Officials here have successfully tackled rising water levels in several parts of the city with an integrated drainage system that will soon be extended across the region.

The system installed by the High Commission for Riyadh Development (HCRD) reduced groundwater levels in 15 out of a targeted 47 districts in the capital. It involved the construction of over 2,300 storm water channels.

"This is part of the project aimed at solving the rising groundwater problem in a number of localities," said Ibrahim Al-Sultan, project and planning president at the HCRD. The system works because there is now very little stagnant water on the streets after heavy rain, he added.

The system is now 98.3 km in length and will eventually extend to over 400 km, he added.

“The department has conducted a series of studies to determine the impact of natural phenomena and the best solutions based on international experience,” Al-Sultan added.

The department has also issued guidelines and rules for the design and construction of the foundations of buildings and water tanks, sanitation systems and swimming pools. The program includes continuous monitoring of the level and quality of groundwater.

The HCRD, in coordination with the Riyadh governorate and the National Water Company, is monitoring the groundwater in the east of Riyadh, where there is a particular problem with moisture in the soil. The stakeholders are also involved in developing mathematical models to check the status and flow of groundwater in the region.