King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
BEACON
at Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
March 2012 / Rabi Al-Thani 1433 Volume 2, Issue No. 7
the
www.kaust.edu.sa
KINGDOM'S CONSTANT QUEST FOR WATER
BEFORE 1932, the nomadic population of the land area that became the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia traditionally migrated in search of food and water. With an accuracy that seemed instinctive, they used birdsong and
WATER SECURITY: KAUST SUPPORTS THE QUEST FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
animal tracks to lead them to water sources. Familiar with the wadis (ephemeral streams over an alluvial aquifer) they could find water by digging just a few feet below a seemingly dry surface. Bedouin would dig up cool stones just before sunrise, wait until the dew settled on them, and would then collect the water in an example of early condenser technology. When water was found, it KAUST research team with a world map indicating their home countries
was treasured. Saudi Arabia is one of the driest countries in the world described
THE KAUST Water Desalination and Reuse Research Center (WDRC) not only
of Al Shoura (Saudi Parliament) that, "The
as “hyper-arid to semi-arid”,
pursues research in water desalination, recycling, and reuse, but also cru-
Water Security in the Kingdom is equal to the
with only 0.7% of the country’s
cially contributes to the other three globally significant research areas of the
National Security."
area representing inland water
University, encompassing energy, food, and the environment, each as funda-
bodies such as lakes, reservoirs,
mental to life as water.
An astonishing 90% of wastewater is not used in this desert land where the true cost of a cubic meter of desalinated seawater is US$1. Key organi-
wadis and rivers. The population
The production of potable water, using energy-intensive thermal seawater
has burgeoned from an estimated
desalination processes, is costly in both capital and environment terms, even
zations, both public and private are, however, working
1.5-2.5 million in 1932 to 27 mil-
in Saudi Arabia where fossil fuels are available locally; it consumes eight
in partnership to expand the application of reclaimed
lion today, of which over 95% of
times more energy than pumping groundwater.
water with the goal of treating and reusing all wastewater by 2025. Prof. Amy
the population is settled - 85% of
The groundwater aquifers, which currently provide 80% of the country’s
believes that wastewater should be managed locally in treatment plants in both
them in the major cities. The pop-
water supply, have been depleting rapidly as the population grows and urbani-
rural areas and smaller cities across multiple sectors including agriculture, indus-
ulation is projected to reach 40M
zation increases. This source is expected to last only another 15-20 years. In
try, landscaping, recreation, and aquifer recharge. When reused, potable water is
in 2025, rising to 60M in 2060.
tandem with the WDRC’s extensive research on lower-energy, cost-effective,
often employed when less processed water would be equally acceptable and the
The Kingdom’s reliance on
and environmentally friendly desalination processes, Center Director Gary Amy
tailoring of water quality and treatment to future use is another hot topic.
desalination is evidenced by
and his world-class research team are focusing on diverse water innovation
Currently, little rainwater is collected, but rather drains from the local wadis
its extraordinary 30% of the
technologies to support sustainable and integrated water resource management
(riverbeds) into the Red Sea or the Arabian Gulf. By anticipating where rainwa-
global capacity, and its energy-
in the Kingdom in line with the vision of the University.
ter is most likely to fall and using these same riverbeds to collect water rather
intensive thermal desalination processes account for over half of the Kingdom’s domestic oil consumption. Major transmission lines transport water hundreds of kilometers inland and, like many countries in the region,
“Abundance and scarcity both present opportunities. Energy, both fossil and solar, provides a vast research opportunity because of its abundance here in Saudi Arabia. Water – because of its scarcity – gives us an opportunity on just as big a scale.”
than channel it, it is possible to replenish the aquifers with the soil acting as a natural filter.
- President Choon Fong Shih
Saudi Arabia loses one third of
The Beacon has published several recent articles looking at water desalina-
its potable water to leakage in
tion, so in this special issue, we will be highlighting wastewater reclamation,
distribution pipe networks. On a
conservation, and reuse. Articles on membrane technology (integral to many
per capita basis at almost 1000m3
processes), desert agriculture, climate modeling, and geo-engineering reflect
per annum, the Kingdom con-
the transdisciplinary research model the University embraces.
sumes 91% more water than the
It is only by taking the holistic view, as Prof. Amy does, that effective tech-
global average - an unintended
nologies, policies, and strategies can be implemented to effectively meet the
consequence of the government’s
aggressive goals necessary to meet the future water needs of Saudi Arabia.
Continued on p. 2
King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud stated in a recent speech to the Council
Professor Gary Amy (right) with Mr. Nasir Moosa of Dow Water Security | Continued on p. 2
INSIDE:
Water Research: In House Collaborations 3–5
Water Research: Partnering With Industry 6–7
Community 8