Khalid Al-Sulaiman

Okaz

 

OUR country is the third highest per capita consumer of water globally. The average consumption of an individual in the Kingdom is double the global average.



Adil Bushnak, head of the Saudi Forum for Water and Energy, has estimated the costs of energy and water projects implemented over the past 10 years at SR500 billion to meet the increasing need for these two major resources.



The question that poses itself is how do Saudis consume so much water? What do they do with it?



To answer the question, a study should be conducted on the water consumption habits of Saudis and how they use their resources.



Let’s look at how some people squander food, water and clothes and how they use their cars and electronic devices. You can tell that those people do not have a clue about the importance of how to use things properly.



The culture of squandering and wasting is instilled in the deepest roots of their brains. Any form of awareness raising about the importance of the economy, consumption of resources and proper use of property is futile.



This is an extreme consumption culture that is based on another negative culture that does not know the meaning of proper consumption. Those people only care about today and never look at the future. If they have money, they will spend it today and never think about tomorrow. They care about themselves only and their motto is “After me, then the flood”.



They live in their own worlds and do not want to play any responsible role that can serve the greater public interest. Water consumption in the Kingdom increases by 5 percent every year although there are fines for squandering resources and authorities organize awareness programs all the time. It looks like the better a person is educated, the higher is his water consumption.