JEDDAH, 29 October — The second of two seminars on strategies for handling Saudi Arabia’s investment needs in water production and distribution was held at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) yesterday.
In his opening remarks, Dr Adel Bushnak, chairman of the Water and Wastewater Committee at the JCCI, described Jeddah as having a number of companies and dedicated individuals working on the provision of future water needs for the Kingdom.
He expressed hope that they would form the nucleus on which to build Jeddah as a centre of excellence on both a local and regional level.
Dr Abdul Fattah Fouad, director general of the Water and Drainage Authority for the Makkah region, emphazised the overriding importance of water and its value. "Quite simply, water is life. Our duty is to use it carefully and protect the environment from damage. Sewage and the disposal of waste water form an important part of this and we need bold plans and strategies to achieve it."
Dr Graeme Reid, director of Infrastructure Projects Directorate who is leading the British team of experts on their Saudi Arabian visit, explained the underlying reason for the global concern with water. Of the 0.25% of useable liquid water on the planet, he said "most of it is in the wrong place at the wrong time; there are parts of the world being flooded while other parts of the world go short."
It was important to harness every area of expertise possible to provide the people of the world with the water they need, when and where they need it.
The team of speakers presented a review of strategies and techniques for the production, use and disposal of water and the legal, financial and environmental issues that surround it.
They ranged from the well tried and tested techniques of pumping and distribution to a highly innovative scheme for offshore waste re-processing plants that would be all but invisible and would free valuable land for other uses.
Dr. Ahsanullah Khan from the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment Protection (PME) highlighted the Kingdom’s concern with environmental issues by outlining the strict laws surrounding waste water disposal and the many checks and controls on pollution already in place.
Dr Zekai Sen from the Saudi Geological Survey tackled one of the most visible water issues around Jeddah.
He said that the rapid expansion of the city far outstripped the installation of an adequate water drainage system. This, coupled with the geology of the area, which was not taken into account at the time, has resulted in the water table under the city rising and appearing on the surface in places.
"The visible water is a result of a combination of factors," he said, "not least being leakage from existing water systems and waste disposal."
Andrew Henderson, British consul general and co-host of the seminars, speaking both as a citizen of and visitor to Jeddah concluded the formal discussions.
He affirmed the importance of water both globally and to the Kingdom and expressed his pleasure at the involvement of the Saudi Geological Survey and the PME in the seminars, seeing the event as the beginning of a partnership process in water development between the UK and the Kingdom.
