Canopy Power brings clean water to village on Sugi Island, Indonesia

Under its Canopy Care programme, Canopy Power completed a social welfare project at the village of Tanjung Sesup on Sugi Island, Indonesia in Q320.

Having funded and developed a water distribution system for the village, Canopy Power improved the lives of the villagers by enabling a convenient access to and a constant supply of clean water. Looking forward, the company is keen to embark on more of such projects that benefits communities, and welcomes partnership opportunities.

“In general, 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us. However, we are experiencing surge in awareness within individuals and corporations towards sustainability. This is a good sign for the next year and the years to come,” said Sujay Malve, founder and CEO of Canopy Power.

Canopy Power provides independent microgrids based on renewable energy.

Amane Advisors to help SPARK develop water and wastewater strategy

Amane Advisors, the global consultancy and advisory firm focused on the water industry, has been awarded the contract to provide advisory services for the development of all water and wastewater facilities in the new KSA energy hub, King Salman Energy Park (SPARK).

Located in the Eastern Province within an hour's drive from Dhahran, SPARK is a smart, green industrial city development which will include an industrial area, dry port and logistics zone, as well as residential, educational and commercial zones.

The scope of work will consist of helping to define SPARK's strategy for developing and operating its entire water and wastewater infrastructure, assisting SPARK in the development of a request for proposals (RFP) pack for the selection of its eventual private operator, securing fair water purchase and wastewater treatment agreements, and outlining the terms of agreements for provision of utility services to its tenants.

"Since 2015, Amane Advisors has developed its activities in the MENA region through its office in Bahrain and has delivered more than 30 consulting projects in the region. We bring to this landmark project unparallelled expertise and experience across all aspects of the water sector.

"This will ensure that SPARK is equipped with the most effective capabilities to deliver the highest level of customer value to its tenants and to integrate the overarching strategic goals of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 into SPARK's utility infrastructure," said Christophe Guillet, Amane Advisors Managing Partner for the MENA region.

Energy City Development Company (ECDC) is developing and operating SPARK with the objectives of contributing to the kingdom's Vision 2030, strengthen KSA's position as a global energy hub, enhance the energy supply chain reliability, enable Industry 4.0 and support economic development and job creation in the kingdom. The city is targeting energy-related sector's value chains including upstream oil and gas, downstream oil and gas, petrochemicals and power. This smart city will also host digital and innovation hubs that will act as accelerators for the fourth industrial revolution in the energy industry and satellite sectors.

SPARK is expected to contribute US$6 billion to KSA's annual GDP, and 100,000 direct and indirect jobs created at maturity. SPARK has already secured a large number of anchor tenants from the energy industry, including Schlumberger, Baker Hughes GE, Halliburton, Yokogawa and Emerson. Over 70% of Phase 1 land has been allocated.

Execution is planned over three phases, with US$1.6 billion investment into Phase 1 which will be completed by end-2021.

SDRPY launches electricity, water management projects in Socotra, Yemen

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) has launched a package of development projects in Socotra Governorate.

SDRPY has activated electricity services at Hadibu Station, which has a capacity of 3,750 kV, and at Qulansiyah Station (1,410 kV). Tariq Al-Zaidi, director of SDRPY in Socotra, said the Hadibu and Qulansiyah power plants to the same high international technical specifications as Saudi electricity stations.

Governor of Socotra Ramzi Mahrous said that the electricity stations would be of significant support to the province, which has suffered from frequent interruptions of electricity services and other difficulties.

Source: PRNewsfoto/Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen. SDRPY launches water management projects in Socotra, Yemen.

The programme is similarly dedicated to the production and management of water resources and has begun drilling three wells connected to the water network that serves about 30,000 beneficiaries. The freshwater production and management project addresses serious needs due to water shortages in the governorate, which suffers from a lack of water flow to homes and utilities, frequent cuts and scarcity. The project is expected to fulfil the need for potable water, as well as provide irrigation water for agriculture and livestock.

Dubai's RTA to support UAE Water Aid campaign

The Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai, the UAE will support the UAE Water Aid (Suqia) campaign to provide drinking water by digging water wells in 10 countries. In Asia, these countries include Indonesia, Nepal, and India.

The step is taken in response to HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VP and PM of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who called to public and private organisations in the UAE to take part in Suqia campaign.

HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA
made the announcement during a ceremony where a virtual water pumping machine filled hundreds of water bottles in support of the campaign.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation will donate the same quantity of drinking water pumped by each entity to individuals in need from regions suffering from water shortages around the world.

Zamzam water freely available in Makkah

Source: KSA Centre for Government Communications. Zamzam water for pilgrims in Makkah.

To meet the ever-increasing demands for Zamzam water, the Saudi Geological Survey has set up a Zamzam Studies and Research Centre (ZSRC), which is charged with keeping Zamzam water both clean and plentiful.

Electric pumps draw water from the well, which is located within the Al-Haram Mosque. The water is filtered through a series of sand filters and cartridge filters, and then sterilized by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation at these treatment plants before distribution to consumers.

Today, water of Zamzam is available to the public through coolers stationed throughout the Al-Haram Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. A bottling plant and public distribution centre have been established just outside the Al-Haram mosque for visitors who want to carry Zamzam water home. Some pilgrims dip their pilgrimage clothes, ihram, in the water. The ihram is then preserved as burial clothes when the pilgrim dies.

The General Affairs of the Holy Mosque has set up 25,000 dispensers for Zamzam water around Makkah. These are refilled within the hour to refresh pilgrims.

Source: General Authority for Statistics, KSA, via the KSA Centre for Government Communications. A dispenser of Zamzam water.

More efficient wudhu taps to be installed in Al Ain mosques

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments (Awqaf) of the UAE has signed an agreement with the Al Ain Distribution Company (AADC) to help reduce water consumption at mosques in the Al Ain area. AADC is the sole distributor and supplier of water and electricity in the eastern region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, comprising Al Ain city and the surrounding area.

Source: Awqaf.  The agreement was signed on behalf of Awqaf's Mohammed Saeed al Niyadi, Director General, and by HE Abdullah Ali al Shiryani, Acting GM of Al Ain Distribution Company. 

Awqaf's Mohammed Saeed al Niyadi, Director General said that water taps in mosques in the Abu Dhabi and Al Dhafra areas have already been replaced in the first phase of the My Mosque project. The second phase of the project commences after the signing of this agreement and will cover the 1,122 mosques of Al Ain city, which together have 16,545 taps. 

The agreement is part of the My Mosque initiative, where Awqaf aims to develop smart and ecofriendly mosques in the UAE. Existing water taps for wudhu will be replaced with efficient models that are equipped with automatic shut-off valves to save water. This is in line with the requirements of development and rationalisation of water consumption in the emirate. 

“Rationalisation of consumption and avoiding wastage and extravagance in all matters are amongst the important principles of Islam. Preservation is a religious and social virtue and a positive culture that must be highlighted and promoted at all levels of the community, being individuals, families or institutions. This even applies to such acts of worship as ablution,” al Niyadi pointed out.

“There is no doubt, water is one of the national resources that should preserved. Thus its consumption should be rationalised and optimised so as to ensure its sustainability and preservation for the future generations.” 

HE Abdullah Ali al Shiryani, Acting GM of AADC, said that through sponsoring this initiative, Al Ain Distribution Company strives to encourage individuals and entities to conserve water and optimise its consumption, the aim being to protect such a natural resource for wastage.

“The initiative is also aimed at raising awareness of worshipers about the importance of saving water during ablution, a value that is highlighted by Islam,” said al Shiryani.

He said this was being done in coordination with the concerned entities and stakeholders in order to concert efforts of all parties. Awqaf is one such stakeholder, being one of the main entities that manages and take care of thousands of mosques in the UAE. It plays an important role in promoting the culture of consumption rationalisation through its various communication channels, including Friday khutbahs, lessons at mosques and radio programmes, he explained.

“For this reason, Al Ain Distribution Company counts on Awqaf greatly in instilling the culture of consumption saving and reduction of water wastage,” al Shiryani concluded.

DEWA signs payment plan agreement with DIB

Source: DEWA. Chilwan (left) with Al Tayer (right).

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has signed an agreement with Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) that allows customers to pay their bills in instalments of up to 12 months without additional fees when they use DIB credit cards.

