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Filling the Empty Quarter

• Groundwater studies - Projects for the study of groundwater by satellite, and a compre-
hensive survey of groundwater to establish nature reserves (including the Ras Al Khor
in Dubai) that would ensure the protection of trees, beaches from natural disasters, and
help to increase the numbers of specific species of birds.

• Suwaihan - This desert was turned into a productive and profitable flower farm that ex-
ports widely.

• Gardens and parks - All of the municipalities of the UAE have created successful public
gardens.

Date palm farming projects - His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God have
mercy on him, entered the Palm farming industry at the time of a cultural renaissance of the
young nation. This crop has become a great source of wealth and renewal. It derives this status
in the industry because it is inexhaustible, and because the beauty of the plants and fruit truly
capture the minds and hearts of the people. A princess of the desert, the people emulated Zaye’s
interest in palm trees, UAE annual date production has jumped from less than 8,000 metric
tonnes (MT) in 1971 to more than 140,000 MT in 1995 (30 times) and to 500,000 MT in 2000.
In 2014, the FAO named UAE cultivation of dates as a globally important agricultural heritage
system (Carroll, 2014)

Agriculture Academies

Of course, no list of environmental initiatives or efforts can be complete without mention of the
development of agricultural academies in the UAE. With regard to agricultural education how-
ever, due to lack of demand in this area the schooling comes at a high cost. There are many
options available such as:

• College of Food and Agriculture, UAE University

• College of Agricultural Sciences: With an emphasis on the development of methods
of agriculture and development, students are often thinking of community service in
the UAE when studying here. The school has four specializations in agriculture: plant
production and protection, soil, agricultural and livestock production, and food and
feed industries.

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Chapter TWO: The UAE and the Environment

Water Dams

Part of the creation of a green land required ample amounts of water. This is why many dams
were commissioned throughout the UAE. They hold water that normally washes away after
seasonal rains, or which might threaten to carry away healthy soils.

There are more than 140 dams in the mountains of the UAE, and they have the collective ca-
pacity for holding from 300k to over 18 million cubic meters of water.

Of course, if you want evidence of the initiatives that have taken UAE from a desert to an ag-
ricultural success, one of the first places to look is the world’s first eco-friendly city - Masdar.

Masdar

Known more as a strategic government initiative than as a city built and developed around green
principles, it was established only in 2006 and is actually a commercial renewable energy com-
pany’s headquarters. It is in Abu Dhabi, and is part of the Mubadala Development Company.

The goal of Masdar, however, is not profit. It is a mission-based effort that is attempting to
advance the “clean” energy industry through the city’s different initiatives and programs. If suc-
cessful, the company/city is hoping to develop Abu Dhabi as a leading alternate or clean energy
name all around the globe.

It uses a three-prong approach to its mission, and partners with an independent, graduate uni-
versity that does a majority of the research driving the company’s technologies. Masdar is known
by the business world, as well as the eco-friendly world as a sort of organic blend of research
and development, higher education, sustainable living, and capital investment.

This hybridization is exactly what the model for the Full Quarter will emulate - investment, gov-
ernment support, ample amounts of research done through university partnerships, and all with
the most sustainable living and agriculture in mind.

The initial capitalization behind Masdar came from the Abu Dhabi government, and was roughly
fifteen billion U.S. dollars. This has allowed the city to grow into a world-famous success story.
It is equal parts sustainable urban development, renewable energy firm, university, and a clean
tech investment opportunity that continues to grow and expand.

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Filling the Empty Quarter

The reason I cite the city here is very simple - it is a city that is powered entirely by renewable
energy. It is capable of serving as an ideal example to the world of how sustainable design is
already capable of accommodating large population centers, and even high-tech spots such as
universities and labs. This same tech could be established in the Full Quarter.

In fact, it is just this sort of capability that will be needed as the Full Quarter Project begins. To
have the opportunity for large numbers of students, researchers, farmers, and laborers to live
in the best conditions possible without the need for non-renewable energy supplies is a sure
incentive for growth of the project.

Consider that the buildings of Masdar cut energy demand by more than 55% and that even
potable water supplies are lessened by more than 50%. It is all about sustainability and accom-
modation. Currently, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology is housed within the city,
and is home to more than 600 students and staff. The International Renewable Energy Agency
(IRENA) is headquartered in the city, too, and global corporation Siemens is moving into prem-
ises in Masdar, too.

Naturally, it has to be about communities too, and Masdar is a success here, as well. There are
already food supplies, shops, cafes, restaurants, banks, retail outlets and other similar estab-
lishments available in the city, too.

Clearly, the government backing of a wholly sustainable city proves that it is thoroughly commit-
ted to the advancement of energy efficiency and how to make UAE a world leader in this area.
However, the country also consistently proves its commitment to the environment.

Let’s consider the different kinds of legislation and measures made by the government.

Environmental Measures in the UAE

Masdar is a city that is less than a decade old, and it is easy to see the emphasis on success and
environmental friendliness that exists in the UAE when looking at the timeline of local and fed-
eral measures put in place at roughly the same time as the founding of the world’s first eco-city:

• 1992 - Two federal laws are put in place around the handling and importation of agricul-
tural pesticides and fertilizers.

• 1999 - Environmental protection laws are enacted and the Master Program for Water
Resources is created at the UAE University.

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Chapter TWO: The UAE and the Environment

• 2005 - The Ministry of Environment and Water is created. The Ground Water Resources
Monitoring Network is created in Abu Dhabi, and local orders regulating drinking water
in some emirates are enacted.

• 2006 - Drilling laws are put in place in Abu Dhabi.

• 2007 - MASDAR created, the federal Ecological Footprint Initiative is created, and the
Master of Science for Groundwater Engineering and Management is created by Ajman
University.

• 2008 - Creation of the Arab Water Academy is completed, along with the initiation of water
saving programs in Dubai. First water tariffs are issued, and new green building codes
are put in place in Abu Dhabi.

• 2009 - Fujairah creates a protected area for conservation of freshwater resources, and
the National Water and Energy Saving Campaign begins throughout the UAE.

It might be easy to see why it was in 2009 that Abu Dhabi was selected as the home of the
International Renewable Energy Agency or IRENA. With a primary mission of driving the tran-
sition to renewable energy around the globe, the choice of location could not have been wiser.
More than 130 member states have joined, and again, it has been the power of cooperation that
is such a vital part of the success of the organization.

Though IRENA cannot commit to a Green Jihad in the way I am advocating in my Full Quarter
concept, it is that sense of “working together” that is essential to the success of any globally
eco-friendly project. As I already suggested, it is the obligation of any Muslim to strive to correct
negative stereotypes created by media and simple ignorance.

It is also our duty to commit to this Green Jihad to help combat the destructive forces of global
warming. So, although we have looked briefly at the idea of the Green Jihad a bit earlier,
we’ll benefit from really digging into the topic now that we know all about the tools we have
to make it!

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Chapter Three

Islam and the Green Jihad

The current Empty Quarter is situated, geographically, along the southern side of the Arabian
Peninsula - the birthplace of Islam. Thus, it is also an ideal spot from which to begin to spread
a global message of peace and caring for the environment.

Climate Change and Changing the world

Remember that earlier we considered the two definitions of jihad, and how the best jihad is the
personal or inner one. This is useful to know as you consider how climate change also calls for
that inner or personal change/jihad.
Consider some basic facts - climate change is something that demands us to become very
mindful of our every action and for a re-evaluation of our choices. Climate change forces us to
give attention and energy to the environmental crises plaguing all parts of the world and these
affect all living things.

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Chapter Three: Islam and the Green Jihad

It also forces us, as well as our religious leadership, to seek out answers or to obtain inspiration.
How do we avert global disaster? How do we look to our oldest traditions, sacred texts, and
religious principles to find answers?

For Muslims, there is a pleasant surprise at hand. The ancient texts of the Islamic religious
tradition have a lot to say that relates to our current environmental problems. In this way, the
modern Muslim does not have to bend or reinterpret texts or traditions, but instead simply apply
the traditional readings to the new dilemmas.

As a prime example, the Quran tells a Muslim to accept their part in the crisis:

“Corruption doth appear on land and sea because of (the evil) which men’s hands have done,
that He may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return.”

(Quran 30:41)

What is this saying to us? Essentially, it is the same as saying we are getting a, “Dose of our
own medicine.”

We have collectively acted with reckless abandon towards the environment, and now it is doing
the same towards us. The words above are meant to inspire us to get back on track and to steer
away from the many wrong decisions we have made. We must take it upon ourselves to reverse
these harmful changes we have caused to the environment, but it won’t be easy. In fact, for
many generations it may taste a lot like “bitter medicine”. This is because we must not just make
societal changes; we must make deep personal changes.

Just consider one of the key changes that anyone who calls themselves an environmentalist
has to make. They must not be a consumer but a conserver instead. This asks a lot of us, but
is a major step back towards the proper path.

