ABU DHABI // A new app rewarding residents who have managed to save water will launch in the capital in a couple of weeks.
Established by Nahtam, the Abu Dhabi-based social responsibility organisation Bank Al Miyah, or water bank in Arabic, is a virtual bank where residents will be able to open an account and start saving.
“Every three months, there will be a draw for about Dh250,000,” said George Itty, Nahtam’s chief executive. “After that, there will be an automated draw every month and every person registered on the app will be taken into account.”
Winners will only be able to collect the prize after proving they have managed to save at least 15 per cent on their utility bills.
“They will have to submit their electricity and water bill to show how much they have managed to save,” Mr Itty said. “They will have to bring their last two months’ bills to show that their total savings on the second bill is 15 per cent less than the previous month.”
The app also includes guidelines on 100 ways to save energy and 230 ways to save water, at home and at work.
“Even if people save only 5 per cent, it will have a huge impact,” he said. “That amount will save the country billions if everyone manages to do their part.”
Layla Youssef, a Jordanian mother-of-four, said such a prize would motivate more people to watch their consumption.
“We use a lot of water in the UAE in general,” she said. “But we all know that it is not abundant here and that if we are not careful enough there will not be much remaining in the future. I am sure such an app, and a Dh250,000 reward, will create more motivation among residents here.”
Marc Abboud, from Lebanon, said a lot of residents took water for granted.
“I don’t think people realise how precious water actually is here,” he said. “But I think this app is a good idea, it can only benefit the cause by rewarding people who really care about saving water. It’s definitely time more people realise how important this is.”
The app, available only on Android right now, is expected to be available for the iPhone in the future. It will officially launch at the International Water Summit in Abu Dhabi on January 19.
“There has to be good communication and consistent education about community and responsibilities in this country,” Mr Itty said. “This is because 80 per cent of the population here are expatriates and their priorities might be different so they need a big motivation. It’s also still a new movement here so there should be constant education.”
The UAE’s water consumption is one of the highest in the world, at 350 litres per person per day. In 2012, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi warned that the country’s groundwater supply could disappear within 55 years.
Since then, the agency set out a plan to try to use wastewater on edible crops. The GCC has also called for a regional plan to tackle water scarcity in the Arabian Gulf.
With falling water tables and some of the highest levels of water use in the world, Gulf countries are also attempting to clamp down on the growing demand for food, which is considered a large water consumer, and making local agriculture more sustainable.
cmalek@thenational.ae
