Saudi Arabia is going through huge transformations in almost every sphere of life. The government is taking various measures to ensure the country’s continued journey on the road to progress.
Recently, the government announced a drastic increase in water tariff, which used to be heavily subsidized. Saudis voiced their frustration on social media and called on the government to revisit its decision.
Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also announced publicly that the ministry’s new plan of skyrocketing water bills was unsatisfactory. The plan was intended to force large consumers, such as high-income families who have multiple estates, to reduce their water consumption. However, the plan affected low- and medium-income families more drastically than larger consumers. Subsequently, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman fired the country’s water and electricity minister for his failure to implement a satisfactory water-pricing plan.
Saudi Arabia is the third largest consumer of water per capita after the US and Canada. Conservation alone cannot solve the country’s water crisis. In an arid climate such as Saudi Arabia’s, water scarcity is aggravated by unsustainable groundwater pumping for agriculture. The agricultural industry consumes 85 percent of the country’s water, most of which comes from groundwater. However, groundwater is also one of the main sources for household water usage. Saudi Arabia urgently needs to reassess its water management plan and invest in feasible water resource technologies.
Currently, 50 percent of Saudi domestic water comes from desalination, 40 percent from groundwater and 10 percent from surface water. Even though desalination is expected to grow in the coming years to meet demands, the country should invest in indirect recycling of wastewater for domestic use instead. The energy associated with desalination is almost three times greater than wastewater recycling. Similarly, the average cost of desalinating a cubic meter of water is $3.50, whereas wastewater recycling costs $1.50 per cubic meter of water produced.
Indirect wastewater recycling for domestic use — through groundwater recharge — is an innovative technique and has been implemented in a few regions around the world, the most extensive being found in Orange County, California. This treatment process is similar to conventional wastewater treatment processes, except it has an additional treatment step that involves micro-filtration, reverse osmosis, and UV-light with hydrogen peroxide disinfection.
The Orange County Water District is currently operating the largest indirect domestic recycling plant in the world, supplying water to almost 600,000 people. It pumps treated freshwater into the groundwater to recharge the aquifer, hence the program’s name: “The Groundwater Replenishment System.” This treatment plant is gaining a lot of traction in water scarce regions. Similar facilities in California are expected to go online in the next couple of years to help combat the state’s water shortage.
Along with the cutting-edge science behind this technology, California’s experience shows that the initial reluctance of the public to wastewater reuse — the “yuck” factor — can be overcome. A poll conducted by Probe Research for the San Diego Water Authority found that 73 percent of San Diego County’s residents support supplementing the local drinking water supply with treated recycled water. With increased awareness of water scarcity and costs, Saudi citizens could be willing to accept wastewater recycling.
Recycling wastewater could help to solve domestic water crises in Saudi Arabia and relieve some pressure from groundwater pumping. However, the Saudi government should also adopt a strict aquifer management program that incorporates strategies like rainwater harvesting for groundwater recharge. This technology is currently being piloted and implemented in the Central Valley of California.
Recently, the government announced a drastic increase in water tariff, which used to be heavily subsidized. Saudis voiced their frustration on social media and called on the government to revisit its decision.
Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also announced publicly that the ministry’s new plan of skyrocketing water bills was unsatisfactory. The plan was intended to force large consumers, such as high-income families who have multiple estates, to reduce their water consumption. However, the plan affected low- and medium-income families more drastically than larger consumers. Subsequently, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman fired the country’s water and electricity minister for his failure to implement a satisfactory water-pricing plan.
Saudi Arabia is the third largest consumer of water per capita after the US and Canada. Conservation alone cannot solve the country’s water crisis. In an arid climate such as Saudi Arabia’s, water scarcity is aggravated by unsustainable groundwater pumping for agriculture. The agricultural industry consumes 85 percent of the country’s water, most of which comes from groundwater. However, groundwater is also one of the main sources for household water usage. Saudi Arabia urgently needs to reassess its water management plan and invest in feasible water resource technologies.
Currently, 50 percent of Saudi domestic water comes from desalination, 40 percent from groundwater and 10 percent from surface water. Even though desalination is expected to grow in the coming years to meet demands, the country should invest in indirect recycling of wastewater for domestic use instead. The energy associated with desalination is almost three times greater than wastewater recycling. Similarly, the average cost of desalinating a cubic meter of water is $3.50, whereas wastewater recycling costs $1.50 per cubic meter of water produced.
Indirect wastewater recycling for domestic use — through groundwater recharge — is an innovative technique and has been implemented in a few regions around the world, the most extensive being found in Orange County, California. This treatment process is similar to conventional wastewater treatment processes, except it has an additional treatment step that involves micro-filtration, reverse osmosis, and UV-light with hydrogen peroxide disinfection.
The Orange County Water District is currently operating the largest indirect domestic recycling plant in the world, supplying water to almost 600,000 people. It pumps treated freshwater into the groundwater to recharge the aquifer, hence the program’s name: “The Groundwater Replenishment System.” This treatment plant is gaining a lot of traction in water scarce regions. Similar facilities in California are expected to go online in the next couple of years to help combat the state’s water shortage.
Along with the cutting-edge science behind this technology, California’s experience shows that the initial reluctance of the public to wastewater reuse — the “yuck” factor — can be overcome. A poll conducted by Probe Research for the San Diego Water Authority found that 73 percent of San Diego County’s residents support supplementing the local drinking water supply with treated recycled water. With increased awareness of water scarcity and costs, Saudi citizens could be willing to accept wastewater recycling.
Recycling wastewater could help to solve domestic water crises in Saudi Arabia and relieve some pressure from groundwater pumping. However, the Saudi government should also adopt a strict aquifer management program that incorporates strategies like rainwater harvesting for groundwater recharge. This technology is currently being piloted and implemented in the Central Valley of California.