“We strive to adopt innovative ways and mechanisms that enhance the quality of our services and achieve the happiness of our customers, based on the highest standards of efficiency and reliability. This supports our efforts to contribute to making Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world, and achieve the Dubai Plan 2021 to make the government of Dubai proactive and creative in meeting the needs of individuals and society as a whole. The new service, in partnership with Dubai Islamic Bank, allows customers to pay DEWA’s bills in instalments, which makes them happier,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

“Customers ultimately want simplicity and convenience when they engage with service providers. This is something we know and understand well, as we continually work to make the customer experience with DIB even more seamless. Our partnership with DEWA is an example of our dedication to finding ways to make our customers feel they have a bank that puts them first,” said Dr Adnan Chilwan, Group CEO of Dubai Islamic Bank.

After the bill is paid using DIB credit cards on DEWA’s website or smart app, the customer has to request the Easy Payment Plan, for a choice of instalment plans without any extra fees, from DIB online banking, mobile banking, DIB customer service centres or by sending ‘EPP’ in an SMS to 4224.

DEWA also has a similar contract in place with Mashreq Bank that was announced on 21 August.

Water tanks launched ahead of Hajj

Source: NWC.

HE Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al Fadhli, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, has inaugurated new Almuaisim tanks with 760,0000 m³ of capacity as part of the readiness plan for Hajj 2016 (1437).

Al Fadhli said that Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) and the National Water Company (NWC) have been working together to ensure nonstop water provision for Makkah and the Holy Masha'ar area (Editor's note: the area where the rituals for the Hajj are held), including through the building of strategic tanks with the capacity of 2.4 million m³, with emergency reserve tanks to be distributed throughout the Masha'ar. 

According to Dr Abdulrahman Al-Ibrahim, SWCC Governor and CEO of NWC, water provision for Makkah and Masha'ar will total more than 18 million m³. Of a daily 650,000 m³ of water, 180,000 m³ will be pumped from Shuwaibah Plant, 460,000 m³ from Shuwaibah station and 2,000 m³ from Wadi Malakan project for feeding the Masjid al Haram toilets. NWC's four tanker filling stations will be working at full capacity around the clock during this Hajj season.

Dr Al-Ibrahim also shared that field inspection tours will be conducted continually throughout Hajj.

The minister additionally visited King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Project for Zamzam, which has doubled staff at sales/distribution points, for the approximate 1.5 million 10l packs which will be sold during Hajj. Sales points were established in all terminals of Jeddah and Madinah airports.

NWC gives update on King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Project for Zamzam

Source: NWC. HE Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Alfadli, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and NWC Chairman, visited the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Project for Zamzam in Makkah, KSA on on June 19.

​​HE Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Alfadli, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and NWC Chairman, has visited the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Project for Zamzam in Makkah, KSA. Water from the Zamzam spring in Makkah is revered in Islam as it is said to have been revealed when Ibrahim's son Ismail was thirsty.

Alfadli reviewed NWC's preparations for Ramadan and the summer seasons and was escorted by HE Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Ibrahim, NWC CEO and Saline Water Conversion Corporation Governor, as well as senior company executives.

This year the project is projected to serve more than 500,000 visitors and will distribute more than 4 million packs of Zamzam water. Alfadli said the project has produced more than 125 million packs of Zamzam water since it was established and has increased its production capacity to cope with the increasing demand during Hajj, Umrah and other peak seasons for visitors. He added that securing Zamzam water for the Two Holy Mosques is the top priority of the project.


He said NWC, the major operator of the project, has laid down early preparations to increase daily production capacity, raise the performance of the project's operation, maintenance, technical, pumping and distribution departments and increase the number of service providers to handle demand around the clock.

Alfadli said, "The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and our wise leadership are always keen on developing the services rendered to visitors of the Holy Mosques. In addition, the number of customer services employees was increased to serve visitors. Zamzam water production is carried out using state-of-the-art technology according to global standards, then the water is filled in plastic (bottles) and distributed to consumers."

According to the minister, the project has four production lines with a maximum production capacity of 200,000 bottles daily. Its storage capacity is 1.8 million cubic m for water packs, 10,000 cubic m for production tanks and 26,000 cubic m for the Kudai and Sabeel tanks. There about 300 employees working in operations whose number is increased in peak seasons to cope with visitor demand. In an end-May announcement NWC said it has increased all its operational, maintenance, pumping and distribution capacities, doubled the number of Zamzam service providers and is operating the project around the clock.

Alfadli added that the "Approved Distributor" project that has been activated in Jeddah and Madinah's airports is providing visitors with ready-to-ship packs at nominal prices. He added that visitors are warned not to purchase the packs from peddlers but only from approved sources such as the project's base in Kudai and airport selling points.

