Minister of Water and Electricity Abdullah Al-Hussayen has signed a series of contracts for several water and sewage projects in various parts of the Kingdom worth more than SR 312 million, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The contracts include implementation of a 44,000 cubic meter waste water treatment plant in Sibya Province (Jazan region) costing at least SR 139 million, extension of sewage pipelines in Qasim region (SR 48.2 million) and construction of a water tank and distribution station in Asir region (SR 21.8 million).
The contracts also include implementation of a water project in Tathlith (Asir) at a cost more than SR 15.5 million, replacement of old water networks in Aflaj (SR 15.3 million), completion of a water project in Najran (SR 13.6 million) and operation and maintenance of a water project in Jouf (SR 11.2 million).
Other contracts include operation of a water project in Tabarjal town (SR 10.8 million), replacement of old water distribution lines in Muzahmiyyah town (SR 10.3 million), provision of water supplies with mobile tankers to Quriyyat village (SR 8.2 million), implementation of a water project in Shororah and Kharkhair (SR 4.4 million) and a waste water removal project in Hail town (SR 4.1 million).
The contracts cover similar projects in different parts of the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, the National Water Co. has announced plans to supply more than 15 million cubic meters of water for the huge number of pilgrims and visitors expected in Makkah during Ramadan.
Director of the company’s branch for Makkah and Taif Abdullah Hasnain said: “The plans to ensure a steady water supply for Ramadan include bringing water from the Shoaibah Desalination Plant at the rate of 520,000 cubic meters daily.”
The daily requirement for Makkah during the holy month, which is likely to start on July 20, is estimated at 500,000 cubic meters, Hasnain added.
Another plan is to fill all reserve water tanks in Makkah that have a total capacity of 2 million cubic meters. The Muaesim tank has 1 million cubic meters capacity and the Juarana tank 650,000.
All tanks in the holy sites will also be filled in order to ensure an uninterrupted supply of extra water needed for the last 10 days of Ramadan, when consumption will be much higher than the other days, Al-Sharq daily reported yesterday.
Al-Hasnain added four supply stations for tanker trucks would be working round the clock during Ramadan. The stations are situated in Kudai, Muaesim, Kaakiya and Arafat.
While the Kudai station has a daily supply capacity of 60,000 cubic meters, the Muaesim station has 20,000 cubic meters capacity.
With 30,000 cubic meters capacity, the Kaakiya station in south Makkah is reserved for Ramadan and Haj seasons and the Arafat station supplies water only to government departments.
The Wadi Malkan wells project with a daily production capacity of 6,000 cubic meters will supply water to the courtyards of the Grand Mosque, he said.
The plans for the fasting month also include opening 15 centers to operate and maintain water networks and environmental services covering all districts in the city.
The centers have 149 well-equipped teams, 39 of them set apart exclusively for repair and maintenance and 30 teams for operations, he said.
Water, sewage contracts worth SR 312 m signed
