Bahrain’s Water Security Under the Spotlight: New City Water System Brief from Our Future Water Unpacks Governance, Infrastructure, and Strategic Challenges
Our Future Water Intelligence has released Bahrain Water System Brief: Comprehensive Profile of Bahrain’s Water Systems, Governance, and Infrastructure. Authored by Robert C. Brears, Founder of Our Future Water Intelligence and a leading voice on global water security with publications from Oxford University Press, Palgrave, and Springer Nature, this City Water System Brief delivers an authoritative, data-driven overview of Bahrain’s water sector at a pivotal time.
Key Findings
• Bahrain is 100% dependent on desalinated seawater for public supply, with groundwater reserved strictly as a strategic emergency reserve.
• Annual subsidies of more than US$300 million cover roughly 80% of supply costs, while wastewater services are provided entirely free of charge.
• Desalination is highly energy-intensive, historically consuming ~30% of national energy and projected to emit 78 million tons of CO₂ between 2013–2030.
• Non-revenue water remains a challenge, with 61% of inspected high-consumption premises in 2022 found to have leaks averaging 35,633 liters per day.
• The National Water Strategy 2030, smart metering, PPP-driven desalination investments, and GCF-funded climate resilience projects are reshaping the sector.
Expert Insight
“Bahrain’s water future is defined by both extraordinary achievements and extraordinary risks,” said Robert C. Brears, Founder of Our Future Water Intelligence. “This Brief equips policymakers, investors, and professionals with the critical intelligence needed to navigate fiscal pressures, climate challenges, and infrastructure demands in one of the most water-stressed countries on earth.”
What’s Inside the Report
• Comprehensive profile of Bahrain’s water resources, demand, and quality monitoring.
• Governance analysis covering key institutions, regulatory frameworks, and subsidy structures.
• Infrastructure review of desalination plants, storage systems, wastewater treatment, and stormwater resilience.
• Strategic outlook highlighting future challenges, policy reforms, and investment opportunities.
• Priority actions on tariff reform, demand management, renewable integration, and legislative modernization.
Why This Report Matters
Bahrain is at the forefront of global water scarcity challenges, having achieved universal water access through advanced desalination and governance frameworks. Yet escalating fiscal costs, growing demand, and climate risks demand urgent policy, investment, and conservation action. This Brief delivers the intelligence needed to support informed decision-making and sustainable long-term planning.