National Water Company, KSA continues to raise the bar on water supply in Makkah

Source: NWC. National Water Company, KSA continues to raise the bar on water supply in Makkah.

HE Dr Abdulrahman Al-Ibrahim, CEO of the National Water Company (NWC) of KSA and Governor of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) has met with members of NWC's Executive Hajj Committee and SWCC & NWC Coordination Committee to discuss early preparations for the upcoming Hajj season.

In Makkah to launch the Makkah and Taif City Business Unit (MTCBU) building in Makkah's Alawali suburb, Al-Ibrahim also inspected several new NWC projects in Makkah, including the Almuaisim and Grand Mosque tanks to view their operations.

Al-Ibrahim said that NWC is committed to sustainable development in Makkah. He said, "This tour is in line with the instructions of our wise leadership to exert all efforts to serve Makkah visitors and help them perform their rituals with ease and comfort."

Al-Ibrahim noted that HE Engineer Abdulrahman Abdulmohsin Alfadli, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and NWC Chairman, has been following up all ongoing development projects. He added that workshops and early coordination meetings have been ongoing to ensure successful Ramadhan and Hajj seasons.

Eng. Abdullah Ahmad Hassanen, MTCBU's Executive Director, said the Grand Mosque project features four cylindrical tanks, each 20m high, 98m in diameter and with a 140,000 cubic m capacity.

He added that the Almuaisim project also features four cylindrical tanks, each 20m high, 110m in diameter and with a 190,000 cubic m capacity. Hassanen announced that NWC recently completed the connection of two of the four Almuaisim tanks to the SWCC pipeline and added that NWC has adopted a water sterilisation and rotation system to ensure high quality water.

He noted that the total amount of water pumped to Makkah has reached 592,000 cubic m daily, of which 590,000 cubic m is from the Shuaibah water station and 2,000 cubic m from the Wadi Malakan Wells project that feeds the Grand Mosque toilets.

Source: NWC. View of water tanks in Makkah.

He added that NWC receives desalinated water from SWCC and fills all Makkah water tanks (a total capacity of 2.3 million cubic m), including the Almuaisim million tank and other 34 operational tanks.

NWC, represented by the MTCBU, separately announced that it has finalised its summer plans for the water and environment services sectors in Makkah in collaboration with the SWCC.

The Company launched in April a potable water network that serves several suburbs in Makkah (Kakeiyah, Shawkeiyah, Khaldiyah, Sabhani, Mohammediyah, Bin Laden Plan, Om Alkatad, Alshafii, Alkhayat, Bin Omran, Zomah, Almarwah and Alsaluli). Two strategic tanks with a total capacity of 380,000 cubic m were launched on June 6 to cope with increased water demand from Makkah visitors over the summer.

NWC added that it has been supplying all Makkah water tanks, which carry a total capacity of about 1.2 million cubic m. They include the main tank in Almuaisim and all other 34 operational tanks in the city.

Hassanen stated that the production capacity of water stations has been increased by 133,000 cubic m daily – 50,000 cubic m were allocated for Kudai, 45,000 cubic m for Alkakeiyah, 25,000 cubic m for Almuaisim and 3,000 cubic m for Arafat station. These stations cover most of the Makkah suburbs. In addition, the number of tankers has been increased at water stations and waiting halls have been prepared to receive and serve customers.

The plan included the preparation and equipping of operation and maintenance centres to look after eight water networks and eight environment services networks. These centres are staffed by 73 teams equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and vehicles, 36 teams for operations and 37 teams for maintenance.

Hassanen said NWC is focusing on improving the quality of services provided in the city's Central Area, the parallel second ring road (Ajyad, Sheb Amer, Jabal Jeheaishah, Alquaslah, Alsulaiymaniyah and Almasfalah), and umrah areas (Alaziziyah, Albank Plan, Alshesheh and Alrawdah) that are usually crowded with visitors.

The NWC was established to provide water and wastewater treatment services in accordance with the latest international standards.

Free entry to the Wild Wadi as part of the water park's Ramadhan campaign

Enjoy free access to the Wild Wadi Waterpark every Monday during Ramadhan in return for charitable clothing donations.

Mahmoud Sakr, General Manager, Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Wild Wadi Waterpark, said: “Every Monday between 3pm (and) 7pm throughout the Holy Month, guests who donate three items of clothes can enjoy the water park free of charge. We believe improving the community can only be accomplished through positive deeds and good conduct. There also needs to be a balance between commerce and social responsibility. Ramadhan is the time to set aside material concerns and refocus on spirituality which typically includes philanthropic work.”

