A recent ban limiting the type of tanker trucks from emptying their contents in Jeddah's Misk lake, a huge sewage dumpsite in the northeast, is causing sewage to overflow in several of Jeddah's districts and is annoying truck drivers. Western Bani Malik, Al-Bawadi and Al-Nuzha and parts of Al-Shu'aiba have had pools of sewage water creating a hazard to public health. Health officials warn that untreated sewage can contain infectious bacteria, viruses, parasites and toxic chemicals which can seriously harm a person if injested. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, director of the Information Center at the Jeddah Mayoralty, said tanker trucks have not been totally banned from emptying into the septic lake. Only larger tankers are allowed to empty and smaller trucks (identified only as trucks with six wheels) are directed to the treatment plants in Al-Khumrah as a temporary solution until the water level in the Misk lake recedes. In July SR95 million were allocated by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to solve the problem of the increasing water levels which put pressure on the concrete dam holding up the sewage lake causing several leaks that could be seen. Several residents of the districts affected by the ban urged drivers of tanker trucks to pump the sewage from their septic tanks and get rid of the overflowing sewage in the streets. However, the tanker truck drivers said that they are facing difficulties in reaching the treatment plant in Al-Khumrah. Three truck drivers; Jalas, Eidi and Farzal said they are forced to travel through the downtown area, which is often blocked by traffic, to get to the Al-Khumrah treatment plant. Since the trip to dump the sewage has doubled, truck drivers have to pay twice the amount of fuel and the tires on their trucks are worn out twice as fast. The truck drivers said they would prefer to stop working rather than to work at a loss driving to the treatment plant. Commenting on the ban decision, Hasan Al-Zahrani, acting chairman of the Municipal Council said a total ban on trucks to the Misc lake would have far-reaching negative effects meriting a study on the issue. He said the issue is important because a majority of Jeddah's districts do not have sewage networks. – Okaz __
