Arcadis’ Sustainable Cities Water Index explores water sustainability of global cities based on Resiliency, Efficiency and Quality
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the region’s most sustainable cities for water, according to Arcadis’ Sustainable Cities Water Index. However, major cities in the UAE are still in need of greater investment and prioritization to improve their resiliency due to geographical location and increased urbanization.
The index, conducted by Arcadis in partnership with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), explores water sustainability of 50 cities across the world based on its robust (resiliency), effective (efficiency) and healthy (quality) water environment. The report finds that cities in the UAE see the most investment in the use of treated sewage effluent for landscaping, with rapid urbanization and the need for efficiency being the most pressing issue for city leaders.
Sameer Daoud, Global Business leader – Water at Arcadis Middle East, commented: “Water demand is rising, aquifers are being depleted and the threat of extreme weather is increasingly real, meaning that cities in the region can be stressed without enough water. Our water index highlights the areas of opportunity for cities to inform decision-making around how they use and manage water, hopefully making them more sustainable economically, environmentally and for the benefit of people.”
The index underlines Abu Dhabi’s agenda to achieve excellence in the delivery of high quality, cost effective, safe and environmentally-compliant sewage systems across the Emirate. Likewise, Dubai is investing in rainwater harvesting to ensure water security across the city.
More information about the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Water Index can be viewed at arcadis.com
