More than 70 families have benefitted from an initiative by the UN Habitat office in Bahrain aimed at promoting sustainable water use and reducing household water waste across the kingdom.
Under its ‘Enhancing Water-Saving Efforts in Bahrain’ programme, the UN trailblazers, in collaboration with Nestle Waters Bahrain, distributed 200 water-efficient showerheads to 71 families and repaired leaks in 12 homes and five buildings across the kingdom.
“Through this initiative, we are demonstrating how practical, community-based solutions can significantly reduce water waste and improve efficiency at a household level,” UN Habitat GCC representative and Bahrain country programme head Dr Ayman El Hefnawi told the GDN.
“Our collaboration with local partners like Nestlé Waters ensures that interventions are both impactful and accessible, particularly for families who benefit most from these improvements, while further advancing sustainable practices across communities.”
Over the last 19 years, the average daily water consumption in Bahrain has increased from 100.41 litres in 2006 to 163.75 litres per person in 2023, according to open source data published by the Electricity and Water Authority.
The production of distilled potable water has also increased to match this demand, standing at 60,991.55 million gallons in 2023, while groundwater production has dropped from 10,568.62 in 2006 to zero in 2020 and onwards.
To help Bahraini households be more efficient with their water usage, the UN Habitat office distributed the showerheads in Isa Town and Janusan in collaboration with local charities, which helped identify beneficiaries and facilitate distribution.
“Designed as ‘plug-and-play’ fixtures, the showerheads required no additional plumbing modifications, enabling quick and seamless installation by professional plumbers working closely with homeowners,” a UN Habitat spokesperson explained, in a statement.
The initiative is also addressing water leakage – one of the most common sources of water loss at a household level.
So far, the repaired leaks have been internal, including toilet systems, dripping faucets, water heaters and underground pipe leaks within property boundaries, which could lead to significant water loss if left unaddressed.
“Our partnership with UN-Habitat reflects our shared commitment to responsible water stewardship,” Nestle factory manager Mohammad Ratrout added.
In the next phase of the project, the UN Habitat Bahrain office, in collaboration with relevant authorities, is planning on implementing greywater reuse systems at 16 mosques.
According to the office, these systems will integrate rainwater harvesting to strengthen water conservation efforts.
UN Habitat Bahrain is also preparing to launch an online campaign this summer to promote water conservation and share key insights from the project.
This will be in addition to a series of online and in-person workshops and awareness sessions, delivered in collaboration with partners like the Supreme Council for Environment, Education Ministry, and the National Initiative for Agricultural Development.
These efforts will educate the public on practical water-saving measures and promote more sustainable practices at the household level.
The GDN had previously reported that the initiatives could save more than 250,000 cubic metres of water.
When the project was first unveiled last year, the UN Habitat office had noted that the programme would fix leaks in 250 households and install greywater systems at 50 mosques.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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