JEDDAH, 23 October 2004 — Water is still in short supply at the Azizia water distribution center in Jeddah. The black market in water tankers that emerged during the first week of Ramadan has now been virtually eliminated, after police moved in to control the situation.
The average waiting time for a tanker — about 10 hours — has not been reduced but officials are hopeful that the shortage will soon be over, according to an employee working at the water supply center.
While still crowded, a sense of order has returned to the office where coupons are distributed for the purchase of water tankers. Four police officers patrolled the office and organized the crowds.
More police officers supervised the exit of full tankers, not releasing any truck until proper documentation linking it to an official purchase order was verified.
Abu Taher, from Al-Rawdah district, thought there was a major problem with the desalination plant.
“This week we did not have any water and that is why I am buying a salty truck-load for household needs because I cannot wait for 10 hours.” He said he had called the water desalination plant the whole day but no one answered. “At times like these, I think they should have staff available to answer our calls,” he said
“Rumors have been circulating as to the exact cause of the shortage. The most popular among the waiting crowds is that a main pipe from the desalination plant was breached during road-works. Others hint at malpractice.
There is still a lively alternative market in non-potable water outside Jeddah. Trucks from Asfan — northeast of Jeddah — and from Bahrah to the east are queuing outside Azizia to sell slightly salty water at negotiable prices.
The water in the trucks is suitable only for personal hygiene and cleaning, not for drinking. The truck drivers observed by Arab News made this clear to buyers. Many were using bottled water for their consumption needs and were readily buying the non-potable tankers.
Al-Tayeb Mustapha, a Sudanese truck driver from Asfan, said that he and other drivers took advantage of shortages when they happened. “Jeddah is our best market at times like these,” he said. “We sell the water for as much as SR200 a load or more, depending on the customer.”
While exploiting the situation, many of the drivers, said Mustapha, are flexible about their prices. “If the customer is poor, and most of them are, we sell it for as low as SR100 taking into consideration their difficult circumstances and we hope for a reward from God in this holy month.”
