A separate branch at Saudi Arabia’s new ministry of water and agriculture was recently established to oversee the management of municipal water supply, currently requiring more than $66.6 billion to oversee.
The sector consumes some 4.8 million cubic meters of water a day, with the daily per person consumption in Saudi Arabia standing at approximately 286 liters.
In addition, the ministry will manage water production from the nation’s underground reservoirs and desalination plants. It will also be responsible for sewage disposal and wastewater treatment in the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia, like many Middle Eastern nations, has faced water shortages in recent times. As a result, various measures have been implemented to avert a future crisis. These include the establishment of the new ministry, restrictions on water drilling and new taxes to curb excess water use.
Such new tariffs will be imposed according to consumer usage. Consumers who use only one to 50 cubic meters of water monthly will be charged only $.026 per cubic meter of water. Those who consume more than 300 cubic meters monthly, however, will pay $1.6 per cubic meter. ― (MENA Report)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
