JEDDAH: The National Water Company (NWC) has warned it would cut off water supplies to 30 Makkah hotels if owners fail to pay their bills as calculated under the new tariffs announced by the government late last year.

Several owners were quoted as saying by a local publication on Thursday that they were having problems paying for water at the new rates. However, many said they were forced to pay because they feared losing significant revenue from pilgrims who have signed accommodation contracts for the Umrah and Haj seasons.

Moyad Al-Rabat, the operator of a hotel in the central area, said he was shocked when he received a water bill of SR330,000. After some enquiries he discovered the previous owner was in arrears to the tune of SR150,000.

“Our current consumption of water is SR180,000. I was forced to pay the whole amount because I was afraid the water company would cut supply, and cause me financial problems because I have already signed contracts,” he said, adding that the cost of water was “very high.”

Abdullah Awadallah, owner of a restaurant near the hotel, said his water bill came to SR18,000, which was the first time he has been hit with such a huge amount. “When I asked about it, they told me the amount includes fines for not installing channels to separate oil from water,” he said.