Conservation

A famous man once said, “Waste not, want not,” and that is a lesson we should follow today.
Wastefulness is something that has brought the world to this sudden crisis. This is why we also
learn about the famous “three Rs” at a young age, too. Reduce, reuse, recycle... This is not
something a child of thirty years ago would have heard or needed to live by, but is a very com-
mon phrase in all corners of the globe today.

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Filling the Empty Quarter
Here too, however, we hear words of the Quran:
“But waste not by excess: for Allah loveth not the wasters”
(Quran 6:141, Yusuf Ali translation).
Just consider how this phrase is made physical in the rules of Islam. In many preliminary texts
describing Islamic worship, when making ablutions prior to prayer you are reminded to be cau-
tious of your use of water - even if you are standing alongside a river.
Why the conscientiousness around water consumption in a religious practice? While we may
never have understood it before, we certainly can now. Modern and ancient Muslims alike had to
develop this respect and awareness around the use of water due to the scarcity as a resource.
Do not waste things you do not have in abundance, but also do not waste because of the twisted
nature of waste in general. Instead, always seek to conserve as this reveals your understanding
of all things as a gift from Allah.

Plant that Last Tree!

In addition to respectful use of water, Muslims also understand the importance of planting trees.
We know that trees are beneficial to the planet, but in ancient traditions, the Islamic practice of
planting a tree was actually a part of ongoing charity. This being the highest type of good deed,

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Chapter Three: Islam and the Green Jihad

the Prophet Muhammad, on whom be peace, said that if one plants a tree what is eventually
eaten from it counts as a an act of charity for the one who planted that tree.

The Balance of All Life

“Seest thou not that to Allah bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on
earth, the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great number among
mankind?”

(Quran 22:18)

All of the creations of Allah, including trees, are a glorification of God. Additionally, Islamic tradi-
tion and teaching also tells us that all creatures have a purpose and role in the world, and that
to ignore this fact is to ignore the divine notion of being.

“There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms
part of) communities like you.”

(Quran 6:38)

Yes, this idea is over 1,400 years old, but it is held up as valid by today’s ideas of a circle or
chain of life that proves how connected we all are. From the tiny ant to the towering oak, and
everything in between, we do depend on one another to maintain the balance of life on Earth. If
you doubt that, consider the global plight of honeybees and how their dying numbers is causing
scientists to leap into action to save them in order to save around 70% of the human food chain.

The Quran also reminds us of the need to give respect and attention to this balance:

“And the sky He hath uplifted; and He hath set the measure, that ye exceed not the measure,
but observe the measure strictly, nor fall short thereof.”

(55:7-9)

What does this tell us of our attitudes toward the environment? Cutting down entire forests, killing
off entire species, wastefulness...these are things that are not part of Islam, and which prove
that a Green Jihad is something any Muslim should commit to.

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Filling the Empty Quarter

Humanity as viceroys

You may wonder why it is humanity that should be tasked with this jihad, and again, the answer can
be found in the texts of the Quran.

For example, a Muslim will tell you that anything they own or which they call “property” is actually
only provided temporarily to them and actually belongs to Allah. The world is placed in our trust,
and as such we are meant to be its preservers in order to be able to deliver back to Him.

“Believe in Allah and His messenger, and spend of that whereof He hath made you trustees; and
such of you as believe and spend (aright), theirs will be a great reward.”

(Quran 57:7)

This text goes beyond just charity and is entreating a Muslim to also see the natural resources in
their hands as something that they must preserve and one day return.

Why else does the Quran identify mankind as “viceroys”? In Quran 10:14 we learn that we are
supposed to serve as viceroys and behave as such. If not, we can simply turn again to the Quran
and read about what is due to someone who misbehaves:

“And when he turneth away (from thee) his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to de-
stroy the crops and the cattle; and Allah loveth not mischief”

(Quran 2:205).

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Chapter Three: Islam and the Green Jihad

So, if we are viceroys and supposed to preserve what we are given, what exactly are we to do with
our wealth and resources? We are told to do no mischief in Quran 7:56 and this is because the
world has all been set in order.

However, we have done mischief for many generations, and now it is our turn to taste our own
medicine and make some tough choices and major changes.

Changing According to Quranic Tradition

Though we may not have lived far outside of Quranic injunctions, we have collectively as human
beings, really ruined the balance of the world we have inherited. That tells us that we, as a genera-
tion with the insight and the ability, must do all that we can to make the world whole and complete.

We know already that this is going to demand tremendous amounts of money, manpower, and
global commitment. This can be exhausting to the individual, and so it demands that we never
cease to work towards rebalancing the world, and that we use all the courage we have to make the
necessary changes.

It is not easy working as a custodian of the environment and being the viceroys that we are told to
be. There are many modern challenges to leading the most earth-friendly life possible. We all use
vehicles, electricity, water, and food - and these things alone are all responsible for many of the
Earth’s biggest threats.

However, if we are to maintain the systems that host the amazing diversity of life that has been
created on this Earth - from insects and plants to animals and gorgeous birds - we must make the
tough choices around many of these issues.

We can also make many small and manageable personal changes as well. The reduce, reuse, and
recycle pattern mentioned is something that should be part of your lifestyle. So too should mindful
use of water, which is part of Islamic teaching. Apply this awareness to use of all natural resources,
and even consider planting one tree a week, month, or year to do a small bit towards the greening
of the planet.

Your Green Jihad can be as small as turning off the tap when brushing your teeth, walking to work,
and planting a tree every year to help reverse deforestation. After all, consider this message from
the Quran:

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Filling the Empty Quarter

“Man shall have nothing but what he strives for.”

(Quran 53:39).

In the past we have strived towards what many called “progress”, but this corrupted the very earth,
air, and water we were given to tend to and care for. Now, we can use the message we find in our
faith and which can point us towards a much stronger environmental awareness.

We know that Islam has many messages that can help us begin the Green Jihad, and now it is up
to us to make the changes and fulfill our mission.

Of course, as we have discovered repeatedly, the entire project (including my initial development
outline) depends on adequate water. Here too we find words from the Quran that can prove just
how appropriate it is for a Muslim to commit to this idea of a Green Jihad.

Water and the Green Jihad - Evidence From the Quran

We know that Allah has made water the very foundation or basis for life:

“We made from water every living thing…”

(Quran 21:30)

Human beings most certainly depend on water in order to exist, but water is just as essential and
restorative to plants, cells, and soil as it is to humans. We learn this over and over throughout the
Quran, and see it in such texts as those below.

The restorative properties of water:

“Verily... in the rain that God sends down from heaven, thereby giving life to the earth after its death...”

(Quran 2:164)

“And you see the earth barren and lifeless, but when We pour down rain upon it, it stirs and swells,
and puts forth growth of every resplendent kind.”

(Quran 22:5)

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Chapter Three: Islam and the Green Jihad

The life-giving properties of water:

“It is He Who sends down water from the sky; and thereby We have brought forth the plants of
every kind…”

(Quran 6:99)

“And We send down pure water from the sky, thereby to bring to life a dead land and slake the thirst
of that which We have created-cattle and men in multitudes.”

(Quran 25:48-49)

Of course, as I mentioned above, the Quran reminds us that we are not the owners or the creators
of the gifts of nature, including water, and so the Quran reminds us that we should be respectful,
grateful, and mindful of how it is used (and never wasted):

“Have you seen the water which you drink? Was it you who sent it down from the rain cloud, or
did We send it? Were it Our will, We could have made it bitter; why then do you not give thanks?”

(Quran 56:68-70)

“Have you considered, if your water were one morning to have seeped away, who then could bring
you clear-flowing water?”

(Quran 67:30)

The modern world seems to be divided into those who have the basic essentials for life - fresh
water, electricity, food, and so on - and those who do not. It can be so easy to forget the simplest
and most vital functions of water. For a Muslim, we must remember that those without clean water
are unable to purify the body, the garments, and remain pure and clean. For the non-Muslim, water
still provides this purification, and yet climate change is causing many to be without even rainfall:

“And He caused rain to descend on you from heaven to cleanse you therewith…”

(Quran 8:11)

And when the rain does fall, and offer us its restorative, life-giving and purifying qualities? Do we
need to give it any thought after that? Yes, and this is because it provides food, transport, and more.

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Filling the Empty Quarter

The water of the Earth is in a constant cycle, and at each part of the cycle it provides benefits. As a
prime example, it is home to the many flora and fauna that inhabit seas, lakes, rivers, and oceans.
The water contained in these bodies evaporates and is rained down again. The care of the water
at any phase is significant because it can be damaged and create an unhealthy setting at another
part of the water lifecycle.

Sadly, we can harm the water through pollution, through the use of improper fishing and harvesting
techniques, and more. Yet, it is obvious that we are neglecting our role as steward or viceroy by so
doing, and we too pay a penalty. Just consider:

“It is He Who has made the sea of service, that you may eat thereof flesh that is fresh and tender,
and that you may bring forth from it ornaments to wear, and you see the ships therein that plough
the waves, that you may seek of His bounty.”

