210m gallons of water harvested since Oct 28

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Staff Reporter

20 November 2010 ABU DHABI - More than 210 million gallons of water have been harvested in dams, lakes and check dams in different parts of the country since the beginning of the rainy season on October 28.

According to the Ministry of Environment and Water, 955,000 cubic metres of water, which are equivalent to 210 million gallons, accumulated in these reservoirs till November 12.

There are 114 dams in the country and 68 dams are under construction for water conservation in the country.

The rains and water harvesting in the reservoirs will certainly improve the groundwater level and help reduce salinity which, in turn, would help agriculture in the country.

The accumulated water from October 28 to November 5 was only 50.6 million gallons but heavy rains from November 9 to November 12, particularly in the Northern Emirates, came as a boon.

The rain on November 5 was mostly over the Eastern Region in Fujairah — in Al Taiba, Alkhalibeya, Wadi Sidr, Masafi, Dfatta, Belaida and Al Bathna areas.

The ministry noted in a report that downpours witnessed last Friday and Tuesday resulted in heavy flow water through valleys in the mountainous areas in Masafi. More than 660,000 cubic metres or 145 million gallons of water collected in the dams in the Central Region during that time.

In Ras Al Khaimah, the 5.9-metre-high Sad Shaukah dam, which can store over 275,000 cubic metres of water, and 2.4-metre-high Sad Al Qashesh dam with a capacity of 200,000 cubic metres overflowed during the same period.

68 more dams being built

In May this year, the Ministry of Environment and Water has said it would build 68 more dams in the country and start a number of other initiatives for water conservation, including bringing in a new law to regulate the use of water resources in the country.

When these new dams are completed, the country will have 182 dams in total. The ministry also said it would prepare a map for underground water pollution in coordination with the Arab Centre for Studies and Research.

According to the Environment Agency — Abu Dhabi, the Private Department completed 27 out of 67 dams the late Shaikh Zayed had ordered to be built in 2002 at his own expense with the total cost of Dh750 million to feed the groundwater table and support agricultural expansion in the country.

anwar

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