JEDDAH, 21 October 2004 — The shortage of water at the Azizia water distribution plant is generating frustration and anger as well as cash for quick-witted unemployed men with an eye for profit.

Rumors are rife as to the cause of the shortage — ranging from a broken feed pipe from the desalination plant to corrupt practice.

Yesterday, the reception area where numbered coupons are distributed to customers allotting them a position in the delivery queue was thronged with over 150 people. The average wait for a coupon and the departure of a tanker is over 10 hours. One angry customer reported a wait of over 24 hours.

A lively black market has developed in the sale of coupons and water. Arab News learned that tankers were available at short notice at double the normal price. Coupons, which determine how soon the customer gets his water, are also on sale at the “right price.”

Awad and his cousin Matouq — two unemployed young Saudis — were selling water coupons. They said that they were taking advantage of the water shortage situation to sell numbered coupons to customers. They sell the coupon for SR25 to desperate people who do not want to wait for a long time.

Awad said that “foreigners” are to blame for the situation by withholding tankers from people to sell them later outside at a high price taking advantage of the holy month.

Awad comes early in the morning with his cousins and buys numbers at the counter. Later he sells them to waiting customers and shares the profit.

He said that he is trying to help people who do not want to wait for a long time and make a little profit. “The problem happens every year in summer time and in Ramadan,” he said. “It is not a new one at all.”

A Saudi man, who did not want his name mentioned, said that the worst thing is not to be able to provide water for his family. Even worse is to be forced to buy water from the black market.

“My daughter received a letter from the student affairs teacher at the elementary school saying that she should take more care of her looks at the school and that she should take a shower at least once every day. How can I get water for my daughter when I cannot get water from here?” he asked.

He said he could not afford to buy a tanker of water for SR300, except only occasionally. “Nobody cares about our problem. No one wants to give us a clear reason why this is happening,” he said.

Several customers said that the majority of the people queuing believed that water officials are creating these problems to drive people out to the black market and buy water. “I think choosing Ramadan, as a time to play games with people is wrong,” said one. “The least they can do is to be honest with us.”

One angry customer, on discovering that Arab News was making inquiries, reacted sharply.

“The problem has existed for 30 years; do you think with an article you can solve it? Try living in south Jeddah where what you think are major problems are an everyday occurrence for the residents,” he said.

Officials, he said, should be ashamed when they see family men and elderly people waiting long hours for a basic necessity. How could a water truck, he asked, be sold on the black market if it cannot leave the depot until it is sold to a customer? “How could a water truck be sold twice inside and outside?” he asked.