JEDDAH, 18 August — Jeddah requires one million cubic meters of water on a daily basis, according to Abdullah ibn Ali Al-Assaf, acting director of water projects in the Makkah region.
The present sources of water, including desalination plants and ground water wells, meet only half of the city’s requirement.
Speaking to Al-Madinah newspaper, Al-Assaf said his department has taken steps to ensure the smooth supply of water by setting up three main distribution centers.
He added that the delay in the operation of the second phase of a water network east of the expressway was caused by technical difficulties. He said the network would, however, begin to supply water to surrounding districts shortly.
The government has taken effective steps to solve Jeddah’s water problem, and high-level sources say the operation of the second desalination plant in Shuaiba would end the problem once and for all.
Saudi Arabia’s 27 desalination plants supply 600 million gallons of drinking water daily.
