Abu Dhabi, April 5 (IANS/WAM) A large number of people in the UAE — 84.5 percent — agree that water resources are being wasted in the country, says an opinion poll.
The rate of water consumption in the UAE is among the highest in the world. This is alarming considering the scarcity of natural water in the region and the growing need for this vital resource, says the poll conducted by the Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR).
The opinion poll was a sample survey of 1,000 UAE nationals from across the country.
There was 91.6 percent response, and the degree of accuracy in the result was 95 percent.
The main objective of the survey was to identify the proportion of those who accept that there is wastage of water in the UAE and to identify the extent of means employed by citizens for water conservation.
A large number of citizens agreed that water resources are wasted in the country with as many as 84.5 percent respondents accepting the same. The ratio of females (86.4 percent) was larger than males (82.5 percent).
Higher the academic qualification, the greater was the acknowledgment over wastage of water; 88.9 percent of graduates accepted that water was being wasted while the acceptance among those with less than secondary school education stood at 67.9 percent.
Abu Dhabi topped the list with 93.8 percent people admitting to wastage of water, while Umm Al-Quwain stood at the bottom of the list at 57.9 percent.
The study made a number of recommendations that could help create awareness on rationalisation of water consumption and in reducing wastage — need to create awareness through the media on the responsibility of water rationalization, need to intensify information campaigns among students, distributing brochures with instructions on water rationing in Arabic, English and other languages to residents, ministries, institutions, government bodies, ports and airports, and public and private schools.
It also recommended installation of devices to prevent wastage of water in private institutions, government bodies, shopping centres and homes, and that fines should be imposed on violators and licenses of commercial establishments should not be renewed in cases of violation.
–IANS/WAM
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