Comprehensive strategy worked out to tide over long-term water needs

Saudi Arabia is currently implementing a massive water strategy to meet the needs of the Kingdom's growing population and increasing industrial activity, said Minister of Water and Electricity Abdullah Al-Hussayen in an interview with Arab News here.
The plan includes building and upgrading several desalination plants, constructing dams, fixing of leaks in the system, using new technology to treat waste water and harvest rainwater, and educating consumers and companies about rationalizing water use, he said.
"We have to find additional resources to meet the growing demand for water, such as water desalination and the development of technologies for the reuse of treated waste water for agricultural, industrial and commercial purposes,” the minister said.
He said Saudi Arabia is the world's largest producer of desalinated water, with 26 desalination stations — six on the Arabian Gulf coast and 20 along the Red Sea coast.
In Makkah Province, production from the Reverse Osmosis System (ROS) in Rabigh will begin in phase two over the next few days with a capacity of 240,000 cubic meters of desalinated water per day. The plant will be the largest desalination plant in the world with ROS technology and will meet all the water needs of the Makkah region.
He said the National Water Company (NWC) has completed various projects to strengthen water sources in Riyadh. It has drilled 43 deep wells and is planning to set up 46 water desalination plants in 27 locations in Riyadh. It is also constructing storage tanks and installing pumps in various areas in the capital.
By the end of this year, stations from Ras Al-Khair will increase water supply by 900,000 cubic meters. Riyadh and its provinces have embarked on the expansion of Wasia station with an additional capacity of 300,000 cubic meters and a pipeline with a capacity of 500,000 cubic meters.
Al-Hussayen said that 511 dams with a capacity of 2.5 billion cubic meters are either under construction or have been completed to store water.
Outlining his ministry's campaign to preserve water, he said that consumers have to prevent wasteful consumption of precious water resources. It has distributed guides to citizens and residents on how to save water.
He said water was one of the country's most precious commodities. "Saudi Arabia is located in the world’s most arid region with a lack of river water. In addition, the high temperature in the Kingdom has a negative effect on water resources due to evaporation.” Limited rainfall has also contributed to dwindling resources.
The ministry has conducted studies to explore underground water sources across the Kingdom.
"The NWC has sought to deal with the increased demand for water within the comprehensive plan on several levels and coordinated with the General Organization for Water Desalination to ensure stable water supplies throughout the year. It has established strategic water tanks to ensure the stability of those supplies in cases of emergencies and breakdowns.
It also upgraded the infrastructure of existing water systems and rehabilitated the old networks with the latest technology.
It is also carrying out technical studies to determine the actual needs and future demand for water per person in various old and new districts.
The company has fixed leaks in the country's water system and has deployed the latest technology to detect future leakages.
It has also created 24-hour service and communications centers that provide maintenance for stations and pipelines.
The minister said that work is continuing to ensure there are enough water tankers for customers across the country. More staff is being deployed to ensure consistent high quality services at all water stations.
He said the government is also ensuring that there is an adequate water supply for Haj and Umrah pilgrims. The NWC fills the strategic reservoirs in Makkah and the holy sites before the start of the peak seasons and constantly monitors water quality and safety. The storage capacity of these reservoirs is more than two million cubic meters.
The NWC also distributes awareness brochures to citizens and pilgrims at the holy sites urging them to rationalize water consumption. It has also erected signboards on the need to conserve water in the central area surrounding the Grand Mosque.
In the Madinah region, the General Directorate of Water has conducted studies to determine local water needs. It has also started the third phase of its desalination water strategy in coordination with the General Organization for Water Desalination to provide the region with the largest possible amount of desalinated water during the peak seasons. Maintenance and repair work at desalination plants take place largely during the off-peak season.
The region also implemented a water reservoir strategy last year and ensured there were no interruptions in water, sanitation and electricity provision for pilgrims.