MAKKAH — The Zamzam water rations for families have been reduced from 20 containers a month to 10 while the quantity for individuals has been cut to two from four every fortnight, Makkah daily reported on Sunday. The management of the King Abdullah Project for the Supply of Zamzam Water has informed the National Water Company (NWC), which is operating the project, to start the new rations from Sunday. According to informed sources, the reduction was necessitated by the need to provide enough quantities of the blessed water to Umrah pilgrims and to visitors of the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah during the holy month of Ramadan. The management appealed to citizens and expatriates buying Zamzam water to cooperate with it. Project manager Saeed Al-Wadie said the new regulations and the registration of family cards have reduced the sale of Zamzam water in the black market. He did not see any need for the sale of Zamzam water at sales points along the expressways and said Zamzam water is sold to pilgrims at airports. "We also provide water to pilgrims inside their buses when they come to the project's premises," he said, adding that pilgrims can get Zamzam water while seated in their buses. The King Abdullah Project for Zamzam Water was inaugurated in 2010. The late King Abdullah ordered the launch of the project for automated cleaning of Zamzam containers and re-designing of containers to meet the requirements of water protection, flow and easy access. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has been supporting the project for the service of visitors of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Medinah.
