JEDDAH, 5 October — Saudi Arabia will require SR330 billion ($88 billion) to produce enough drinking water for the next 20 years, according to a study conducted by the Institute of Research at King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals.
Official statistics say that the Kingdom will need 170 billion cubic meters of water annually by 2020, in place of 15 billion cubic meters produced now, assuming an individual consumption of 300 liters daily.
The research center warned that groundwater in Dammam was drying up as a result of growing consumption by industrial cities in the region. Groundwater accounts for 77.5 percent of water produced in the Kingdom.
The center called for prudent use of water and emphasized the need for finding new water resources.
An expert told Al-Hayat newspaper that consumption of groundwater at present levels would lead to closure of many wells in the Eastern Province and increasing the level of salinity to 30 percent.
The Kingdom has more than 25 desalination plants but it would require another 15 to meet its future water needs.
Construction of a desalination plant needs a capital investment of SR3.5 billion ($933 million). Desalination plants on the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf coasts supply a total of 550 million gallons daily or about 70 percent of drinking water
Water security is one of the major issues facing Saudi Arabia. The government has set up a new ministry to address the country’s water problems.
