Jeddah ready to meet flood threats

Fourteen emergency projects and several other infrastructure works have been implemented by the authorities in Jeddah to prevent damage from any possible flooding in the city. 
The projects have contributed to a much developed and a better prepared city than it was during the deadly floods of 2009 and 2011, which in fact provided the impetus to strengthen Jeddah’s infrastructure.
In 2011, Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal announced that the consultant group Eikom Company has achieved its work, which will allow companies to submit their bids for the contracts.
He said: “Work in the permanent long-term projects started simultaneously with the short-term projects, which were completed at the specified deadline.” 
However, Prince Khaled admitted that the long-term projects will take several years, unlike the short-term projects, which are only meant to “mitigate rain and flood hazards and not prevent them.”
Prince Khaled praised the international standards of the short-term projects that effectively managed excess rain and floodwater in Jeddah. 
The prince said: “I am sure about the high quality of these projects and there is nothing that calls for fear or concern. The projects are of the highest international standard.”
The Jeddah water drainage project comprised 14 sites, including tunnels and street intersections. Developing works also enclosed Umm Al-Kheir and Al-Samer dams, which have been severely damaged during the rain in 2009 and 2011.
The purpose of these short-term projects is to develop the areas that were severely damaged as a result of rainfall and floods. They come within the three-year plans of the long-term projects aiming to improve Jeddah’s infrastructure.
A number of government bodies, such as the Emir of Makkah Province, Jeddah Municipality, Civil Defense and other entities are ensuring the completion of the projects, and are ready to provide all safety measures to residents in case of another flood. The new drainage and sewage systems are being established and developed as part of the long-term projects.
Protection dams are under construction alongside the surrounding eastern mountains, which are located at a higher level to Jeddah, to prevent the flooding of neighborhoods and streets.
Um Al-Kheir Dam, which cracked in 2010 causing floods, was the focus of many developing projects. It was linked to the northern drainage channel through a spillway. 
Advanced equipment has been used to achieve these projects and new pumps have been installed in tunnels — permanent pumps that can prevent tunnels from filling up during rainy days. Whereas mobile pumps will help in preventing water puddle formations in different areas.
According to the Saudi Geological Survey, Jeddah will no more be faced with flooding risks after the completion of three dams in the east and the south of the city.
Zohair Nowab, president of the Saudi Geological Survey, said: “The three dams will protect the neighborhoods and houses located in the valleys.” 
“The new dams can handle stronger flooding than those that hit Jeddah on Nov. 25, 2009,” he added.
Nowab said the dams collect water in the agricultural sector. “A civic project called ‘water harvesting’ clarifies that accumulated water and reuses it instead of it being discharged to the sea 30 km away. However, it may be pumped eastward to the valley of Wadi Fatima and Asfan, as the distance between them is very close.”