JEDDAH, 5 October 2006 — The flood of people at the Water Distribution Center in Jeddah’s Aziziya District has been reduced to a trickle.

The crowd and confusion that was seen at the water distribution since the past few weeks has been replaced in the past couple of days with more orderly and expedient water disbursement, especially in the mornings where water delivery could be arranged in 15 minutes.

This is a considerable shift from last week when angry and frustrated people waiting for hours for water coupons and trucks crowded the water distribution center. Water and Electricity Minister Abdullah Al-Hussayen paid a surprise visit to the Aziziya center earlier this week showing that the authorities were giving the situation high priority.

Last week, non-Saudis were being asked to return in the evening after Saudis had been served. Customers, including women, were being asked to climb up into the trucks and ride along to ensure that the drivers actually delivered the water instead of driving off to sell the water on the black market.

This week it seems that pressure from the media reports and officials has caused the Aziziya Distribution Center to clean up its act to some degree. While people were still being urged to ride along with the truck drivers, at least it was possible for expatriates to be served in a timely fashion along with Saudis. Women have even been gifted with a “ladies first” policy.

Leila, a 26-year-old Asian domestic worker, arrived at the center at 11.25 a.m. She was climbing into the passenger seat of the truck 12 minutes later. Khan, the forty-something family chauffeur, got in his vehicle and led the water truck toward its destination.

“Ten days ago I was here for 11 hours straight — hours to buy the water coupon and more hours to wait for the water tanker,” said Abdulrahman, a Sudanese accountant in his 40s, standing third in the water tanker line. “It was hell everywhere because of the water shortage.

“Things are totally different now. It didn’t even take me 10 minutes to get my water coupon,” said Abdulrahman.

Reports last week estimated that 15 of Jeddah’s districts — mainly in the lower-income southern part of the city — have been hit with water shortages.

Unlike last week, when it was difficult to find an employee (much less a manager) to help out, yesterday a customer service representative stood by helping with inquiries.

The Saudi employees were still advising customers, including women, to ride in the trucks, because there was no guarantee the driver will not run off with the water. It is common for these drivers to leave the lot with a truck to make a delivery only to end up nearby scalping the water for four or five times the price to buyers on the black market.

Meanwhile, customers get stiffed and have to return to the center to complain and get another truck.

An employee at the center — who chose to remain anonymous — said that officials have yet to find an alternative way to ensure the safe delivery of water to homes. They admitted that asking customers to ensure delivery by riding in the truck is not a practical long-term solution, especially for women customers who, legally speaking, aren’t supposed to ride in a car with anyone except their mahram (legal male guardian).

“I rode beside the driver,” said Naeem, a Saudi woman in her 50s. “I was uncomfortable the whole way home. I’m not used to it. And it was physically hard for me to climb up the cab and climb down.” Nevertheless, at least water was easier to get yesterday with employees, all clad in blue uniforms, cordially attending to those waiting to get their water tanker.

“We’re here to serve you with everything we have” one was overheard saying to one of the customers voicing his impatience.

“Maybe this water crisis was a blessing in disguise, an eye-opener to authorities,” said Naeema. “Allah knows, we’ve suffered from water-shortage over this past year and I know people in south of Jeddah who nearly don’t have water facilities.”