Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company is investing in the country’s water security by upgrading its wastewater and drinking water infrastructure as part of a National Transformation Program.

 

What is Saudi Arabia’s National Transformation Program initiative?

The National Transformation Program initiative is part of the Vibrant Society theme of Saudi Vision 2030. The theme aims to preserve the natural environment and conserve natural resources by optimising the use of water, including conservation and maximising reuse.

Under the direction of the National Water Company, the transformation program has eight goals: Connecting drinking water to customers; boosting underground water resources, such as wells; increasing strategic reservoir capacity; reducing network losses; increasing digital content to enhance customer service; provision of wastewater services; treated sewage effluent reuse; and increasing private sector participation in water distribution.

 

The project aims to enhance the management and development of water resources – Al-Shaibani

 

Saudi Arabia is an arid country with average annual rainfall ranging from 1.1 mm in Sharurah to 48 mm in Al Shafa. The country has increasingly turned to desalination to provide many of its water needs and is turning to water conservation and reuse to improve its water resilience.

The country’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) has recently agreed on a project aimed at utilising ground and surface water resources and implementing flood risk mitigation initiatives. The project aims to enhance the management and development of water resources, conserve non-renewable groundwater, and safeguard it against depletion, waste, and pollution. It also contributes to achieving water security by advancing a safe and sustainable water sector.

At the launch event, Deputy Minister for Water, Dr Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani, stated that: “The project is part of the ministry’s efforts to enhance the efficiency of non-renewable water resources by monitoring and regulating drilling and production activities, rationalising usage, identifying safe water sources, and supporting their development. It also aims to maximise the use of surface and renewable water by applying the best international practices.”

 

Water security projects across Saudi Arabia

Sanitation infrastructure improvements in the Asir region

In total, the National Water Company is working on 38 water and sanitation projects in Asir. According to the company, the projects include the construction of lines and networks exceeding 2,534 km and will cost over €456 million. 

Eleven of the projects will focus on improving sanitation infrastructure in the region. This includes installing more than 357 km of pipelines and networks. The company will also build a wastewater treatment plant in Al-Qahma Center and Al-Haridah Center with the capacity to treat 9,300 m³/day. Additionally, new lift stations will be built that will have a total capacity of over 106,000 m³/day.

There will be a further 27 water distribution network improvements in the region. This includes the implementation of approximately 2,177 km of transmission lines and networks, the construction of 16 water reservoirs with a total capacity of 54,500 m³, and the installation of pumping stations with a total capacity of more than 15,000 m³/day.

These projects are part of the company's strategic plans, including the ongoing efforts to develop infrastructure in the water and environmental services sectors, and expanding the coverage of the services it provides to its customers.

 

Nineteen infrastructure projects in Jazan

In the Jazan region, the National Water Company is implementing a total of 19 water and sanitation projects, including the construction of water and sanitation lines and networks exceeding 1,203 km at a cost of more than €342 million.

Nine of the projects will improve the water distribution networks in four districts, including the construction of 397 km of network pipelines, two operational tanks with a total capacity of 15,000 m3, and the construction of pumping stations with a total capacity of more than 60,000 m³/day.

The region’s wastewater treatment provision is being boosted by 10 projects, including the construction of lines and networks covering more than 806 km, new treatment plants in Jazan City, Al-Khadra, and Al-Musim, and lift stations with a total capacity of 185,000 m³/day.

 

Raising operational efficiency in Madinah

The National Water Company is implementing 23 projects in Madinah designed to increase service coverage, raise operational efficiency, and improve customer service in the region at a cost of approximately €186 million.

Fifteen of the projects will improve the drinking water infrastructure, including more than 950 km of pipelines and networks, across various districts. Eight projects will focus on delivering sewage and wastewater services across the region, featuring more than 140 km of lines and networks.

 

Wastewater networks in Al-Dawadmi

The National Water Company has continued to strengthen water and environmental services infrastructure in the Al-Dawadmi region with improvements costing more than €16.7 million. The project formed part of the company’s efforts to help protect the environment and address visual pollution, while providing infrastructure that can keep pace with urban expansion.

The company stated that more than 66 km of wastewater pipelines have already been installed, as well as the installation of, and aimed at extending environmental services to several residential districts.