RIYADH, 13 May 2003 — The Ministry of Water and Electricity is responsible for the invention of a water conservation device that can also extend the life of a water well by at least five years.
Dr. Riaz Ahmed, the inventor of the device, told Arab News that the new water conservation technique would not have been possible without constant pressure from the ministry asking water drilling contractors to do something to prolong the life of these wells.
Dr. Riaz is an internationally recognized expert in ground water resources engineering and development with over 20 years experience.
Referring to what he called “the critical water situation in the Kingdom and other Gulf states,” Dr. Riaz said one of the major factors for the water shortage was the fact that the Kingdom has not received adequate rainfall for the last three or four years. He said Water and Electricity Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi had issued strict instructions to all water drilling contractors not to drill without a license.
Dr. Riaz said he drilled the world’s deepest water well north of Riyadh — some 2,670 meters deep. The cost of drilling varies from SR1,800 to SR2,000 per meter. At such a depth, the water temperature rises to 68 degrees C. Under optimum conditions, water can be pumped at a rate of 1,000 to 1,500 gallons per minute. But with encrustation, this can drop to 200-300 gallons per minute, Dr. Riaz pointed out.
He explained that the cementation collar tool made of steel and aluminum prevents contamination of cement used in the steel casing inside a water well. This checks corrosion and also contamination of the ground water. “It has already been tested successfully under Water Ministry supervision,” Dr. Riaz said, adding that there had been a steady growth in demand for the device.
The launch of the water conservation device coincides with the announcement of the Prince Sultan ibn Abdul Aziz International Prize for Water which carries a cash award of SR500,000 for outstanding research and innovation in water fields including surface water (effective flood control methods), ground water (artificial ground water recharge), alternative (non-traditional) water resources, water resources management (new techniques for irrigation water conservation) and protection of water resources (protection of ground water from agricultural pollutants).
The last date for nominations for the prize is Oct. 30.