View of Wild Wadi in 2009.

Special containers will be placed at the registration area where any piece of clothing in good condition can be donated. Tickets are limited to the capacity of the water park, and so subject to first-come, first-served basis. The clothing will be donated to support Beit Al Kheir Society, a non-profit organisation that provides assistance to underprivileged families in the region.

Interested?

Note that clothing donations after 5pm are unlikely to qualify for free entry into the water park. Ramadhan hours are 10am to 6pm, every day except Fridays, when they are 10am to 10pm. 

Book tickets online
 
Hashtag: #ExperienceWildWadi, #WildWadi, #betterwithjumeirah, #mydubai

We are open from 10am - 10pm every Friday this summer! More time for fun and thrills at #WildWadi. Tag a friend #mydubai #starlightfridays #betterwithjumeirah

A photo posted by Wild Wadi Waterpark (@wildwadiwaterpark) on Jun 10, 2016 at 3:56am PDT

Oman takes IDB loan for water supply project

The Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) have signed istisna'a and istisna'a agency agreements under which IDB will provide the Sultanate with a US$176 million loan (about RO68 million) to finance 86% of the cost of water supply project from Wadi Dhaiqah to Muscat and Quriyat, which costs RO79 million.

As per the agreement, the loan tenure is 14 years and will be repaid through bi-annual installments for 10 years with a four-year grace period.

The project will help in meeting the growing demand for water, especially in the Governorate of Muscat and its wilayats. It will also enhance the potable water supply network, improve the production capacity of potable water by adding about 32 million cubic meters of water per day, connecting the wilayat of Quriyat, including Daghmar and Hail Al Ghaf villages with the water network (100%) and provide almost 7 million cubic metres per day of irrigation water to irrigate about 325 hectares of agricultural land.

A long-term programme for continuous water supply with less cost compare to water desalination has been developed. The programme will alleviate the deterioration of underground water quality from excessive use and the seeping of seawater, as well as the effect on agricultural production.

Water and sanitation project improves lives in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, Pakistan

In an area where half the population did not have access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities, a four-year project to improve safe drinking water and sanitation facilities has benefitted over 200,000 people in 12,000 households in the Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral (GBC) regions of Pakistan.

The project is a public-private partnership between the German Government, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan (GoGB), the Government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and local communities.

Source: Aga Khan Development Network. A four-year project to improve safe drinking water and sanitation facilities has benefited over 200,000 people in the Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral (GBC) regions of Pakistan. 

As part of a German government grant of €9.4 million (PKR1.25 billion) via its development bank, KfW announced in 2010, safe drinking water, sanitation and sewerage facilities were provided in northern Pakistan through the implementation of the Water and Sanitation Extension Programme (WASEP), one of Aga Khan Planning and Building Service’s (AKPBS') flagship programmes. The project included provision of potable water to people in over 12,000 homes, installation of 10,000 latrines and more than 12,000 household tap stands, as well as 500 communal taps. 

Three large integrated area upgrade projects were constructed in Aliabad-Hunza; training was conducted for over 500 members of the Water and Sanitation Committees that manage the Operations and Maintenance of WASEP schemes.

"Life in far flung areas is difficult. We appreciate the combined efforts of the concerned government departments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan and AKDN in addressing the local development issues with effective public participation. This synergistic approach is the reason why Germany has supported AKDN over the last 20 years,” said Wolfgang Moellers, KfW Country Director.

Akhtar Iqbal, CEO of the Aga Khan Foundation in Pakistan, said, “WASEP not only provides support to address basic water and sanitation needs of the people but facilitates the communities to put in place structures for long term development in their respective areas. AKDN’s approach of 'working with the communities' has helped in building capacities of the local people, and empowering women."

“With the application of sustainable and risk resilient technical interventions, we have been able to improve the quality of lives, particularly of women and young girls, who used to spend a large part of their day collecting water from contaminated sources located far away from their villages,” Hafiz Sherali, Chairman, AKPBS added. He added that the health indicators for people in GBC had significantly improved because WASEP schemes ensure that the quality standards of drinking water are as prescribed by the World Health Organization.

