A long-term fix to the GCC’s water problems

If you live in one of the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the chances are that last time you ran the kitchen tap you were using water that was in the sea not too long ago. Desalinated seawater accounts for more than 4 billion cubic meters of GCC water annually, an astounding 75 percent of what’s used for domestic purposes.  Desalination plants operating in Jebel Ali, Shoaiba and other ports represent a technological feat that shields most GCC residents from the fact that they live in climates that don’t provide sufficient naturally occurring water to sustain many basic activities. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar consume more than 10 times the amount of annual renewable water. GCC governments know how finely balanced their water positions are. They know that, under present conditions, they will not be able to desalinate ever-more seawater — a process that uses