Education campaigns on water conservation are among the most effective ways to convince people to reduce their consumption, according to a leading academic.

Mirza Barjees Baig, a Canadian professor at King Saud University's department of agriculture and rural affairs, said in an interview on Friday that there is almost no incentive to consume less because people here get water virtually for free.

The subsidized rate charged for water disguises its real cost, he said. "The government has given away some conservation kits for free, but there is little demand for them, because of the artificially low cost of water." "There is little awareness among consumers about the value of conserving this precious natural resource. We need to educate people on the practical ways to consume judiciously," Baig said.

An additional problem is the leaks in the Kingdom's old supply network. Up to 50 percent of water supplied to homes in certain areas is lost to leaks, he said.

In some cases, it may take weeks or months to repair a broken pipe. In some places, repair work is difficult because the pipes are buried deep underground.

Baig said more awareness campaigns must be launched targeting students, teachers and other members of the public, using the media and social networking sites.

He said people should be made aware of how wasteful it is to wash their cars and homes using hosepipes and keeping their taps running. There should also be education programs on using showers, bathroom taps and toilets.

If possible, consumers must replace all broken and leaky pipes and fittings. The water saved through efficient devices and fixtures would be another way to compensate for government subsidies, he said.

He said Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest producer of desalinated water, accounting for about 18 percent of total production.

“There are currently 30 desalination plants in the country supplying drinking water to principal urban centers via a network of over 5,000 km of pipelines,” said Baig.

To meet increasing demand, the Kingdom plans to double desalination capacity over the next 10 years and will have to spend an additional $70 billion on new water projects.

"The government is trying to play its role as a service provider. Are we playing our role as consumers? We need to ask ourselves if we are responsible citizens," he said.