(Quran 16:14)

Water and all that it provides is a gift to humanity and conservation of it is a vital part of the continu-
ation of life on Earth. Humans, animals, plants, and all the unseen life forms surrounding us require
it, and under Islamic law, “That which leads to the prohibited is itself prohibited.”

So, the preservation of life requires the conservation of water at all levels. If you do something that
pollutes, destroys, or harms water you are impairing the social and biological functions of it - you
are making an unstable and unbalanced environment for almost all living things. Water is the basis
of life, and anything done to waste it or ruin it is as if one is wasting and ruining life itself.

A gift to all living things, water has been handed down with “common rights”. Everything is to be
able to use healthy water without abuse, combat, or struggle. Just consider:

“And tell them that the water shall be shared between them…”

(Quran 54:28)

The Prophet has also reaffirmed this:

“Muslims are to share in these three things: water, pasture, and fire.”

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Chapter Three: Islam and the Green Jihad
Wasteful use of water is, thus, forbidden - in public and private. And this holds true whether you have
it in abundance or find it to be a very rare commodity. It is to be used with care and conservation
at all times, and with full understanding that is shared by all as a gift of life.
We see this in the familiar tale of the Prophet and his friend Sa’d. The Prophet came upon Sa’d
washing before prayer and asked him why he was wasting water. His friend exclaimed that it was
not wastage when it was for prayer, but the Prophet informed it that it was wastage even if done in
a flowing river.
This ancient understanding of the preciousness of water has been passed down through the gener-
ations, and today the water right in the driest lands has led to in-depth explorations of how to more
sustainably use water. Since water is a primary part of the Full Quarter Project as well, let’s give a lot
of attention to just how those from arid places, like the UAE, have begun to use water with greater
care and even harvest it to help restore the unbalanced lands.

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Chapter Four

Water Harvesting

In this chapter, we will explore several concepts related to water harvesting as well as proven world-
wide “best practices”. There are household methods as well as industrial methods, the chapter
will emphasize the latest technological advances and practices at use all over the globe, with an
emphasis on water capturing practices of particular use to those in desert locations and who are
interested in harvesting water both for human consumption and for large-scale agriculture.

Concept One: The Endless Rivers of the World

Have you ever wondered where water of the world’s rivers go? The answer is simple - they
either navigate their way to the oceans or they evaporate. Since the oceans are around 70%
of the world’s surface it means that many parts of the planet are a bit “thirsty”. Thus, it makes
no sense wasting even a drop of water if the world is so thirsty.

How do we limit waste? There are many ways, but the first concept I want to present is one
known as the Endless Rivers concept. This explores the option for making use of waters
found in the “estuary” region of a river. This is the mouth of the river where it meets the sea.
As indicated above - water always tries to make its way to the sea via the many rivers, and
so the largest rivers have enormous mouths into which they pour their waters into the ocean.

Here, a blend of fresh river water combines with saltwater from the sea and creates what is
known as “brackish water”. This usually has around .05 - .03% salinity, making it acceptable
for agriculture or irrigation.

How could this be used in the UAE and in the Full Quarter Project? The closest river to the UAE
is the Dasht (in Pakistan). This is roughly 500km from the Emirate of Fujairah, and the Dasht,
like all rivers of the world, pours itself into the delta area and then into the sea. This is part of
the problem of global pollution as well as rising sea levels.

We have already considered that the brackishness of the water in an estuary is not a problem,
but what about other contaminants? The good news is that there are benefits from estuary

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Chapter Four: Water Harvesting
waters of the Dasht since it would be rich in organic waste and quite fertile. The key would be
somehow transferring it to the UAE.

This would be best done through the creation of a water pipeline from the delta to Fujairah. Rather
than putting the river itself at risk by pumping water away from it, the natural force of gravity to
drive the excess to the UAE. In other words, only water which was due to go to sea will end up in
the UAE. If the flow is inadequate and pumping is deemed necessary, this should occur only in
times of flooding. Alternately, tankers might be a good option if a pipeline is unfavorable.

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Filling the Empty Quarter

What would this provide? By implementing this concept, we will be able to:

1. Provide the UAE with a water for irrigation continuously and with minimal price

2. Contribute to reducing the sea level around the world

3. The water will be used for plantation, hence helping with reducing the effect of climate
change around the world.

4. Pumping water during flooding from the riverside to the UAE will help reduce the effect
of floods to the local people living near the river.

The same method can be implemented across all rivers of the world and multiply the bene-
fits exponentially while also providing food, water, jobs, stability, political cooperation, and so
much more.

Similarly, we can connect the European rivers with North Africa and make use of the availability
of flood water. Recent experiences of widespread and devestating floods throughout Europe
guarantees that this would be a reliable resource.

The method to use would emphasize underwater pipelines from Europe’s main rivers, which
would then be connected to collection areas in the Sahara. Excess water is dumped into this
enormous zone - benefiting any European country at risk from floods, but also helping to green
the Sahara. This would supply the desperately needed water resources for fighting desertifica-
tion, but also many other benefits. These include:

• Reducing sea levels since the floodwaters would head into the seas.

• Helping the global fight against climate change by fighting the desert, and this would
eventually reduce or limit the incidence of flooding all over the world due entirely to global
warming (Currently, the number of floods is forecasted to increase worldwide due to the
climate change).

• Sparing coastal cities and settlements from the hazards of rising sea levels. One of the
biggest threats due to climate change and global warming is the rise of sea level. This
is threatening to wipe or submerge entire countries; such as the Islands of Maldives as
well as many cities across the globe. Many are rushing to invest in the technologies and
equipment necessary to save themselves, including the Dutch city of Amsterdam and

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Chapter Four: Water Harvesting

the Italian city of Venice. This approach would cut back on those risks and threats by
redirecting water.

• Flooding also does something truly harmful to everything in its path - it carries untreated
sewage through the towns, cities, and lands through which it passes. It then dumps this
toxic mess into the oceans. This too contributes to sea level rise, but also the destruction
of land and freshwater resources. As an example, Canada is dumping some 200 billion
liters of sewage directly into natural waterways every year.

• In addition to the sewage, we have the many rivers of the world pouring their waters into
the oceans after ending their journey, contributing as well somehow to the sea level rise.

We claim that the world is thirsty for water while we are dumping billions of liters into the sea
when we might capture it instead. In the case of the United Arab Emirates, it is Pakistani river of
Dasht, which is the most likely resource for “capturing” fresh water. We now know it could allow
for a natural flow of water during normal circumstances or pumping/shipping during flooding.

The Broader Meaning of the Dasht Project

• If successful, it could contribute to the reduction of sea levels by utilizing the water inland.

• Make use of the highly fertile water for agricultural purpose in the UAE, ultimately making
the UAE greener as the sediment carried by the river is full of organic waste.

• Help the Pakistani side reducing the effect of flooding on the local inhabitants.

• Reduce the effect of further polluting of the ocean.

• The decision to proceed with this concept needs a political well combined with economic
benefits for both parties.

• The change to the river deltas habitats due to the project needed to be studied as well.

• The second closest River to the UAE is the Indus River; which is bigger in size than the
Dasht River, eventually the Indus might be connected to the network to allow greater
utilization of the pipeline.

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• If the concept works as anticipated, it can be applied in all rivers. The Nile, as an example,

could go into the Sinai, and so on.

Why do we allow flooding water or sewage to flow into the sea? It is not only harmful to the bio-
diversity of the oceans but it causes pollution. Why do not we dump it into the deserts around
the world instead?
Floodwaters cause harm and destruction at their origins, but if were directed into the deserts, it
would serve many purposes. It would combat desertification, lower the sea level, and prevent
toxins and pollutants from further contaminating the landscape, the oceans, and the many forms
of life that inhabit them.
We have to persistently remember that water either goes to the sea or evaporates. When flood-
waters are caught in populated areas, the floodwaters are channeled into sewers - if possible - or
they roar through the landscape towards the sea. This includes the floodwaters in the UAE itself.
Rather than allowing them to escape through the wadis, however, why not continue to rely on
more and more dams to contain these waters?

Concept Two: Antarctica water Mining

Global climate change has made the Earth hotter, and this leads to rising sea levels as the polar
caps continually melt and massive icebergs break from away and slowly melt. These ice caps are
in the northern and southern poles, and are made of fresh water. When global warming causes
them to melt, it essentially wastes fresh water by melting into the seas. Plus, when large sheets of
ice break away, they cause a rise in the sea level, which remains in place as the ice itself melts.

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Chapter Four: Water Harvesting
You can probably see where this idea is going simply because others have also considered
how best to deal with icebergs and global warming. Some have sought to harvest the water or
capture it before it melts.
My concept is not unusual or particularly challenging - essentially, we should collect the water
from the free floating icebergs by crushing them and shipping the water or the larger blocks of
ice to the land and transporting the fresh water accordingly.
Now, before you say that this is an unwise way of using resources, note that around 70% of the
fresh water on the planet is currently trapped in the polar ice caps. Icebergs are created con-
stantly, posing a threat to ships, but also wasting fresh water. It would be very easy for a large
vessel to tow an iceberg to almost any destination without losing a lot of the water or processing
it “in place”.

