Al-Jazzaf: Citizens Bear 10% of Water Consumption Costs

Economist Sultan Muaid Al-Jazzaf affirmed that the water file in Kuwait must receive top priority in the government’s program, and that it has become imperative to rationalize consumption and curb waste through continuous awareness campaigns. In a study he prepared on the current state of water consumption and projections for the period up to 2030, he noted that each year that passes without comprehensive reform of this sector means increased pressure on public finances due to the construction of additional power and desalination plants.

He pointed out in his study that increasing desalination capacity imposes three burdens on the state simultaneously: first, higher energy and fuel consumption, which leads to the second burden—increased emissions that affect environmental safety; and third, the accumulation of larger quantities of brine, which puts pressure on the marine environment.

The research clarified that official sources show freshwater consumption jumped by 5.3% in a single year (2023), with per capita daily consumption reaching 444 liters—more than double the global average. Meanwhile, consumers in private residences pay only one-tenth of the actual cost.

If this pattern continues, the state will need to spend approximately 8.04 billion dinars over the next five years. The water system is approaching its maximum capacity, and by the end of this period, the margin between peak demand and maximum capacity will fall below 3%, leaving no real safety reserve.

He revealed that reducing consumption by 25% would save 2.01 billion dinars, restore the operational safety margin to 27.9% instead of 3%, and keep per capita consumption at 333 liters per day—a figure that remains above the global average. Thus, what is required is not austerity, but the end of waste.

Regarding the environmental impacts of large-scale seawater desalination, he said: Although seawater desalination constitutes a cornerstone of Kuwait’s water security, its significant and continuous expansion imposes important environmental effects that must be taken into account when formulating future water policies.

The first of these effects is linked to high energy consumption, as desalination processes require large amounts of energy to remove salts and convert seawater into freshwater. Since electricity and water production in Kuwait rely heavily on fuel and other petroleum derivatives, increased desalinated water production leads to higher fuel consumption and associated emissions, including greenhouse gases and some air pollutants.

The second, and most significant, impact is brine discharge—the highly saline water that remains after freshwater is separated from seawater. When this brine is discharged into the sea, salinity levels and temperatures near discharge points can rise, depending on the discharge location and ocean current movements. This can affect marine organisms sensitive to changes in salinity, temperature, and water environmental conditions.

This issue is particularly critical in the Arabian Gulf, which is characterized by its shallow depth, high temperatures, and limited connectivity with the open ocean. Additionally, brine water may contain chemicals used in water treatment processes to prevent scaling and corrosion, potentially causing local increases in salinity and concentrations of certain pollutants, which could further impact the marine environment. This makes the management and monitoring of brine discharge essential.

Therefore, unlimited expansion of desalination means increasing three burdens simultaneously: higher energy and fuel consumption, greater emissions, and larger quantities of brine, all of which put pressure on the marine environment.

Technical solutions, he continued, noting that since seawater desalination is an indispensable necessity for Kuwait’s water security, its expansion must be accompanied by improved energy efficiency and the adoption of modern, lower-energy-consumption desalination technologies. The sites for brine discharge must be carefully studied, and salinity and water quality must be continuously monitored. Most importantly, environmental protection does not begin only after water production; it starts beforehand with demand management and waste reduction. Every unit of water saved means less water needs to be desalinated, less energy is consumed, and less brine is returned to the sea. A 2024 study on Kuwait warned that continued reliance on increasing supply rather than managing demand raises costs and emissions.

During his research, Al-Jazzaf highlighted, alongside monitoring, behavioral change, and technical and economic solutions, that Kuwait requires a more sustained policy of oversight and awareness. Water is a strategic resource, and deliberate waste is not merely an individual behavior; it entails additional consumption of energy, fuel, desalination capacity, and infrastructure. He said, “I believe the water file must receive top priority within government programs, not only through increasing production, but also through rationalizing consumption and curbing waste. Therefore, inspection and monitoring teams in government entities can be activated, continuous awareness campaigns can be organized, and laws and regulations can be applied to cases of deliberate extravagance and waste. Experiences in other government files, such as removing encroachments, enforcing traffic laws, and addressing certain violations, have proven that combining monitoring, law enforcement, and awareness can lead to noticeable changes in public behavior.”

He added, “The goal is not for Kuwaitis to drink less water. The goal is for Kuwait to waste less water. However, desalination must become part of an integrated system that includes conservation, reuse, smart meters, demand management, and marine environmental protection.”

He concluded his research by stating that Kuwait’s success in the water sector over the next five years could serve as a model for genuine fiscal reform: reducing expenditure without lowering the quality of life, protecting public funds without compromising basic needs, and safeguarding the sea without undermining water security. The challenge can no longer be postponed. Every year that passes without reform means more desalination plants, more energy, more subsidies, more brine discharge, and greater pressure on public finances and the environment.

