JEDDAH: The Jeddah Municipality has enforced a ban that prevents sewage trucks from discharging their loads in the sewage lake, located around 15 km east of the city, at night in an effort to reduce the water level of the lake.
The sewage lake is posing a potential threat to the city, especially during the occasional deluge that turns Jeddah’s streets into canals. This buildup of water puts pressure on the sand levee, the only barrier between the city of Jeddah and 10 million liters of raw sewage.
Ahmad Al-Ghamdi, head of the Media Department of the municipality, said sewage disposal has increased recently due to rains. Trucks were advised to discharge their loads in the Khomrah, Iskan and Ruwais water treatment stations, which can take up to 7,000 cubic meters of raw sewage daily. Jeddah does not have the capacity to handle the amount of sewage it produces and, therefore, much of it ends up in the sewage lake or is poured directly into the sea.
Al-Ghamdi said trucks would be banned from entering the area of the sewage lake from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. He said sewage disposal in the lake is stopped when rain forecasts are issued by the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment.
Al-Ghamdi pointed out that each truck would only be allowed two discharge trips to the lake per day. To assure compliance, the Briman branch of the municipality has installed an electronic surveillance system that registers each truck. The branch has also doubled its manpower during night shifts.
The Jeddah Municipality is currently undertaking a number of urgent projects to reduce the water level of the lake by building extension pipelines and additional water purification plants.