Naturally, many know that only a small amount of an iceberg appears above water, but estimates
put the “average” iceberg at 3,000 x 1,500 x 600 feet. At these dimensions, it would constitute
around 20 billion gallons of fresh water. Let’s put that into a realistic scale: if one million people
each use ten gallons of water per day, 20 billion gallons of water would take care of the water
needs of those one million people for approximately five years, or more. For ten million people
it would be almost two hundred days of water, which is a lot regardless where they are located.
Of course, the very first thing to ask is: Can it be done?

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Filling the Empty Quarter
Technically speaking, yes. Satellite imagery, long distance freighters, and the pure “brute force”
needed to drag an item of that size make it possible. Realistically speaking? There are some
glitches to overcome, but these are easily met. For instance, the energy wasted attempting to pull
an iceberg all of the distance needed would be easily addressed by simply “mining” icebergs -
smashing them up as I have already suggested.
Rather than sending enormous tankers full of oil around the world, it would be much more ben-
eficial and earth friendly to convert these to floating iceberg processing plants. Into their vast
holds (which hold around 100 million gallons) could go the ice shavings taken from the icebergs?
The water would then be ready for pumping to the desert upon arrival.
Fresh water could be delivered wherever needed in this way, but also delivered to projects such
as the Full Quarter.
Do keep in mind that the melting of the ice caps is causing many problems, and this system would
create an instant solution. It would help to reduce the amount of sea level rising substantially, it
would prevent the problems of those billions of gallons of fresh water entering the sea (making
it less saline), it would slow the rise in temperatures currently taking place in the polar regions
and endangering many forms of wildlife; and this method can prevent loss of polar ice caps by
helping to cool the earth faster.
Are there other ways of tackling this concept? There are alternatives already under debate in
discussion in other parts of the world. For example, the images below illustrate the “balloon”
concept that some have devised to make the challenges of towing much lower:

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Chapter Four: Water Harvesting

There are also concepts like “Alive Water”, which is a technology designed to create fresh
drinking water and cooled air. This came about when data about the pace of fresh water con-
sumption versus fresh water renewal was released in a United Nations report. Essentially,
it indicated that by 2025 around two-thirds of the world’s inhabitants will reside in locations
where fresh water is very limited. This, they felt could lead to conflict and human suffering at
an unprecedented scale.

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The Alive Water idea takes some interesting facts into consideration:

• 2/3 of the fresh water in the world is in high latitude glaciers.

• Current theories around extraction of the ice from such locations have run into too many
challenges.

• Ice can provide drinking water AND cooled air.

The Alive Water theory is to extract ice, haul the ice into the sea, load ice into the specialized
hold (a trimaran boat model supports this concept); transport the ice to specialized plants, and
there the sunlight and outside hot air will thaw the ice. The result is fresh water to drink along
with cooled air that can be channeled into household or industrial systems.

The cost? As calculated by the concept designer, it would amount to one U.S. penny for a liter
of water. It would, however require around two thousand of the ships, with 100 thousand tons of
displacement per ship, to meet the demands of the next five decades.

To eliminate fossil fuel waste, none of the ships would make a return voyage with an empty hold, as
specialized “barcons” would be used to transport cargo such as timber, containers, gas, and more.

The global use of this ice would spare consumption of hydrocarbon fuel on a massive scale,
and would increase atmospheric oxygen. This would reduce the greenhouse effect, and should
this concept go global it could help with stabilizing the climate and even undoing some of the
damages already done.

Naturally, concerns about the impact of the process on the Antarctic continent or in the areas
of Greenland or Alaska where it would occur are sensible. However, the math proves that there
is no risk. With 2.5 liters being considered “normal” consumption, the amount of ice needed to
supply one billion people for a full year is equal to one cubic kilometer of ice. Antarctica alone
has more than 30 million cubic kilometers of ice.

Concept Three: The Desert Lakes or the Underground Rivers

This concept is inspired by the Fukuoka Sea water desalination facility, and being developed by a
Japanese company called “ SHIMIZU Corporation “ ; and would create artificial lagoons or lakes
from the seawater sent into the UAE desert. The water would sit on top of all natural filtration
and purify it without the use of any energy. Instead, it would be the movement of the water that

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caused them to be continually cleansed by passing over filtration material in the bed of the lake.
This could then be partnered with the “Desert Aqua Net” concept. The results would include:

• An increase to the humidity in the air and an increased possibility for rain

• Support for decreasing the rising sea levels

• Low energy consumption and a decreasing need for large-scale desalination plants

The Desert Aqua-Net Plan is one that emphasizes desalination, but let’s look at it closely to see
how it could contribute to the better use of water in the Full Quarter.

Aqua Net Explained

With roughly 1/3 of the world’s surface covered in desert, it makes sense for a massive “Aqua
Net” to appear over some of these vast stretches of land.

What is an Aqua Net? It involves the excavation of enormous areas of desert that can be con-
verted into lakes fed by seawater. The arrival of the saltwater would automatically increase the
humidity of the regions, decrease the temperatures, and bring about more frequent rain. The
rain could also be captured as a reliable source for fresh water.

The outcome would also make the regions far more habitable.

These vast, manmade lakes could then be connected by a series of interconnected channels
that would easily and effectively deliver water to any region desired. The construction of the lakes
and channels would coincide with the development of cities in the center of certain lakes. The
living conditions would be favorable and the equipment used for seawater delivery could also
be used, when needed, to deliver fresh water supplies to residents.

How would that seawater arrive in the first place? Gravity would be the primary force used to
ensure the water was channeled from the oceans, with some pumping stations if needed.

This setup could create jobs, sustainable agriculture, and entire economies. Not only could wa-
terways be used for delivery of seawater and transportation of fresh water, but also as conduits
for shipping and transportation.

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What exactly would such a system look like? It would feature many lakes made from seawater.
Each of the lakes would be constructed with “walls” buried beneath their surfaces (in order to
contain them). Gravity would move the water into the lakes, and gravity supplemented with
pumps would transfer supplies of water between lakes. A series of easily managed canals and
aqueducts would also connect the lakes, and these would be used for control of fresh water,
seawater, and even transportation and shipping. In the middle of each lake would be manmade
islands that would be easily sustained by the system.

Comfortable living conditions, ample food and water, and an economy that would grow and
strengthen over time would make them favorable locations to live. Though the cost of such a project
would be immense, the long-term benefits to the economy and the population cannot be ignored.

When partnered with the use of natural desalination, this system would be incredibly cost effec-
tive, very clean, and capable of creating large scale solutions for global problems.

How big would the lakes, lagoons, and islands be? Though there are no realized plans, the
concept considers the depressed topography of most deserts, putting them in the lowlands to
use gravity most efficiently. The lakes would be roughly 30 km in diameter and 30 meters at
their deepest. They would be spread out no farther than 150km each, and would be lined with
slow filtration systems similar to those in use at the Fukuoka Sea Water Desalination Facility.

The waters of the lakes would be held by a two-meter thick wall within the ground surrounding
the lakes, and which extended below the permeable filtration layers. The aqueducts and chan-
nels would be constructed of concrete and built according to the most essential specifications
(i.e. for water craft, fresh water, etc.). The “manmade” islands could be constructed of organic
materials, or the initial layout of any lake could use the elevated areas above the most low-lying
land to create inhabitable islands.

What sort of industry could exist here to sustain the population financially? The use of the sea-
water means that cultivation of marine resources is possible. Fishing could be a major industry,
but biomass production is also an option.

The use of high tech systems could mean that islands would support communities of teleworkers as
well as laborers operating water systems, any solar power facilities, and more. Naturally, any popu-
lation also creates the need for food supplies and services, medicine, schools, and so much more.

Canals also make it possible for easy and speedy transportation of goods and of residents. This
could encourage spreading settlement within any new lake or island.

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Filling the Empty Quarter

Concept Four: AL Maa Harvesting Fresh Water From the Sea

In 2005, I was visiting the Maldives when it started pouring heavily. I wondered where it was
raining - in the middle of Indian Ocean? And it is all going to the sea. I said to myself, “Eureka, we
should use it!” Again, a couple of years later, I saw it was raining in the sea off Ras Al Khaimah,
and I had a second eureka moment.
I applied in 2011 for a patent in the UK and in February of 2013, it was published in the journal of
patents of the United Kingdom’s Intellectual Property Office. After getting the patent, I am now
in the process of building a prototype of the device. I received media attention for this system,
and hope to see it put to use as part of the water issue relating to the Full Quarter.
The concept is actually very easy to understand:
Rain is the major factor in the water cycle on Earth; it is how fresh water is distributed after
condensation. Around 505k cubic km of fresh water rains down from the skies every year, and
more than 3/4 of that is over the world’s oceans.
With the size of the planet, it means that ocean areas get over 39 inches of rainfall annually while
the land gets 28 inches at best. Thus, it just makes sense that we seek to capture fresh water
from somewhere out at sea.
However, it doesn’t have to be all that far from land because of the “urban heat island” effect.
This increases rainfall in intensity and amount, and happens frequently in an area downwind of
a city. We can then see just how problematic global warming is as it changes rainfall patterns,
causes cities to be warmer, and leads to rising sea levels.

