Property owners who dig wells on their land to avoid paying connection fees and bills are the targets of a new campaign.
The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi said the practice was leading to the rapid depletion of aquifers.
Anyone wanting to build a well on their land must apply to the agency for permission. A plan to use treated sewerage water for farms is also being introduced.
Those found without permits will be punished with fines. During the next five years the agency will be assessing 100,000 wells, many of which are more than 40 years old.
Dr Mohamed Dawoud, an agency adviser for water resources, said the UAE used 2.1 billion cubic metres of water a year. At that rate, underground water reserves could be depleted by 2050.
“We need to give it time to replenish,” Dr Dawoud said.
Many houses have old wells, which the owners have been using for decades, while others are building new wells to avoid paying for water.
The agency is trying to cut the amount of water being taken from the ground by 20 per cent by 2020 as part of a broader environment plan unveiled this week.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
