JEDDAH, 9 October 2006 — The Water Directorate in Jeddah will shortly start a survey to evaluate the supply and distribution system currently in force in residential districts across Jeddah. The survey aims to find out how much water is reaching houses particularly in districts where population density is high, Al-Madinah newspaper reported yesterday quoting a senior official.

Abdul Rahman Al-Muhammadi, head of the Water Directorate in Jeddah, said, “The study will focus on various factors that make the availability of water at some districts difficult. These factors include issues such as the population density, the number of buildings, the number of connections and the soundness of water mains. The report will recommend changes in the distribution pattern for improving water supply.”

The experts, who will make the study, will be drawn from desalination plants and research institutions. They will conduct spot checks in all districts, Al-Muhammadi said.

The official denied that the current crisis was due to wastage of huge quantities of water through broken pipes in some districts. “There are a few instances of minor leakages which have been repaired on an emergency footing,” the official said.

Ali Al-Ayyaf, director of operations and maintenance at the directorate, attributed the water crisis to a lack of planning. “The water available for distribution has remained unchanged at 630,000 cubic meters a day over the past five years. On the other hand the fast growing population needs more than 1 million cubic meters a day.”