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So, what does my invention do? It functions like many other devices meant to capture rainwater over
bodies of water, but also to those used to capture water from mist or dew. It provides a partial solution
to water scarcity by harvesting rainwater in places where it is most abundant. This makes it an ideal
tool for those fighting desertification.
The key difference in my system is that it is a large-scale solution rather than one meant for only
limited use. In current terms, harvested rainwater tends to be directed most for agricultural use. This
is unfortunate since it is ideal for drinking and human consumption. Of course, that is where we run
into difficulty because we rarely have the large “capture areas” needed to gather enough water.
Rainwater capture over areas of water such as the sea and lakes has not previously been considered
as a means for water supply, except for small-scale provision for emergency situations at sea. The
present invention aims to provide improved apparatus and methods for rainwater capture that are
adapted for use at sea, either in deep water or inshore, or over other bodies of water such as lakes,
swamp and estuarine rivers where the body of water may not be usable as a supply in itself. In the
following, reference will be made to application at sea, and the surrounding water being seawater,
with other possible locations such as those above being understood.

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A Detailed Description of “AL-Maa” Concept :

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus adapted to collect airborne
moisture, such as rainwater or dew. This is adapted to float on a body of water and it comprises: a
collector having an outer perimeter and an outlet, an immersible storage tank, a fluid connection
means forming a fluidic pathway between the outlet and an inlet to the storage tank, and means to
withdraw water from the tank.

Preferably the apparatus comprises a collector mounted on the tank, the whole being adapted to float
at a depth in water such that the perimeter of the collector is a given height or range of heights above
the external water level. In alternative embodiments the apparatus may be adapted to rest on the bed
of the body of water, and may be sized so as to keep the collector above the external water level.

The apparatus is preferably adapted to resist capture of water splashed or sprayed from the surface
of the surrounding water, and the perimeter of the collector may be shaped so as to reduce splash
or spray into the collector. The collector may be permanently connected to the tank by means of the
fluidic connection, or may be detachable from it, for example for emptying or cleaning of either com-
ponent. The collector may be permanently mounted on the tank, or may be removable. The appara-
tus may be adapted so that rainwater flows from the collector to the tank under gravity. Alternatively,
a pump may be provided to pump water from the collector to the tank.

Preferably the apparatus is adapted to float in water in the manner of a buoy. The apparatus may
comprise a storage tank shaped to follow with surrounding wave motion, or shaped largely to resist
rocking movement, after the manner of a discus or spar buoy respectively. The storage tank has a
volume chosen using one or more of the following criteria: mean rainfall, required mean time between
emptying of the tank, stability in the wave motion expected in the area, ease of fabrication, transport
and installation.

In typical situations, the annual rainfall will be such that the collector preferably has a characteristic
dimension across its width greater than the width of the tank, the tank having a vertical dimension
chosen using one or more of the following criteria: storage volume, stability in the wave motion ex-
pected in the area, ease of fabrication, transport and installation.

In preferred embodiments, the apparatus comprises a breather designed for allowing air to leave the
tank as rainwater enters it, or air to enter as water is emptied from the tank. Alternatively, where the
breather is preferably located at or near the top of the tank and may comprise a breather valve as
known in the art that allows air to flow but not water. The breather may be a shaped fluidic pathway

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adapted substantially to prevent water from entering the tank while allowing either water or air to exit
from inside the tank, such as a narrow tube.

The tank may be fitted with an overflow so that water may exit when the tank is full. In a simple
embodiment, the tank may be emptied by means of a pipe placed temporarily through the fluidic
connection via the outlet from the collector. The collector may be capable of being disconnected from
the tank for this purpose. In preferred embodiments, the tank comprises an outlet pipe originating in
a lower region of the tank so as to achieve effective emptying.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a valve controlling the fluid pathway between the collector and
the tank, the valve being adapted to close the pathway when there is a risk of contamination of the
tank contents with seawater. In preferred embodiments, the valve acts in response to a stimulus
associated with increased risk of contamination, such as movement, e.g. rocking of the apparatus,
or wind speed.

In particularly preferred embodiments, the apparatus comprises a control means that operates the
valve and one or more sensors. The control means being adapted to control the valve in response
to a signal from the sensor(s). In preferred embodiments, one or more sensors are provided from
the following: accelerometers, tilt sensors, shock sensors, anemometers, wave height sensors such
as GPS-based wave height detection systems, meteorological weather warning systems, rainfall
sensors. Particularly preferred embodiments comprise batteries and solar panels.

In particularly preferred embodiments, the apparatus is provided with means to vent water from the
collector without it passing into the tank. Preferably the apparatus comprises valve means to allow
venting, controlled by the control means. In a preferred embodiment, a three-way valve is provided
which allows water from the collector either to be held in the collector, passed to the tank or vented.
Such venting is useful in cases where seawater may have entered the collector, e.g. through spray
or waves, and the collector needs to be emptied before collection can re-start.

In further embodiments, one or more sensors are provided that sense a condition in the water col-
lected by the collector. Preferably, a sensor is provided contacting the water adjacent to the outlet from
the collector, the output from the sensor being used by the control means to control operation of the
valve(s). Such sensors may be conductivity sensors, salt-water sensors, pH sensors, and turbidity
sensors. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a conductivity sensor measures the salt content of
water in the outlet from the collector, and the control means acts to allow water into the tank only if
it is acceptably free from saltwater contamination.

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The apparatus may be designed along similar principles to standard buoys, the design taking account
of the variable load of rainwater within the tank. Alternative embodiments may be adapted to rest on
the bed of a shallow body of water. The apparatus may be moored as known in the art, and may be
co-operable with a remote storage tank, interconnected by means of pipes. The storage tank may
float, or may rest on the seabed and the apparatus may float at the surface. More than one such
apparatus may connect to a common storage tank.

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A number of apparatuses may be linked together and be handled, towed or installed as group.
The apparatus may be designed with a chosen buoyancy taking account of the increasing mass
of the apparatus as water is collected. The apparatus may comprise means to control or change
its buoyancy, for example comprising one or more ballast tanks that may be filled or emptied.
The apparatus may comprise means to fill and empty a ballast tank, for example a pump and
fluidic connections to allow filling with seawater. The apparatus may further comprise a control
means adapted to control the buoyancy and one or more sensors that respond to one or more
of: the stability of the apparatus as measured by its movement in the sea, the amount of water
within the tank, wind speed, wave height.

The size of the apparatus, the area of the collector and the volume of the storage tank may be
chosen so as to allow filling over a suitable period of time. Typically, the collector will have a
large area compared with the horizontal cross-sectional area of the tank.

For example, for a region with moderate rainfall of 50cm p.a., a 25m2 collector (e.g. a 5m x 5m
inverted pyramid) will fill a tank of 12.5 m3 in one year; therefore, a tank say 2.5m square and 2m
deep will fill in a year. The dimensions of the apparatus may depend on the intended application.
In preferred embodiments, dimensions of the collector are between 1m and 100m across, and
in more preferred embodiments between 3m and 50m. In alternative embodiments, the collector
may take an extended form, and may comprise structures over 100m across.

The collector may take a variety of forms according to the size of the apparatus and conditions in
the proposed location. In preferred embodiments, the collector is formed from a rigid material, such
as metal or plastic, and may be in the form of a largely self-supporting dish, pyramid or cone, with
an outlet at the lowest point. In alternative embodiments the collector may be formed from a flexible
material such a plastic sheet or woven fabric, supported for example by semi-rigid components
such as spars, ribs or poles in the manner of an umbrella or an inverted tent. The material may be
tensioned by cables and/or rigid members as known in the art of flexible buildings. In this way, large,
light collectors may be formed using economical materials.

The apparatus may be adapted for collection of water from dew or mist in the air, and in such embod-
iments, the material of the collector is chosen to have this capability. Such dew-collecting materials
are known, for example see the ‘Waterfull’ system as referenced under prior art above.

The apparatus is preferably adapted for ease of transport and handling and storage, including when
on land. Preferably features are provided as part of the apparatus that allow it to stand stably on
land, as are known for example in the design of buoys. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus
is adapted to be stackable so as to reduce the storage footprint of a number of apparatuses. In a

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preferred embodiment, the apparatus is built to the specification of a standard transport container,
and preferably comprises a structural frame adapted to allow handling of the apparatus in the manner
of a transport container, for example using cranes, ships, vehicles and stacking/loading procedures
designed for such containers. In such embodiments, preferably the apparatus is contained within a
structural frame that acts to support the components of the apparatus, and also acts to allow handling
and stacking of the apparatus.

In further preferred embodiments, the apparatus comprises features to reduce the likelihood of con-
tamination of the rainwater with water from the surroundings, for example a splash rim around the
edge of the collector to reduce the likelihood of seawater entering. In order to reduce the likelihood
of sea water contamination, as well; the length of the pipe connecting the collector and the buoy may
be increased to exceed maximum wave height, for example 10 - 15m, “Which is the highest wave
height recorded.”

