Jeddah residents continue to be haunted by the leaking drainage and sewage water problem that ails most parts of the city. Many neighborhoods in this commercial city remain unconnected to sewerage pipelines, leading to the accumulation of wastewater in underground cesspools.

The stagnant water present in certain localities has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and disease-bearing insects, consequently posing health hazards to residents and numerous other traffic-related issues.

In one of the busiest roads in Jeddah, King Fahd Street in Sharafiya district, sewage water flooding roads has become a common site for residents and motorists. On weekends however, the problem seems to become more acute, especially from Rayan polyclinic till the area around the old telegraph office building. Residents in the area complain of a persistent foul odor that has become increasingly unbearable over the recent months.

Meanwhile, Kandrah district on King Khaled Street, which is located near the old airport toward the Islamic Development Bank, was covered in the past with sewage water, stretching approximately 70 meters. The polluted water severely damaged the road and left most of it reeled under water for nearly six months. Officials intervened to amend the problem, however several leading exits and nearby areas still face the same problem and residents have expressed exasperation with the situation.

In North Jeddah, Prince Mutaib Street commonly known as Arbaeen in Safa district is also facing a severe sewage water leakage problem, which has been ongoing for weeks. The area is a commercial center with many restaurants and shops in the vicinity that have been unduly affected by the water issue.

Abdullah Al Mutairi, a shop owner in the area told Arab News that he has been requesting the authorities to fix the problem for a week but without any response. He said that the water has prevented customers from reaching his shop and has led to profit loss.

Faisaliyah district residents have reported similar problems and unfortunately in many unprivileged areas in Jeddah the leakage problem has become a common part of people’s daily lives.