is primarily divided among three sectors: Private households Agriculture Industries Household Sector This sector accounts for about 18% of … Continue reading →

Water Conservation in Islamic Teachings

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Water occupies a pivotal role in Islam, and is recognized by Muslims as a blessing that “gives and sustains life, and purifies humankind and the earth”. The Arabic word for water, ma’a, is referenced exactly 63 times throughout the Holy Qur’an and is a recurring topic in many of the sayings of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him). Water is not only praised for its life providing and sustaining properties, but it is essential in the daily life of a Muslim. A follower is required to complete ablution prior to the performance of the prayer, five times a day. … Continue reading →

Beyond Reverse Osmosis: How Hybrid MED+RO Systems and Green Energy are Securing Algeria’s Water Future

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Abstract Algeria’s pure reverse osmosis (RO) desalination systems face serious vulnerabilities: increasing turbidity events and frequent membrane replacements threaten operational stability, resulting in 1,680 hours of downtime annually across active plants. As the Mediterranean warms 20% faster than the global average, water security requires urgent innovation. This article proposes a hybrid MED+RO technology (1/3 thermal + 2/3 membrane) to ensure operational resilience. If RO shuts down, MED continues independently at 33% capacity, guaranteeing minimum supply. Although hybrid systems require a 28% higher capital investment, break-even is reached in year 16 due to reduced membrane replacement costs. Optimized pre-treatment with ultrafiltration … Continue reading →

Sustainable Management of Desalination Brine: Best Practices, Pilot Studies, and Innovations

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The management of brine generated by desalination plants has become one of the key determinants of the environmental and economic sustainability of this technology, which is now strategic for global water security. The production of desalinated water has increased significantly over the past two decades, particularly in arid regions of the Middle East, North Africa, Australia, and certain coastal areas of Europe and North America. This growth has inevitably been accompanied by a proportional increase in brine volumes. Globally, desalination facilities are estimated to produce more than 140 million cubic meters of brine per day, exceeding the volume of freshwater … Continue reading →

Data Centers, AI and the Water–Energy Nexus: Toward Sustainable Digital Infrastructure in the MENA Region

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Abstract The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and hyperscale data centers is reshaping global electricity demand while intensifying water dependency. This article analyzes the structural energy transition associated with AI-driven computational scaling, examines the implications for the water–energy nexus, and discusses technological and governance pathways for sustainable digital infrastructure. Particular attention is given to water-stressed regions such as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where digital expansion must align with hydric constraints and renewable energy strategies. Digital Acceleration and Structural Energy Transition The global digital ecosystem is undergoing an unprecedented transformation driven by artificial intelligence, hyperscale cloud computing, … Continue reading →