Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Leaking sewage and the associated foul odor have spread across different parts of Al-Hamra district, tarnishing the image one of Jeddah's most affluent neighborhoods. Residents have complained about a sewage leak near a major private hospital along Palestine Street and said it could endanger the health of patients and hospital visitors. "We find it difficult to reach home because of accumulation of dirty water in various streets of the district, hampering traffic," said Ahmed Al-Wafi, a Al-Hamra resident. "This has become a daily problem and we don't see any solution. The leakage of sewage has been continuing for quite some time without taking any action by authorities." Another resident, Ahmed Al-Zahrani, said the accumulation of sewage had made the district a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. He said the sewage water not only obstructs traffic but also spreads a foul odor across the neighborhood, making life in the area miserable. "Al-Hamra is one of the posh districts in Jeddah and no doubt the accumulation of sewage in its streets will tarnish the city's image," Al-Zahrani said. Resident Mohammed Aburashid said he had contracted a tanker driver to remove wastewater from his home's sewage tank every month to avoid overflow. The presence of sewage in the street has made it difficult for people to reach their destinations safely and quickly. Abdullah Ba Abbas said the continuous overflow of sewage would result in the spread of contagious diseases among the district's residents. He criticized the authorities' lukewarm response to calls from residents to resolve the problem immediately. Another resident, Aburakan, said the persistent overflow of sewage in Al-Hamra had forced some people to move to cleaner districts. "We need a quick solution for this problem. The presence of sewage in streets gives a bad impression about our neighborhood," he said. Aburakan said the dependence on tankers to collect sewage would increase living costs for residents.
