Communication - Press

New initiative to save water

A SERIES of programmes to raise awareness about water scarcity and the impact of climate change are being held in Bahrain until next year.

In the lead up to the ‘Water in the MENA Region: Preparing for a Changing World’ Conference that will be held in February, Bahrain University is organising a number of workshops, training sessions, public projects and exhibitions.

They are part of a year-long programme called ‘A Year of Water’, which will continue until June next year.

Challenges

GCC countries are facing major challenges manifested by increasing financial, economic and environmental costs associated with providing water supplies.

These challenges are expected to grow alongside rapid population growth, changing consumption patterns, low management efficiencies and the expected impacts of climate change.

The year-long programme is being organised by the university in partnership with local and international organisations to coincide with the conference and bring attention to local and regional water issues and engage all areas of the Bahraini society.

An event called ‘Water and Our Youth’ marked the official inauguration of the programme at the Sharifa Alawadhi Children and Youth Club, an organisation affiliated with the Labour and Social Development Ministry that provides cultural, educational, social and recreational services for children.

In September, historian Khalid Al Sindi will be peaking into history of water in Bahrain, with more details of the event to be announced at a later date.

Bahrain University College of Science dean Dr Mohamed Mustafa Al Helou said 20 experts from around the region will attend next year’s conference as keynote speakers and will also take part in the preparation of training workshops.

“A workshop on the impact of climate change on water will be held for the purpose of training and capacity building for young professionals from stakeholders in Bahrain and the region,” said Dr Al Helou, who also heads the organising committee.

“There will also be an exhibition titled ‘Water Issues in the Kingdom of Bahrain’, with the participation of academics, researchers and private sector institutions working in water in Bahrain and the Middle East and North Africa.”

Bahrain University Physics Department professor and a member of the organising committee Dr Hana Abuflasa said that an art exhibition on water will also be held and will be open to visitors.

It will aim to increase public awareness on important water-related issues and the most prominent environmental challenges in Bahrain.

Meanwhile, Bahrain University president Dr Riyadh Hamza said the main conference will aim to draw up ways to conserve water resources.

“The conference will provide a platform to review the current water situation, and participants will discuss the latest innovations, recent trends and practical solutions that address the challenges of conserving water resources,” he said in a statement.

Experts

“Through the conference Bahrain University will seek to bring together senior professionals, practitioners, experts and researchers involved in various aspects of water resources management to share experiences, research findings and lessons learned from field studies.”

The GDN reported in October of last year that rising temperatures, depleted groundwater reserves and reduced rainfall pose a serious threat to the nation’s water supply over the next three decades.

However, a National Water Strategy that aims to safeguard the precious resource for future generations is expected to be finalised soon.

Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/585159