KUWAIT: Kuwait is located in an arid region with hot desert climate, with one of the least water resource access regions around the world. With the advent of water desalination projects, Kuwait now has one of the most available water resources per capita in the world, but it is also among the highest water consumers per capita in the world.

On March 22, Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Dr Salem Al-Hajraf stressed the need to enhance water security and build capacities to face common global challenges on the occasion of World Water Day. “Water is not just a private resource that can be monopolized and compete for its sources, but it is a human right that everyone must respect,” he said.

Hajraf said the celebration of World Water Day sends a message to world leaders and people of the world that it is necessary to cooperate in the field of water to achieve a positive multiplier effect for humanity, as water is the main pillar of life. “Kuwait’s participation in celebrating this day shows its keenness to secure its local water needs in modern and innovative ways dating back to 1951, when it established in Shuwaikh the first seawater desalination plant in the world at the time,” he added.

He pointed out that World Water Day is an opportunity to join efforts on water issues and accelerate the pace of progress in this vital field. “We must all play our role, each from his position, to preserve this essential resource of existence and work together to manage it in a sound and sustainable manner.”

Hajraf explained that the ministry of electricity, water and renewable energy has been working since its establishment on Nov 17, 1962 to achieve its goals to be a tangible reality that keeps pace with Kuwait’s vision in the growth and development of the state’s housing and service projects.

Water demand is expected to rise to 800 million imperial gallons per day by 2035, while the maximum demand for water by the end of this year could reach 585 million imperial gallons per day, an increase of 27 percent, he said. The ministry plans to develop its future plan to meet the needs of the state, pointing out that its production of water will reach nearly one billion imperial gallons per day by 2035. Regardless, people should also be more aware of their water usage.

Hajraf pointed out that the world committed in 2015 to the sixth goal of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which stipulates that sustainable water management for all by 2030 and providing safe drinking water to disadvantaged communities. He stated the challenges facing the state in the water security sector still exist, foremost of which is the high consumption rate.

“The ministry has taken serious and effective steps towards improving water management and conservation through studying and experimenting with the use of renewable energy. We aim to utilize modern and advanced technologies with high efficiency and high performance in the treatment, transportation and storage of water,” he added.

The aim of World Water day is to take action to deal with the global water crisis in support of achieving the sixth Sustainable Development Goal. The ministry in 2016 stressed the importance of developing and preserving Arab water resources during the meetings of the eighth session of the Arab Ministerial Council, which discussed 23 items on water problems in the Arab world, most notably the purification and preservation of water sources in addition to treated water.

In 2021, the total consumption of freshwater in Kuwait amounted to around 709 million cubic meters per day. This indicated an increase from around 696 million cubic meters of freshwater consumed during the previous year, and 603 million cubic meters in 2012. Over a 10-year period, water consumption has risen around sixfold.