Severe water shortage disrupts life in many Jeddah districts

In what is now an almost usual incident, many districts in Jeddah have had no water supply for several days, which is causing serious problems for the residents.
The districts of Al-Faisaliah, Al-Baghdadia and Al-Hamra have not had water for the past 12 days or more, while Aziziah, Mushrefah, Bani Malik and Rehab districts have no water for the past three days.
Neighbors complain that they are suffering a great deal due to this shortage, while they have to witness chaos and discrimination at the Tahlia water supply station where expatriates have to plead with local citizens to book water tankers for them.
Jeddah residents claim to be very upset about the regular occurrence of water shortage, which causes them many problems and disrupts their daily lives. Some residents complained that water supply shortage in their area is so severe that water they saved in buckets and containers has already run out and they don’t even have water to perform ablutions. Many said they don’t have enough money to afford the water tanker every other day.
Abdul Raoof, a resident of Al-Hamra district, told Arab News that they have not received water for the past two weeks, and the last water tanker they received got to their house 72 hours after they booked it.
“Perhaps, the National Water Company is not doing its job properly. How is it possible that the residents of Jeddah have to suffer regular shortage,” wondered Raoof.
Abdullah Bakhsh said that they have not received water for the past 12 days and when they went to get a water taker from the supplying station they refused to give it to them unless a Saudi booked it for them.
Salman Saha said that the water supply company is not issuing water tankers to expatriates, creating a black market. Tanker drivers are selling the 19–ton water tanker for SR250 to SR350 in the black market, when the actual cost is SR123.
Water tankers, which are usually delivered within an hour of booking, are now taking more than 48 to 72 hours to reach the residents.
This reporter made several attempts to get in touch with the National Water Company but there was no response.