The local water distribution center has refused to allocate waiting list numbers to people, claiming that there is not enough water for Al-Huwayya and villages north of Taif, Al-Madinah newspaper reported on Thursday.
Local residents have complained that there is also a black market for water taking advantage of people during Ramadan.
Abdul Hadi bin Hasan, head of operation and maintenance at the nearby desalination plant, denied any shortage of supply.
He said they pumped 200,000 cubic meters of water to the area. He said distributing it was the responsibility of the water company.
Al-Huwayya resident Mufleh Al-Harthy said the problem was growing everyday and there was no way it would be resolved anytime soon.
He said that he had been waiting until afternoon for his turn to collect water. He demanded an investigation into the reasons behind this problem, which started one month before Ramadan.
Faihan Al-Bugami, a Saudi citizen, was waiting a long time in the queue to get water.
He said some of them were forced to break their fast inside the water center or even have their suhoor (the last meal prior to fasting) there.
He said that he could handle the wait but expressed concern for elderly or sick people who were also in the queue.
“What is making the matter worse is that all the trucks that leave the water center are going to hotels and furnished apartment buildings,” he said.
“Some leave to supply commercial centers. It is unfair for us to wait under the sun. The water company should supply this center with more water to satisfy the needs of everyone. It is not possible for people to remain without water for three days.”
