NWC ‘responsible’ for removal of stagnant water

The National Water Company (NWC) is responsible for not removing high levels of polluted groundwater from various districts in Jeddah, said the city’s mayor Hani Abu Ras in a statement posted on Facebook.
The mayor’s comments come in the wake of a public dispute between the municipality and the NWC on which party should remove the stagnant water.
Residents of Al-Harman, Quwaizah and Faraj Al-Musa’ed districts have long complained that this polluted water is a threat to their health.
“The responsibility for reducing the groundwater level in the city of Jeddah, which certainly includes Al-Harman neighborhood, is the responsibility of the NWC under the mandate of the Committee of Ministers of the rains and floods project in Jeddah,” Abu Ras said.
Abu Ras said the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs recently sent a letter to the Ministry of Water and Electricity, asking it to alleviate the suffering of residents in affected neighborhoods. He said this was proof that Jeddah Municipality is not responsible for removing the groundwater.
Abu Ras said the municipality is responsible for asphalting and constructing pavements. This work can only start once the water has been removed.
According to a report in local newspaper on Jan. 27, Abdullah Al-Assaf, the NWC director of its national business unit, said the NWC is responsible for the waste and groundwater in Al-Harman District. The NWC was assigned this responsibility a year ago by the Governor of Makkah Region Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.