Summary of the Use and Supply of Water in Abu Dhabi

It is the only source of fresh water available in the UAE of Abu Dhabi (Dr. Madfaei et al. However, Abu Dhabi is located in a desert where the rate of evaporation is extremely high and therefore there is a low rate of water recharge as compared to the continual abstraction of water from shallow aquifers available in that area. Consequently, these water aquifers consist only of non-renewable fossil water (Dr. Madfaei et al. Desalinated Seawater: Desalinated water sources generate about 17 percent of the water that is used in Abu Dhabi. A significant percentage of the desalinated water is processed from the desalinated plants and supplied directly to be used in different sectors. Also, a small percentage of this water is generated through reuse via treatment of sewage effluent.

The Abu Dhabi Emirates is considered as one of the places in the world that has the highest rate of water consumption on a daily basis. It is estimated that it has a per capita consumption of about 590 liters per day (Dr. (Dr. Madfaei et al. This pattern is expected to continue in the future as the population increase and people depend more on agriculture for food. Treated Waste Water: This is water that is treated from the sewage waste effluents and reused. The recycling of water is noted effective in Abu Dhabi due to inefficiency in the distribution system. The Al Wathba Wetland reserve is located some forty kilometers East of Abu Dhabi. It is on the left-hand side of the truck road leading to Al Ain.

The Wetland consists of a lake that stretches for an estimated 1. 5 kilometers lengthwise and 0. 5 kilometers in width (Dhaher & Saji, 2013). com/search?q=al+wathba+wetland+reserve+abu+dhabi&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=DIi7Vjmwfp7x8M%253A%252C06KCDkA8EkwC3M%252C_&usg=__WyOj22pl--2alSYXE5ZHu7zXp2k%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjIg6WGltfaAhUqBcAKHVpcD9QQ9QEIVDAD#imgrc=g7g4livPtZAkcM: Geological Background of the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve: Al Wathba Wetland Reserve has geology that consists of fine sand, shallow silt, and gravel. Gravel deposits and the surficial sand are the most dominant soil types in this habitat and the surrounding areas. The name of the place the reserve is situated, “Sabkha” means a mixture of salt flats and sand deposits in Arabic (Saji & Shah, 2016).

The Sabkha area of Abu Dhabi formed about 7000 years ago as a result of wind erosion due to the frequent sand dunes in the desert climate of Abu Dhabi. Other factors that contributed to the formation of Sabkha is the progradation of the intertidal, subaqueous and supratidal carbonate sediments. It is estimated that there are about 30 plant species, 5 wild and 2 feral mammal species, 220 bird species, 99 invertebrates and 10 reptiles in this habitat (Saji & Shah, 2016). The Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, therefore, supports the conservation of plant and animal species which some are endemic (cannot be found elsewhere). https://www. google. com/search?q=al+wathba+wetland+reserve+abu+dhabi+pictures&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=cVDnW2iofUCC4M%253A%252CyKCSOtoe9a90KM%252C_&usg=__52UTx-34iCSqwmuG7WE1aMOhzbI%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjPobSdrtfaAhVlDcAKHR4aBbMQ9QEIKTAA#imgrc=b3xoeVzTRxUdwM: References Bollaci, D.