Abu Dhabi City Municipality reviews master plan of irrigation

Abu Dhabi, 8th March, 2015 (WAM): As part of efforts put by the Municipal System to renovate public realms in Abu Dhabi emirate, the Abu Dhabi City Municipality, through Municipal Infrastructure and Assets Sector, has reviewed its irrigation master plan along with the Guide to the Design of Public Realms in Abu Dhabi in two work papers presented at the Future Landscape and Public Realms Conference held recently in Abu Dhabi. The conference, which was held for the first time ever, reviewed a wide range of current and future projects in Abu Dhabi aimed at developing public realms in the city in line with the Abu Dhabi 2030 vision, and availing the concerned parties the opportunity to share experiences and review the latest developments in design, planning, urban design and irrigation. Through its work paper themed "Abu Dhabi City Irrigation Master Plan," Abu Dhabi City Municipality reiterated that providing green spaces, parks and recreational facilities comes in the forefront of its priorities to keep pace with the requirements of the ongoing growth seen by Abu Dhabi emirate, and the need to provide green spaces and public parks according to the inputs of water resources and local standards, especially those associated with the impacts of local environment outcomes, without overlooking the actual need of the population. It was therefore necessary to prepare an irrigation master plan to keep pace with the urban growth and contribute to achieving sustainable development within Abu Dhabi emirate vision 2030, including reducing fresh water consumption, especially desalination water and groundwater by depending completely on the processed wastewater to irrigate green spaces and landscaped areas. The paper added "Based on these inputs and requirements, the Parks and Recreational Facilities Division, Abu Dhabi City Municipality, in coordination with various strategic partners, has embarked on the project of "Preparing Abu Dhabi City Irrigation Master Plan," which aims mainly at relying completely on treated wastewater in irrigating green spaces and landscaped areas, and abstaining from using well water or desalinated water to irrigate green areas. The scope of the project works hinges on compiling a geospatial infrastructure database affiliated to the Parks and Recreational Facilities Division, besides estimating the future water needs of the Municipality’s projects in accordance with the Abu Dhabi Plan 2030, Estidama requirements, and treated wastewater consumption master plan of Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company. Projects also include preparing a hydraulic model for the existing irrigation network by using one of the world’s best hydraulic modelling programs, and designing spatial and time plan for future irrigation water needs besides preparing technical and financial plan for development projects along with the time schedules of this plan, and upgrading design manuals and irrigation specifications." According to the Municipality, several key phases of the project works have been completed including the compilation of a geospatial database for irrigation infrastructure, besides upgrading the irrigation design & specifications manuals. The Municipality is currently moving ahead with upgrading the hydraulic model of the existing irrigation network, evaluating options and making suggestions as regards patching technical defects of existing irrigation water project network. This has to be completed before the final phase where recommendations and estimation of future water needs of the Municipality’s projects are undertaken, designing the spatial and time map for water needs, preparing initial models for the required irrigation projects and classifying them as per a specific time plan and financial budget. The second paper submitted by the Municipal Infrastructure and Asset Sector entitled: A Guide to Revamping the Design of Public Realms in Abu Dhabi, reviewed projects about public realms for the last 15 years. It focused on landscaping, open areas, improving residential parks to cater to the needs of the community, defining the concept of sustainability, and revamping public realms over the next 15 years and beyond. It also covered the completion strategies & initiatives, accomplished strategies & initiatives, lighting of public realms booklet: standards, guidelines and specifications; master plan of Abu Dhabi landscaping, and roads furniture strategy. The paper also discussed other strategies and initiatives represented in making pavements for creating public areas in the city, improving the landscaping of medians in Abu Dhabi, and using local flora in landscaping projects. The Abu Dhabi City Municipality has won the Best Water Efficiency Leader Award during the Global Water Leakage Summit 2012 held by H2O; a magazine specialised in water in the MENA region. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395277640871.html