How to achieve the Dubai 2021 vision through cyclic water management

Cities are more than just concrete. The world’s most “liveable” cities – Amsterdam, London, Singapore - are as well known for their green spaces as they are for their buildings and architecture.

It’s widely recognised that green space has a positive impact on our environment, helping to filter impurities and dust from the air and even reducing the erosion of soil into our waterways. Particularly beneficial in hot countries such as the UAE, lush vegetation can act as a natural air-conditioner, providing shade and lowering the temperature of road surfaces and ambient air.

Along with numerous environmental benefits, open green space in public areas, such as parks, playgrounds and gardens, also have huge impact on the surrounding population’s well-being. Spending time outdoors in green space has been scientifically proven to have a positive effect on people’s health. People who regularly spend time in nature will see a significant reduction in blood pressure, heart rate and stress hormone levels - and people who have regular access to green space do more physical activity and interact with neighbours and their community. Happy people, happy city.

With aspirations to become the happiest city on earth, it’s therefore no wonder that the outlook for Dubai’s urban plans include more green spaces to enhance the city’s liveability. In fact, as part of the Dubai 2021 vision, HH Sheikh Mohammed dreams of a ‘vibrant and active [city], providing a rich cultural experience and globally distinctive entertainment outlets’.

But, as an urban oasis built in the middle of a desert, how can we achieve this aspiration successfully and responsibly, without putting huge pressure on our already limited resources?

Step 1: Capillary Irrigation

Designing our urban green spaces with sub-soil capillary irrigation, rather than traditional surface drip or sprinkler irrigation, will give us greater freedom to harvest water where it is available and manage it where and when it is needed. As a nature-based solution, capillary irrigation solutions like Permavoid, work by creating an artificial ground water level, which allows for natural irrigation of soft landscapes and green areas.

Activated only when plants above the surface evaporate water, this method of irrigation is a 100% ‘on-demand’ natural irrigation system. By eliminating surface evaporation and deep drainage of irrigation water, a 40-60% reduction in irrigation water need can be attained. Capillary irrigation requires no pumps, tanks, valves, unsightly driplines or energy. The result? 100% energy reduction, a true zero-carbon footprint irrigation system.

Step 2: Recover wash down and stormwater

With a capillary water management system in place under both hard and soft-scaped areas, stormwater and wash down can be recovered on site and stored underneath the landscape in soakaway tanks for later irrigation purposes. This ends pooling of stormwater on roads and podium decks, and instantly changes ‘waste’ water into usable and valuable irrigation water.

Feeding water from these sources into a capillary irrigation system for parks and green areas will lower water usage and costs, and help to support a thriving landscape. Treating rainfall run-off and wash down as a valuable resource, rather than waste, will ensure that any expansion of urban green areas within cities can be maintained responsibly.

Step 3: Collect supplemental water

There are vast amounts of supplemental water in the region going to waste. Air conditioning condensate alone is produced at a rate of 15-30 l/Ton/day (12.000 BTU) in Dubai. In other words, approximately 7,500 litres of water is produced from just one large air conditioner per day in a humid climate. As it stands, a significant amount of this free, non-pressurised and clean water is being wasted and lost to our sewer networks, when this water could easily be fed directly into a capillary water management system.

There is a huge opportunity to collect and utilise this source of supplemental water. The Burj Khalifa, for example, produces an estimated 15 million gallons of waste water a year from cooling equipment. Thankfully, this condensate is recovered and used to water the surrounding 11-hectare lush landscape and gardens via capillary irrigation.

So, what’s the ultimate goal?

By combining all water management solutions into one holistic system, we have the opportunity to build and maintain twice the amount of green space using the same amount of water. Utilising the sources we would normally consider as waste, our cities will become home to thriving green spaces, without additional strain on our water networks. More parks, gardens and trees create a cooler, less polluted and more livable city with happier, healthier people. Dubai 2021 here we come.

How we can help

Creating attractive yet sustainable green areas in the Middle East is a challenge, but our landscaping expertise is unrivalled. Adhering to the latest regulations, Permavoid offers an innovative solution for passive capillary irrigation for a wide range of applications including podium decks, green roofs and urban landscaping.

Contact us today to discuss the transformative solutions for your project:

Tel: +971 (0) 4 518 3000

Email: middleeast@polypipe.com