2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

BAHRAIN PART 2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS
Bahrain
Groundwater depletion is the current concern
The Gulf state of Bahrain had a population of 733,000 in 2004, 90% of whom are in urban areas. The
leading cities are Manama (140,000 people) and Muharraq (74,000). According to the Ministry of
Electricity and Water, there were 148,000 customer accounts in 2004. Indigenous water sources (all
using artesian aquifers) generate 0.11 million m 3 of water per day, compared with a current water
demand that peaks at 0.34 million m 3 per day in the summer and 0.27 million m 3 per day in the winter.
Currently, 82% of water is taken from groundwater sources. Although groundwater abstraction is
being replaced by desalination, it will take 1400 years to recharge the country’s groundwater sources.
Agriculture has already been impacted by groundwater degradation.
Year Demand (mg/d) Population
1970 12.62 220,000
1980 26.70 340,000
1990 61.70 490,000
1994 66.75 560,000
1998 101.00 650,000
2004 106.00 733,000
In 2000, 40% of municipal and industrial effluents were treated, 30% of these to tertiary standard, with
the recovered water contributing to 4% of water needs. Recycling of other used water resources has
been developed, with 60% of these waters going to agriculture. Currently, 81% of the population is
been connected to the sewerage network, with the aim of 95% coverage by 2020. Since 2005,
treated effluents from the Tubil wastewater treatment facility are being utilised for agricultural and
landscape irrigation and replacing groundwater extraction. Once trails have been completed, the
facility will provide 70 million m 3 per year of treated effluent. By expanding tertiary treatment to cover
all effluents, it is hoped to recover 200,000 m 3 of water per annum by 2010, or some 20% of the total
demand.
Privatisation plans
The government has been developing a timetable for the privatisation of water and electricity
services. In 2003, Bahrain selected Ernst & Young to lead a group of companies to restructure the
water and electricity sectors as part of its utilities privatization programme as part of a 15 year water
and power plan. At the same time, an Electricity & Water Sector Privatisation Committee was set up.
Currently the government provides some BD24 million (US$65 million) in subsidies for water that
costs 260 fils per m 3 to produce and 65 fils per m 3 to sell. Bahrain has reduced its levels of
unaccounted-for-water (UFW) from 35% in 1993 to 25% by 2005. This includes an 18% loss through
poorly fitted domestic systems.
Desalination realities
In 2005, peak production for domestic water was 107 million gallons per day, mainly through five
desalination plants:
Al Hidd 30.0 million gallons
Sitra 25.0 million gallons
Ras Abu Jarjur / Al Dor 15.0 million gallons
Alba 7.5 million gallons
Total for desalination 77.5 million gallons
Groundwater 29.5 million gallons
The entire Al Hidd water and power facility (phases 1 & 2) will be placed in private ownership as part
of its current expansion plans, which envisage raising its water desalination capacity to by 60 million
gallons per day through the US$1 billion phase 3. During 2005, the government has been meeting
potential bidders for the project.
59 Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005 – 2006