Abu Dhabi water demand is expected to nearly double by 2030, underpinned by consumption from new residential and commercial megaprojects, forecasts Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company (Adwec).

Demand is expected to reach 1,362 million gallons a day (g/d) by 2030 compared with 690 million g/d in 2011, having increased from just 261 million g/d 10 years ago.

Medium-term demand, which is expected to grow 8-9 per cent annually until 2015, will be driven by commercial megaprojects at Al-Raha Beach, Yas Island and other locations around Abu Dhabi city, as well as several major residential developments.

Between 2015 and 2020, water demand growth is expected to slow to 3 per cent, said Anthosh Kumar, Adwec senior water demand forecaster, speaking at Abu Dhabi Conference 2012 on 20 November.

Total water supply to Abu Dhabi increased 11 per cent year on year in the first 10 months of 2012 to 201,734 million gallons, or 212,060 million gallons when including exports to the UAE’s other emirates.