The apparatus optionally may comprise means to wash the interior surface of the collector with fresh
water to remove salt-water contamination, and means to vent the wash water from the collector. The
wash water may be drawn from the tank and preferably a fluidic system comprising pump means
and valve means is provided to deliver water to the surface of the collector to wash the surface.
Optionally, means are provided to control the washing process so as to loosen deposits on the sur-
face and then to wash them away.

Optionally, the apparatus may comprise cleaning means such as a cleaning agent, for example a
detergent, and means to supply the cleaning agent to the collector surface. Optionally, the apparatus
may comprise wiping means adapted to wipe the interior surface of the collector, for example a brush
or wiper blade, in order to clean the surface.

Such washing means are preferably controlled by the control means under the command of a clean-
ing program forming part of the control program.

In a further preferred embodiment, the apparatus is adapted to collect rainwater in a batch mode, in
which a volume of rainwater is collected and tested in order to determine its quality. Based on the
test result the volume is either added to the collection tank or vented. In some embodiments, rejected
water may be saved in a separate tank for cleaning purposes. Testing may be done for example by
means of one or more sensors provided as part of the apparatus, signals from the sensors being
interpreted by the control means.

In further preferred embodiments, the apparatus comprises filtration means to filter the captured
rainwater. Preferably, the collected water is filtered before it enters the storage tank. The apparatus

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may comprise filter means within the fluidic path from the collector to the tank. The apparatus may
further comprise means to flush the filter, preferably using water from the storage tank. The apparatus
may further comprise water purification means, which may be powered by renewable energy supply
means forming part of the apparatus as described earlier. The apparatus may comprise more than
one storage tank, for example, a first tank that acts to hold rainwater as it is collected, and a second
tank that acts to hold filtered and/or purified water.

In use, the apparatus of the invention is installed in water, for example in an inshore sea location,
and left to operate for a period. During operation, the apparatus collects rainwater and may operate
autonomously under command of the control means, or may be operated remotely. After a period,
the apparatus may be emptied. Emptying may be for example on shore, the apparatus being brought
back to shore; it may be in situ at sea with a pipe connection to shore; it may be in situ at sea with
a pipe connection to a ship; it may be in situ at sea with a pipe connection to a further holding tank,
for example on the sea bed or floating near to the apparatus. The holding tank may be movable and
in some embodiments may be disconnected from one or more apparatus and taken back to shore.

As you can see, this creates a truly optimal approach to capturing an entirely “untapped” source of
potable, fresh, and pure water. Since water covers more than 70% of the world’s surface, and yet
less than three percent of the water on the entire planet is fresh water, we have to use every possible
method for capturing that fresh water before it enters the sea and becomes saline. My system is one
of the best ways of doing so without any additional energy required.

Concept Five: Cloud Seeding

Many people living in the Western areas of the United States are familiar with the concept of
cloud seeding, as it has been used for decades in attempt to increase rainfall. It is a form of
weather modification that uses special materials dispersed through the air and meant to trigger
cloud formation and the subsequent precipitation that it creates.

Usually it is done using dry ice and silver iodide. Additionally, liquid propane has been used since
it expands into a gas when released, and can lead to ice crystal formation in areas of higher
temperature. Even something as common as table salt has been used to good results.

When done it can lead to rain or snowfall, and this depends purely on the temperature at the time
of the seeding. When temperatures are lowest, around (between -7°C and -20°C), silver iodide
can cause it to snow. Dry ice and propane methods both cool the area and lead to crystal for-
mation, which means that no pre-existing particles or droplets are needed for precipitate to form.

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When something referred to as “static seeding” is done, it uses the simple science of clouds to
create precipitate, which is usually ice particles rather than droplets. Essentially, mid-latitude
clouds are without adequate pressure to form liquid droplets with ease, the use of vapors in the
cooled clouds allows heavy particles to form and leads to precipitation.
In warmer settings, seeding uses the heat of clouds to freeze particles and cause precipitation.
This is known as “dynamic seeding” and tends to force clouds to grow rapidly due to the updrafts
and latent heat that exist prior to the seeding.
Any form of seeding can be done with aircraft or with special devices situate on the ground.
The aircraft method uses special flares that disperse the chosen compound into a cloud. The
ground-released method relies on air currents to disperse blasts of the chosen compounds.
Any sort of cloud seeding should be tested in desert areas or in areas with rainwater collectors
off the coast in order to gauge whether or not it would increase precipitation.

Concept Six: Water From Air Conditioners

There is an old saying, “Desperate times call for desperate measures.”
Though collecting condensation from air conditioners sounds a bit desperate, it is well worth
considering in places where air conditioning is used heavily - such as the Middle East. After all,

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Saudi Arabia is already using wastewater recycling and water vapor collection in agricultural
areas, so why not consider the output of the average air conditioner?

After all, it costs almost nothing to implement and comes from a machine we are going to put
to use on a daily basis. Thus, it becomes a reliable source of water that is a by-product of our
own households.

To begin with, anyone who lives in the UAE or other parts of the Middle East knows that it is often
far too hot to keep that air conditioner turned off. So, it is important to consider how to capture
the condensation that these machines make. In the United States, one firm known as Air2Water
created a device that pulled humidity out of the air and captured it in a containment vessel.

The idea of doing something similar with the output of an air conditioner just makes sense. Your
returns will vary based on the size of the machine, the temperatures during operation, and the
actual amount of humidity in the air.

Places with very high humidity will see more condensate coming from operating the air condi-
tioner, but even low humidity areas can make measurable amounts. You can capture the output
using a simple bucket method, but the smartest route is to secure a hose to the physical drain
on the machine, and run this into a sealed container. This prevents any captured water from
evaporating, and it can then be used safely for anything.

Of course, this book is looking for large-scale solutions that can be used in places like the Full
Quarter Project. Thus, towers capable of capturing water from air conditioning are a good idea.

The water from any air conditioner is safe to drink because it is basically distilled water. This
means that the water from commercial air conditioners is also just as distilled and safe. If a stan-
dard air conditioner can deliver nine liters of water after six hours of operation, imagine what an
industrial machine might provide.

The UAE has projects such as the Khalifa Dubai Tower and the Burj Khalifa. These use air
conditioning units of industrial strength will produce thousands of gallons of water. This could be
used for everything from flushing toilets to irrigation, and with a bit of extra filtration or cleaning
it could be used as drinking water.

As we can see from the images above, we might also use the clean water, discharged from the
air conditioner, anywhere in the garden. Gravity does the work of moving the water from the unit,
and you can just copy the systems put to use above. A simple stretch of garden hose or PVC

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connected to the output of the air conditioner brings a slow and steady drip of non-chlorinated
and fluoride free water.

Whether in the Middle East or almost anywhere you find large populations, the air conditioner
is at use. The warmer the weather, the more the machines are used, and that means there is
more water created by them. The hotter it is, the more water the garden needs too, so why not
capture it in this way?

In fact, some parts of the world already have a/c drought initiatives that attempt to reduce water
usage through the capture of a/c condensate. To promote this initiative, one group in Sydney,
Australia reminded residents that 1,600 homes could fill roughly twenty backyard swimming
pools if they made the effort to capture the condensate their air conditioners would create in a
single summer.

Concept Seven: Water From Volcanoes!

The volcanoes around the world are viewed as a source of destruction and death, and yet they
are creative forces too. This concept would fill in the volcanic craters with seawater to create
the following outcomes:

1. The heat beneath will cause sea water to evaporate, increasing the possibilities of rain
in the region;

2. Pumping water from the sea will help with reducing the sea level rise to a small but on-
going and measurable amount; and

3. Filling a crater with water could limit the destructive damage of volcanoes; due to the
suppression of ash and/or magma flow.

Obviously, this concept would need broad study and research, but it is a viable method of chan-
neling excess seawater away from civilization and putting it to better use.

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Concept Eight: Water from the Wind

It would be great if we manage to collect some of the 13000km3 of water in the Earth’s atmo-
sphere. Using a condenser and moisture exchange surface mounted in the most likely positions.
Eole Water is one of the successful concepts available.
The propellers will be crafted from a water repellent material. This is a special type of stainless
steel that will capture the water and help transfer it downward into the five step treatment system.
Using filters and UV light, the water will then become safe for human use.
Each system can capture up to 1500 liters of water each day, meaning that anywhere there is
enough wind for windmills and turbine systems, there can be ample amounts of fresh water too.

Concept Nine: Water From Bikes

Workers and visitors at the site of “Project” are to utilize the “Aquaduct” bicycles concept, these
feature a built in filtration system that is operated when someone pedals the bike. Essentially,
these could be promoted, or even made available to the public or to large groups of workers who
use bicycling each day. Then, they could collectively purify water or play a part in a national plan
for water purification done during the daily “rush hour”.

