The Middle East is witnessing a dramatic change of attitude towards water, how we consume it and how to minimise the amount we waste, and water treatment experts say the revolution will continue to gather pace over the next few years.
In the UAE and other parts of the region, the use of technology to create sustainable water treatment solutions is being driven by eco-friendly
But there’s a lot more to this than people insisting on reusable cups and avoiding plastic straws and delivery food cutlery.
Reducing plastic waste is now taken very seriously by big players in the industry, and one of them, Culligan Middle East, is helping businesses across the region cut plastic waste and water wastage, and in the process protect their bottom line.
The company, which has a manufacturing facility in Dubai and a network of regional offices, works directly with consumers and organisations to deliver one-stop water solutions.
“Water scarcity is a big concern in this region, and the good news is that attitudes to water consumption, waste and sustainability are changing fast in the home, and in business,” said Marco Seghi, Service Director at Culligan Middle East.
“In the UAE, consumers are now more likely to have filtered water on tap in the home and office instead of plastic bottles. In the last year, filtered water systems have enjoyed an increase in popularity.
“There’s a constant flow of improving technology to support the growing demand, including, carbon block filters and improved bottleless, plastic-free filtrations systems.”
After years of research and improvements, the use of UV OUT lamps in water treatment solutions means commercial customers can now have unlimited supplies of disinfected water without any chemical treatment. The same is possible for drinking water dispensers in the home.
“Amongst the positive consumer trends, reducing the amount of plastic used in products has been taken very seriously by many companies in the industry, and steps have been made to eliminate plastic bottles entirely,” says Seghi.
“While many people buy bottled water because they appreciate the convenience, more and more customers are becoming aware of the impact of plastic waste. The average plastic bottle takes an average of 450 years to break down, and we need to have reusable alternatives.”
Bottleless, plastic-free systems that fit under household sinks are now popular in the Middle East, with Culligan registering double digit sales growth in the last year.
Commercial business demand for water treatment solutions is also on the rise, as companies turn to advanced technology to store and deliver quality water to employees and customers, reducing wastage and saving money in the process.
Meanwhile, energy saving technologies have been welcomed by both manufacturers and consumers because of their positive impact on the environment and on reducing energy bills.
“Both of these factors are crucial in a market increasingly driven by consumers’ decisions,” said Seghi. It’s likely we’ll see more developments in technology to further advance convenience, as well as increase energy saving features.”