Water is a precious commodity especially in this dry and arid country but what has alarmed water experts is a lack of awareness among people here about water conservation.

The simple answer by one expert was to put a monetary price on it. Chris Venemore, managing director at the UAE-based Hyder Consulting, said that was a sure way of making people realize that water has value — a monetary value.

A Saudi water expert from among the audience, who requested his name not be published, echoed Venemore’s sentiment. “Yes, the best way to make people take notice is put money on something. If water is free you treat it like waste,” he said.

Water, said British water expert Justin Hardy, cannot be wasted. “There isn’t enough water for us to waste. Only three quarters of 1 percent of the water on this planet is drinkable and liquid, all the rest is either saline or ice. That is about a teaspoon out of a one-liter water bottle. That is not much.”

Experts suggest that the average consumer should get the first quantity, a reasonable quantity, say five cubic meters, absolutely free; for the second 10 cubic meters you charge SR10 — its actual production cost. The third block of 10 cubic meters you charge SR50 because it is nonessential. That’s the water for washing the car, hosing down the patio, cleaning the driveway, watering the flowers, in other words, luxury uses. In that case charge luxury prices for it. Once consumers start using water for purposes other than living, showing off or making a big garden, let them pay for it was the unanimous view. It was pointed out that water is a highly subsidized commodity in the Kingdom. The real cost of producing water can be anything between SR10 to SR15 per cubic meter, while the government charges about 10 halalas a cubic meter.

“Meaning you are only charging 5 percent of the real production cost. Every cubic meter of water you buy for 10 halalas has cost the government between SR12 and SR15 a cubic meter. What kind of an economy can stand producing something for a dollar and selling it for a cent? How long can that go on? You can’t do it forever. That is why they have to charge people for water,” said the Saudi water expert.

Lloyd Martin of Severn Trent Services narrated an interesting anecdote on why even a hint of paying money for water can make people conserve. “Several years ago they did this study in the UK. They fixed water meters to houses to make people aware of how much water they were using. They didn’t charge for that water. The study found that there was a 10 percent drop in actual water usage. Once people were aware that water was something of value — had monetary value — that stopped the misuse of it.”

Of course, there is a political dimension to the whole issue of charging for water. “Suppose we have the water meters in place. How are you going to collect the money,” asked one of the attendees. “If someone doesn’t pay his water bill, are you going to cut him off? No, you can’t do that here in Saudi Arabia. Are you going to deny people water? That cannot work.”

Speakers and attendees agreed that charging for water will create awareness, and will bring in huge revenues. But will it lead to water conservation? “No,” said Walid Abderrahman, managing director of the Alkhobar-based Miahona Company. “Yes, people will feel the value of water when you charge for it. But let us not forget that middle-income people who are living in apartments consume only about 30 percent of water. They are the ones who will cut back on water usage because they have to pay for it. However, 60 percent of water usage is by those who are living in huge villas with huge gardens and promenades.  These are the people who are earning millions of riyals. For them putting any amount on water is meaningless.

These villa people are the majority consumers. They have the means to pay; they can afford any amount. Therefore, the demand for water will continue if you charge — or if you don’t.”

So what is the solution? According to Abderrahman, “You have to put a ceiling on water usage per person. They need to be told that this is your quota for the week or month; if you exceed that you are not going to get water. That will make them conserve water and use it with caution. Nothing else will work.”