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Concept Ten: Small-Scale Dehumidification :

There are several products/ concepts in the market which create freshwater from seawater or
Humidity; one of which is the “inverted cone”; it requires a specially designed black pan into
which seawater is poured. The “cone” is floated on top of this, and it creates a small greenhouse
effect that causes the heat from the sun and the black color of the pan to speed up evaporation.
This evaporation is captured and condenses along the walls of the cone.

The droplets of condensate (now fresh water) drip down into the bottom lip of the cone, and are
collected there. When the water has fully evaporated, you simply dip the cone over a collection
bucket or vessel and pour out the drinking water through the opening at the top (which is sealed
with a cap to ensure the best outcome).

Essentially, this is a solar water purifier that also works on the classic evaporation and conden-
sation model. This design is very “low tech” and would be one of the first to be easily mass-pro-
duced. The two-part system features the top vessel where impure water is poured and then
converted into potable water that is captured in the base.

Another idea is the “WatAir” tarp that is suspended above the ground (using trees, tent poles,
etc.) where it then captures the dew. The special funnel is designed into the fabric to ensure that
maximum moisture is both captured and delivered into a collection vessel for drinking.

From areas of low rainfall or distress to people living in areas of natural disaster, this would
be a very simple method for obtaining ongoing supplies of clean and fresh water, and without
enormous amounts of effort or energy. Rising just before the sun in order to gather the supplies
before sunlight begins to evaporate them is really the biggest challenge to this method.

Concept Eleven: Buildings to Capture Rain

Another of the “for the future” concepts. Essentially, the idea is to construct skyscrapers that
have special water collection designs incorporated into the roofs (including reservoirs to gravity
feed water to residents below), and also some channels on the exterior that drive excess water
to cisterns or wells in special reservoirs below the buildings.

These buildings could supply their inhabitants will all of their daily water needs and also ensure
a good supply on hand during times without rain.

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Chapter Four: Water Harvesting
Also concept currently under development in Chile is a “Fog Tower” that can gather water from
the fog and mist of the region, and then channel it to agricultural fields to ensure sustainability
in an area of the world greatly impacted by climate change.

Concept Twelve: UV Treatment

A Swedish invention from Petra Wadstrom, this uses the power of the sun to purify the water inside
of the vessel. It exposes the water to UV rays, and through a technology known as thermal-si-
phoning (similar to distillation), it guarantees that all of the water in the vessel is pure and safe.
When full, the vessel is simply left in the sun until the indicator light changes from red to green.
The water inside will remain warm enough for cleaning or bathing for a good amount of time
after it has been purified too.

Concept Thirteen : In-Home Water Generators

Atmospheric water generators are now a readily available technology, specially equipment capa-
ble of supplying a household’s needs. The generators pulls the humidity from the air, cleanses
it, and collects it into a dispensing reservoir. In the right setting, some equipments make up to
500 gallons a day.

Concept Fourteen: Mist Catchers Net & Fog collection:

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Not all areas have adequate humidity for it to be easily captured and converted to drinking water
or water safe for human use. There are, however, many areas with heavy periods of fog or mist,
and these are ideal times for harvesting fresh water using mist-catching systems. The Net can
take up to 20 liters of water from fog or mist in a 24-hour period, and work day or night.

Fog Collection

Not the first system of this kind we have considered, but one that is actually already in existence
and at work! In a project actively at work in Oman, the fog is captured by fine mesh plastic netting
that turns mist into water and is used purely for trees planted in order to reverse desertification
in the Al Qara Mountains.

This project is heavily funded by major corporations, and is anticipated to work wonders
during the annual monsoon seasons, when heavy fogs roll in and which will then be easily
trapped by the nets.

These same nets can easily serve a similar role in Abu Dhabi and be suspended from higher
buildings often enmeshed in fog.

Fog harvesting is just beginning to appear in many locations, and one of the most frequently
overlooked areas for the equipment is light poles. Currently there is a “Fern” system that features
specially shaped “petals” that actively collect water while their surface coating repels the water
and allows it to accumulate quickly in trenches and slide into a collection tank at the bottom of
the pole. Capable of swiveling movement, this concept is ideal for city streetlights but also light
poles in any location in need of water.

Concept Fifteen: Solar Desalination:

Solar desalination can be a great way to supply water to the UAE and the world . Without any
other energy source, this technology which is already implemented in the UAE is capable of
24-hour operation, and may even use wind power if properly converted.

Concept Sixteen: Wind Powered Filters

When you stand at the edge of the sea, you also tend to feel the movement of air and breezes.
This makes wind power an ideal resource for systems for purifying water. There are many tech-
nologies of this kind available, and they can all provide reverse osmosis without electricity.

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Chapter Four: Water Harvesting
Currently, some models can provide adequate fresh water supplies for up to 500 people per day,
and can be used to fill reservoirs with fresh water supplies as well. This ensures that periods
with low or no wind do not leave the residents without adequate drinking water.
The system created by the Delft University in The Netherlands uses wind power to pump sea
water into a reverse osmosis membrane, and to continue pumping to create enough pressure
to force the pure water through the membrane while capturing salt.

After Capturing Water...

Though some of the systems I have listed here allow you to use freshwater as soon as it is
converted, purified, or captured, it is imperative to also figure out ways of saving it or keeping a
surplus of water on hand at all times.
The success of the Full Quarter means that there must be both potable water and water suitable
for large-scale agriculture at all times.
This is why I want to now turn our attention to the best ways for saving water - whether it is col-
lected from rain, converted seawater, or water that was somehow captured in one of the many
innovative ways outlined above.

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Chapter Five

Water Saving

Before we strive to find new water resources, it is wise to know how to conserve what we already
have and to manage it correctly. This chapter will highlight some of the most innovative ideas
for the conservation and saving of fresh water.

A logical approach is to itemize the major water consuming activities in society, and they are:

• Bathroom uses - Toilet, shower, basin, and bathtub

• Agriculture and farming

• Industrial - Cleaning, car washing, commercial processes, etc.

Within each category, we will outline the best and most proven technologies to help save water.

Bathroom

According to the study conducted by a water organization in the UK, the average eight-minute
shower used 62 liters of hot water, and some power showers can use up to 136 liters, compared
with an average bath’s 80 liters.

Modern toilets are also made to consume a lot of water, and in many homes, they are actually
the biggest consumer of water.

Bathing in general is very wasteful where water is concerned, and this alone means that the use
of bathtubs may need to be reconsidered and even made illegal in areas where water resources
are already challenged.

One of the most effective ways to drastically cut water consumption in the bathroom is to think
“displacement”. For example, if you put objects meant to displace water in the tub or in the tank
of the lavatory/toilet, it instantly saves a lot of water. Items such as “Fake Rocks” by Rochus
Jacob are known for cutting water use in a tub by 50%. It is definitely something to consider.

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Chapter Five: Water Saving

Naturally, one of the wisest ways to save water in the bathroom, and particularly where a tub is
concerned, is to just install water locks. These are set to run until the preset amount of water has
gone into the tub, and then the tap shuts off. A group of designers also created a clever bathtub
shape that accomodates the human form, but without so much wasted space.

Ultimately the success of the above ideas are in the hands of the general public, although gov-
ernments can make it difficult or rather expensive for the public to buy traditional bathtub by
imposing extra tariffs or taxes, installing a water meter on the bathtub tap for the purpose of
monitoring water consumption, and charging a higher tariff for this type unnecessary activity.
These measures will most likely help changing the behavior of people who are aware of the
environment and the costs of such habits.

Recycling bath systems are also a timely idea.

Utilize systems that collect “grey” water from the shower or the sink, and then repurpose it as
directed - this could be to trees in the garden, to flushing toilets, and so on. Because the sys-
tems do have purifiers, the water can be put into a storage tank and then used for a long list of
purposes - though human consumption is not possible.

Systems like this could be very useful should government agencies take the initiative and man-
date grey water recycling in all buildings. This is an idea whose time has come, and hopefully it
is something that is already a common “habit” by the time the Full Quarter Project begins.

The second biggest consumer of water in the bath would be the lavatories and/or toilets, with an
average consumption of seven gallons per flush. To overcome such tremendous waste, consider
these innovations:

Recycling showers for those who like a long, hot shower but who are worried about energy and
water waste. This system provides 150 liters of water and ten minutes of shower time. It recycles
the water to allow for only five liters of water to be used, and then reused for several weeks.

Top of the line filtration guarantees the best conditions and the purity of the water, and that the
water pouring down on the bather is good enough to drink. Based on NASA science it relies on
the super efficient water recycling systems put to use in space and ensures that a comfortably
hot shower is enjoyed even as the water is continually recycled.

The best news is that the filtration system can be used on more than shower water and is recy-
clable when returned to the manufacturer.

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You don’t have to end your bathroom water recycling with the shower because there are also
technologies around recycling bath sinks or basins.

Sinks that saves the clean and unused water beneath the basin for use at a later time. The wa-
ter pressure coming down on the collection lip opens when it is obvious that the water is not in
use, but the interruption caused by using the water closes the capture lip and allows the water
to exit down the normal drain.

