Recycling could also drastically reduce the region’s water bills, he told MEED’s Wastewater Treatment & Reuse 2007 conference.
“The goods news is that the economic argument in favour of water reuse is reinforced by the environmental argument for it,” Currie said.
He added that water consumption in large buildings can be reduced by almost half using equipment and materials that conserve water.
Almost half the water that can be saved will come from new technologies in bathrooms.
GCC countries will be able to produce sludge for farming more cheaply using biotechnology, according to United Utilities of the UK’s standards and innovation manager, Stephen Whipp.
Gulf states are being held back from developing new sludge methods by their attachment to conventional processes, said Hani Tarazi, concession specialist at Metito of the UAE.