It is heartening to note that the construction of the strategic water reservoir in Riyadh has kicked off. This project is of vital importance to cope with the future water needs of the Kingdom. Although, it is not one of its kind, as several similar projects were carried out in the past. Carrying out such water projects is very important for a country like Saudi Arabia, which has scarce water resources, growing population — local and expatriate — and an ever-expanding infrastructure. We hope that this project will provide a temporary solution to this ever-lingering issue.
Keeping in view the nature of the Saudi terrain, it is needless to say that finding any radical solution to water shortage is difficult. We need to explore effective and long-term solutions to cope with growing water needs of the Kingdom.
The project in question is slated to cover Riyadh city only, which means that the other parts of the Kingdom will continue to face water shortage. It would not be illogical to claim that we need to launch several water projects across the Kingdom to address the issue. We should be open to the possibilities of constructing dams and water desalination plants.
On the administrative side, there are specialized companies in the field of water supply, maintenance and consumption. But public awareness is the most importance that should be the focus of all our efforts to conserve water. It is an open secret that individuals are careless and undisciplined when it comes to water consumption. This is, in fact, a very serious threat that could face any society, especially when people view water like any other readily available commodity. This trend is likely to create a misconception that water is a product that is subject to the rule of supply and demand. Let us suppose that we wake up one morning only to discover that our water tanks are empty. We never wish to reach this point because suffering and struggle over water will be beyond imagination.
In Riyadh, the authorities are prioritizing issues due to the ongoing expansion of the city.
We would also like to point out that the authorities are doing their best in completing this important project and others. In addition to government’s efforts, we need to change ourselves. There is a great need for an extensive media campaign to make people realize the importance of water.