Of course, toilets are a major water waster. The waterless toilet/ loo that uses incineration to
handle waste. Converting it into a sterile ash, it is then emptied but a few times a year. To use it
is very simple and is done with the press of a button. It uses propane burner.

The Aqus Toilet System is another that takes water from the sink to flush the toilet and cuts down
on the wasteful nature of most flush toilets.

The Washup Toilet combines two water consuming activities into one - laundry and toilet flushing.
Essentially, the system uses the drained water from the washing machine as the source for flushing.

Another good approach can be copied from China - and that is the use of seawater for toilet
flushing. This has saved the country millions of gallons of water and the money it would take to
process so much fresh water from black water.

This system, however, is not so new and China has been experimenting with it since the 1950s.
By the late 1990s, almost all of the households in Hong Kong used seawater to flush their toilets,
and there are more than thirty stations used to pump the water and distribute it to the network.

Even so, this only cuts the demands for fresh water by 20%, but this is still a tremendous amount
of fresh water that is saved, and amounts to around $700 million annually.

The UAE government may consider adopting the seawater flushing on the new projects as
modification work for existing infrastructure will make not it a financially viable option to select.
It did take China nearly fifty years to convert many households to the double plumbing needed
and create the delivery networks, but the Full Quarter could also benefit from the integration of
this idea during construction.

Combination bathroom systems are also a good idea. There are some systems that combine the lava-
tory/toilet with the bath and the basin into one single entity. Not only does this save space but it allows
water to be reused easily, i.e. water used to wash the hands can then go towards flushing the toilet.

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Chapter Five: Water Saving
Laundry is the next biggest water consuming activity, and yet it is now possible to wash a load
of clothing with just one cup of water.
New innovative system that uses specialized plastic chips. During the washing process, the chips
absorb dirt and debris in the water and effectively cleanse the clothing. It takes just a few chips
per load and they can be reused more than 100 times. This would radically cut water waste and
save a lot of energy and money, not to mention creating cleaner “grey” water than ever.

Agriculture

The next big consumer of water is agriculture, and though there are many innovative ways that
farmers and growers are using to conserve what water they have, here are some of the most
unique ways they are saving the water they have on hand.
Drip irrigation is not all that new, but the different devices and systems being put to use are changing
all of the time. In the images below, we see the ways that they are used in commercial agriculture, and
of particular interest are the different approaches to ensuring that trees receive adequate hydration.

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This is why we’ll look at the Waterboxx a bit closer in detail. This uses “passive drip irrigation”
that sends water into the root system of a tree. It collects dew every evening and then directs
this to the most beneficial area of growth - the spreading root system.

The Waterboxx features its water “battery” that uses variations in temperature to generate even
more condensate than simple dew capture.

Air drones are another innovation for agricultural water “saving”. They take the water in the clouds
above and condense them rapidly into rain that is then delivered to a targeted area of cultivation.

Made by Aqua Soft, this unmanned plane flies on solar energy alone, is designed to harvest
water from the air, and then send it to the growing fields as rain. Flying at high elevations, this
allows condensate to form even on cloudless days, and the higher the initial flight, the more
rainwater the system can deliver.

The aircraft use solar and wind energy for power, rely on the processes of heating and cooling
for water production and capture, and will make it far cheaper to bring water to even the driest
agricultural areas.

In essence, the water is there, but needs to be delivered via the aircraft.

The AirDrop system is also capable of extracting moisture from the air, but it does not involve
flight. Instead, it operates using the same principles as air conditioners

Using a turbine intake, the device pulls in hot air that is cooled by the soil at the bottom of the
collection area. This is surrounded by copper tubing that triggers condensation, and when this
is captured, it is then pumped (via a solar powered pump) into the root system of the designated
row of crops or trees.

This simple condensation creating and capturing concept is also how the water vapor machines
work too.

These also pull in hot air that is put through a tower structure that are dense and which keep
heat from changing the interior temperatures. The hot air striking the cool surfaces creates
tremendous amounts of condensation and can capture as much as 7,500 gallons for every 900
square feet of surface.

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Chapter Five: Water Saving

The goal of this discussion is to consider how to save water that is already available, and something
of interest to anyone in agriculture is the use of “hydrophobic sand”. This is created by the addition of a
chemical to sand and it prevents capillary action from occurring. In other words, the sand rejects water.

A firm in the UAE, called DIME Hydrophobic Materials is producing this sand and looking at
ways to use it for water gathering and agriculture.

For example, they have considered creating blankets of waterproof sand over the desert that
could prevent water from being absorbed and instead allow it to be directed to a collection point.
This would make it easier than ever to construct canals that could send water to fields in need
of irrigation, without losing a lot of the water along the way to absorption.

This could also prevent further desertification and help plants to establish themselves faster
because water would not evaporate from below a barrier of this sand if laid on the ground above
or below. It would also keep saline content much lower as the barrier would prevent residual
salts from soaking into the soil.

In UAE, the main university is already testing the use of this material in the hopes of converting
up to 8% of the land into arable soil. The product is purchased in rolls and then used as a thin
layer beneath the surface of the soil. It effectively captures the water and allows plants and crops
to benefit from fresh water being maintained at root level. In fact, preliminary tests prove that it
supports soil, water, plants and the weight of a farmer without any problems.

In essence, each of these agricultural water saving systems take water already available and
channels it directly to agricultural purposes. They do so with as little energy demands as pos-
sible, and as you have seen, none of them require electricity to capture and then deliver water.

Industrial & public

There are so many ways that we waste water industrially. This is one of the reasons that I
pursued and invested in eco-friendly car washes. The thousands upon thousands of gallons
utterly wasted in these types of commercial enterprises is astonishing, and so I wanted to look
at some of the ways that great sums of water are wasted commercially or industrially, and how
good solutions are at hand.

Starting with public washrooms because they are a prime example of water waste on an epic
scale. Currently, public washrooms can account for far more than domestic bathroom consump-
tion and this is why water recycling facilities are a brilliant idea.

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Filling the Empty Quarter

The Jang Woo-seok toilet design, is one that has a sink or basin built into the tank and which
recycles this water for later flushing. It communicates with a series of LED lights to let the user
know how to properly flush the toilet for water conservation.

The public may not realize how tremendous their water consumption is, and one of the places
you see this most is at hotels and resorts. It is expected that all facilities are top of the line and
that everything from swimming pools and toilets be very accommodating with ample water. This
puts pressure on hotels to consume enormous amounts of water, and even some of the best
end up trucking in their water supplies daily.

A good example of a Middle Eastern hotel that has managed to overcome such enormous chal-
lenges, and which might serve as an ideal model should tourism dollars be an option in the Full
Quarter, is the Dead Sea Spa Hotel in Jordan.

Over the decades, the Dead Sea has continued to shrink and yet more and more tourists arrive
each year. This makes fresh water supplies a real challenge, and so the Dead Sea Spa Hotel
implemented many water saving technologies.

Key to them all is their super efficient grey water management and recycling.

Designed in cooperation with a German organization, the system is one that could be easily
used in domestic and commercial settings. It takes only grey water and looks at the ways it can
be used and reused at every level .

Then it treats the water for the different uses - though most of it is oriented towards toilet flushing,
cleaning, and irrigation. It is only 50% of most water that needs to be of consumption quality (bathing,
drinking, and cooking), and that means that half of the water used could be repurposed grey water.

The complications that can make it a challenge begin with the fact that two piping systems must
be in use. One for drinking water supplies and one for grey water reuse.

Grey water is used in several ways and ends up allowing fresh water to be used once, and then
reused twice. The third use creates black water, but the hotel also has a wastewater plant that
processes sewage waste and makes it safe for use in irrigation.

Though complex, the grey water treatment uses a few steps that feature mechanical filtration,
biological cleansing, and sand filtration before being cleansed with UV lighting. It cuts water
consumption by almost 20% and reduces wastewater substantially.

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Chapter Five: Water Saving
Capturing grey water is also something that must be done in any automatic car washes. The
illustration below is just one way that this is done, and it can be used in more targeted applica-
tion. Such as connectivity to filtration that allows it to be released into agricultural fields close to
the site of the car wash facility.
Of course, the GeoWash car washing and detailing concept is one that I, myself have invested
in and which is the most ecologically responsible method for washing cars. It is an Argentinean
developed portable system that brings the carwash to the vehicle as it sits in a parking area. It
uses almost no water, and does not even need drainage. It uses less than two liters of water for
each wash (as oppposed to the 200-plus liters of water for a standard system), and relies on a
100% biodegradable cleansing formula. The small carts used in this system depend on human
labor as well and this makes them a remarkable solution to the immense waste of water and
energy created by classic carwashing and detailing activities.
Throughout our opeation we have estimaed that the total water saved since 2008 is around 500
million liters of water.

Another type of public space where water can and must be saved is with masjids. There are
nearly five thousand of them in the UAE alone, and all Muslims must use them before prayer.
The typical process of ablution requires ten to fifteen liters of water, per person, five times each
day. That is fifty liters of water per Muslim.

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