He noted that water in Kuwait is not merely an overlooked issue; it is one of the true tests of the state’s ability to translate the slogans of sustainability and fiscal reform into practical policy.

In the introduction of his research, economic researcher Sultan Muhsin Al-Jazzaf ranked Kuwait among the best countries in terms of water quality, stating: “Kuwait is renowned for its competitive advantage in water supply and sanitation services, as well as for the quality of its water and its unique ability to avoid service interruptions. Kuwait is distinguished by achieving comprehensive coverage of drinking water and sanitation services, managed with high efficiency. The provision of fresh water through desalination and the treatment of wastewater are subject to some of the strictest quality and safety standards worldwide. This advantage is among the state’s important achievements, but it carries, conversely, a large and growing financial, economic, and environmental bill.”

He added: “As Kuwait proceeds on a path of fiscal and economic reform aimed at controlling expenditure, improving spending efficiency, and addressing the general budget deficit, the water file emerges as one that deserves deeper economic review.”

For this reason, water in Kuwait is not merely a basic service; it is an expensive economic product, even if consumers do not bear its full cost. He clarified that the issue is not about citizens’ right to access water, which is a fundamental right beyond dispute, nor is it about the quality of water provided by the state. The question is simply: what is the true cost of the water consumed in Kuwait? And how much fresh water is used for purposes that could be covered by lower-cost alternatives? He revealed that there is a water bill that does not appear on the consumer’s invoice. It is the bill paid by the state for desalinating seawater, producing it, transporting and storing it, operating and maintaining desalination plants, providing the energy required for this process, and then supplying water to consumers at prices that do not reflect the full economic cost. While water appears readily available and cheap from the user’s perspective, its production is not so from the standpoint of the national economy.

He stated that Kuwait faces an exceptional challenge in the water sector. As a desert country with limited natural resources, it relies almost entirely on seawater desalination to meet its fresh water needs. This is compounded by substantial government subsidies, the cost of those subsidies, and excessive consumption patterns. As a result, Kuwait’s electricity and water consumption rates rank among the highest globally, posing further financial, consumption-related, and environmental challenges. Government subsidies for water account for approximately 90% of the cost of production, supply, and distribution.

He noted that Kuwait’s oil, energy, and desalination capabilities have enabled the continuous provision of high-quality water to citizens and residents, representing a significant service and civilizational achievement. However, this model is now facing growing challenges as demand continues to rise. Published data indicate that the average per capita water consumption in Kuwait ranges between 447 and 500 liters per day, compared to a global average of approximately 200 liters per day. With water demand growing at about 3% annually, the need to produce additional quantities of fresh water becomes a continuous requirement, which automatically increases the need for energy, infrastructure, and investments.

He pointed out the economic paradox here: the higher the consumption, the greater the need for desalination, energy, fuel, networks, tanks, and maintenance, while public funds bear the largest share of the cost. He emphasized that Kuwait Vision 2035 identifies sustainability, environmental improvement, and quality of life as its main pillars, and the national plan stresses the rational use of natural resources and pollution reduction. Water services fall under the fourth pillar, “a sustainable living environment.”

The government’s goal of ensuring that all residents have access to clean water at nominal prices has been achieved. However, this achievement has exacerbated acute water stress, leading to the depletion of production capacity and public funds. The state’s success in securing water in this manner has created another challenge: rising water and energy consumption. At a time when the state is moving toward resource conservation and improved spending efficiency, water demand continues to grow, forcing the state to produce, desalinate, transport, and store larger quantities year after year.

He added that, in reality, consumption behavior is moving in the opposite direction, even contradicting the state’s efforts to conserve and secure water. Some information published by the Ministry of Electricity and Water indicates that per capita water consumption in Kuwait has risen to approximately 500 liters per day, compared to a global average of around 200 liters per day.

We are in a country where water is a scarce resource, and its production requires costly desalination, energy, and infrastructure operations. Regarding the cost and tariffs, and the gap between cost and tariff, he stated: Kuwait relies on seawater desalination for more than 90% of its water needs, through eight main power and desalination plants with a total combined capacity of 683.3 million imperial gallons per day. He added: According to the annual statistical book of the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, total water consumption in 2023 reached approximately 173.258 billion imperial gallons, with per capita annual consumption at 35,653 gallons, and per capita daily consumption at 97 gallons, representing an annual increase of 2.7%. This reflects the growing demand for water resources due to population growth and continuous urban development. This equates to approximately 441 liters per person per day, one of the highest rates globally, more than double the global average of 200 liters. He pointed out that the gap between production costs and what consumers pay lies at the heart of the financial problem. In 2024, the cost of producing 1,000 gallons was approximately 8 dinars, while citizens pay only 800 fils per 1,000 gallons. The state budget bears approximately 3 billion dinars annually for electricity and water production, of which about 1.3 billion dinars covers the fuel costs used in power generation and desalination plants.