Prior to these schemes, the villagers had no access to reliable supply of safe drinking water in the area. Nearly half the population in GBC does not have access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities. Many households have no option but to collect water from open, contaminated channels thus falling victim to waterborne diseases. 

During harsh winters, women and children suffer the most as they are the principal collectors and bearers of water, and have to travel long distances to collect water for drinking, washing and cleaning. According to pre-intervention indicators in the region, 30% to 40% of all deaths were attributed to waterborne diseases; women and young girls spent on average three to four hours per day travelling long distances to collect contaminated water; and on average 30% (PKR3,700) of a household’s income was spent on medical expenses related to waterborne diseases.

“My daughters would suffer terribly due to diarrhoea from drinking dirty water from the un-cemented well,” said Tasleem Bano, a resident of Khanabad, Lower Hunza. She said that at least PKR500 out of her husband’s monthly earnings of PKR6,000 would be spent on medical treatment for her children. “We have been saved from the curse of diarrhoeal diseases, and I no longer have to spend time and energy hauling water uphill from the well. I can use the additional time to help my children with their homework or stitch nice clothes for them – a luxury I couldn’t afford before we were blessed with WASEP. We are even saving for constructing a house!” she said.

AKPBS’ WASEP has benefitted more than 350,000 people in GBC by providing them access to safe water and sanitation facilities. The projects have had positive impacts on health, education (improved school attendance), economic development (reduced time burden on women collecting water to instead engage in recreational/income generating activities), and gender empowerment (women are given a central role in all projects to raise awareness with regards to health and hygiene practices). The interventions also promote behavioural change, reduce burdens on income resulting from expenditures on health, and reduce burdens on women and children of collecting water from distant sources.

O2M breathable nail enamel available in Singapore from October

Cosmetics firm Inglot, which makes the O2M breathable nail enamel, will be opening a store in Singapore on October 1. The web description for the nail enamel is of enamel that "allows water and oxygen to pass through thanks to its special ingredient – a highly advanced polymer". 

Source: Inglot Singapore Facebook page.

While Inglot says "water vapour" and oxygen can pass through a coat of the nail enamel, an experiment carried out by Inglot in 2013 with O2M nail enamel painted onto coffee filter paper showed that water can indeed pass through the nail enamel after 15 seconds of gentle rubbing to simulate the washing of hands.

Source: Inglot Singapore Facebook page.

The O2M range does not contain toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or camphor, according to the Inglot US site. O2M nail enamel is one of the more expensive nail enamels at Inglot. It costs US$15 per bottle in the US whereas other Inglot families of nail enamel average US$10.

According to Inglot Singapore's Facebook page, O2M nail enamel will be available in "all colours" at the Singapore store at Wisma Atria #B1-14. The company invites those interested to register to attend a free make-up demo on the 1st and 2nd of October at 4-5pm conducted by Inglot makeup artist Ela Kocot. More details are available on Facebook here.

Inglot already has stores in Australia, Azerbaijan, India, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

Interested?

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about S'N'B, which also makes water-permeable nail polish

S'N'B unveils luxury collection of water-permeable, water-removable nail polish

Safe 'N' Beautiful (S'N'B), a natural nail care beauty house, has unveiled a new luxury collection of breathable, water-based and water-removable nail polishes and is currently seeking retailers and distributors throughout EMEA for them. S'N'B will formally debut the new product range at Beauty World Middle East, taking place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre from 27 through 29 May. 

Source: S'N'B.

The patented formulas, free of alcohol and animal-derived products, are also 'five-free' of the chemicals dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, camphor, formaldehyde and its resins. Unlike traditional nail polishes, the halal S'N'B formulation is aqueous and oxygen permeable, said the company.

Said Jeanette Sklivanou, Founder of Safe 'N' Beautiful: "Years in development, the new S'N'B range is integral to our ethos of formulating beauty products that are natural, naturally safe and of the highest quality. Luxurious halal beauty products that enhance a woman's health and well-being." 

The new S'N'B line complements the flagship Snails (Safe Nails) line for children and expectant mothers currently available online and across 37 countries. Non-toxic, water-based and water-removable nail polishes and products designed especially for expectant mothers and children aged three and up, the new collection of 26 colours feature polishes with a high-gloss, salon-quality finish. The 'Natural Top coat' is also water-based for longer-lasting colour and top nail protection. 

 The new collection can be viewed at Beauty World Middle East at Stand 1G34. To register to attend Beauty World Middle East, Dubai please click here.