This is how Saudi Arabia’s NEOM is working towards sustainable water management and treatment

As one of the world’s most water-stressed countries, India faces a massive challenge every day to deliver safe drinking water to a population of close to 1.8 billion people. And when one considers that it is home to 18% of the world’s population but has access to only 4% of global freshwater resources, a radical rethink of how it manages its water resources is urgently needed.

Change is needed to tackle some of these challenges, and solutions may be within reach. Located in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, NEOM is tearing up the playbook to drive change on how water should be processed, treated, and managed. Instead, NEOM is planning to build a sustainable water ecosystem founded on the principles of the circular economy and smart connected infrastructure. And underpinning this ambition is a commitment to zero liquid discharge (ZLD) into the environment, minimizing the cost of water production while maximizing its impact and benefit for the planet’s future.