This was disclosed by CEO of the National Water Company (NWC) Luay Al-Musallam said in a report published on Thursday.

“Mega-tanks will be set up in four locations in Jeddah to ensure a supply of the vital fluid in emergency cases of disruption of the flow either by stoppage of the desalination plants due to major faults or by natural disasters,” Al-Musallam told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.

The new strategic tanks will together have a total capacity of six million cubic meters of water, he said adding that the first of these tanks will be built in Briman district in 30 months and will have a capacity of 1.5 million cubic meters of water.

Al-Musallam said the company had invited a number of consultancy firms to study the project.  “After this, the first phase of the project will start by constructing the giant tank in Briman,” he said.

According to Al-Musallam, the strategic water storage project will also improve the potable water and the sewage networks.

At times of crises water is generally transported to households by trucks from the main distribution centers.