Oman reiterates commitment to sustainable water management at UN

Oman Tuesday 23/March/2021 10:44 AM
By: Times News Service
Oman reiterates commitment to sustainable water management at UN
Supplied image

New York: Oman's National Water Sector Strategy has ensured that 97 per cent of the urban population and 88 per cent of the rural population have access to potable water services.
The Sultanate has reiterated its commitment to protect water resources and the establishment of an appropriate infrastructure for the water management and supply in a rationalised manner to help meet the present and future needs.

This was stated in the Sultanate’s speech before a high-level international meeting on water, held at the United Nations premises here.

The speech was delivered by First Secretary Sayyid Ahmed Hamoud Al Busaidi.

“Water is a national wealth that deserves to be protected and preserved and its resources have to be developed. To meet this goal, statutes and legislations have been enacted. The statutes include the Water Resources Protection Law promulgated under Royal Decree No. 29/2000, the Law on Protection of Water Against Pollution, promulgated by Royal Decree No. 114/2001, and the Law on Protection of Drinking Water Against Pollution, promulgated under Royal Decree No. 115/2001),” said the Sultanate in its speech.

The speech also touched on the national strategy for water sector, focusing on five main themes: (1) Securing potable water; (2) striking a balance between water use and renewable water resources; (3) consolidating principles for the preservation of water; (4) increasing public awareness about the importance of water conservation, rationalization in water use and (5) supporting water techniques, research and innovation in the field of water.

The speech pointed out that the strategies devised by the Sultanate provided fresh water services to 97 percent of the population in towns and cities and 88 percent in rural areas.

The strategies also furnished grounds for a sound wastewater system that benefited 75 percent of the population, despite water scarcity challenges faced by the Middle East region.

The speech also stated that the Sultanate developed an integrated water desalination system comprising 60 plants and 93 wastewater stations spread out across all governorates of the Sultanate.