The Minister of Water and Electricity Eng. Abdullah Al-Husayn reiterated the importance of rationalizing water consumption in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States. Addressing the opening session of the 10th Gulf Water Conference in Doha, Eng. Al-Husayn said that fees levy on water consumption plays a major role in rationalizing utilization, noting that ignorance of the cost of water production, distribution and treatment has contributed to a rise in water consumption in GCC Member States. He also said GCC Member States consumption of water rose from 6 billion cubic meters per annum in 1980 to 27 billion cubic meters per annum in 2000. Eng. Al-Husayn warned that in some GCC Member States per capita consumption hit 700 liters per day as compared to less than 130 liters per day in EU countries. He also pointed out that a number of GCC Member States have been drawing heavily on water resources using 80% of those resources for irrigation, warning against depleting surface water.
