JEDDAH: Various districts in Jeddah, especially in the south of the city, are experiencing large quantities of sewage in the streets as a result of a strike by sewage truck drivers. The drivers have not worked for four days because of new regulations imposed by a subcontracted sewage site company.
Sewage sites management were given for the first time to a local company, the National Water Company, which subcontracted the job. The subcontracted company has imposed new regulations and fares, which have forced truck drivers to strike.
The National Water Company forwarded Arab News’ request for information to the Faisaliah branch of the Ministry of Water and Electricity. This is the branch responsible for the sewage trucks but the call was never returned.
The problem between the drivers and the company is being negotiated and nothing has been resolved so far, according to a municipality source.
The source said the problem should be solved before it becomes an environmental disaster. He added that the municipality is expected to intervene if the problem persists until next week.
Residents of southern districts of Jeddah said that they had never seen such a problem and that they feared an outbreak of dengue fever due to the “rivers of sewage” flooding their neighborhoods.
“We have identified various problem areas after receiving numerous complaints from citizens,” said Sabri Qadah, head of the municipality’s branch in Al-Jameah district.
He noted that the municipality had dispatched three of its tankers to remove the sewage. The move helped in reducing the water level in the streets.
Qadah said the municipality had also dispatched its field groups to spray insecticides in the flooded areas. “We will continue spraying insecticides until the problem is solved,” he said.
