JEDDAH — Hasan Barei, Deputy Manager of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) Western Region branch, said the strategic water reserves to be built in Jeddah is a joint project between the SWCC and the National Water Company (NWC). The first phase of the project is under way in Briman area of the city and will have a positive effect on Jeddah, especially during emergency situations. Abdullah Al-Assaf, manager of the water unit at NWC, said a number of studies have established the urgent need for building strategic water reserves in Jeddah. The first phase, to be completed within 24 months, will cost SR500 million, and will have a capacity of 1.5 million cubic meters. The project, which will have a 6 million cubic meter capacity when completed, will cost approximately SR2.2 billion in total. He said there is a similar project in Makkah but Jeddah takes priority since similar projects were previously established in the holy city. The SWCC initially wanted water reserves to last the city 10 days in an emergency, but NWC said six days worth of water would be enough. Jeddah will also benefit from the addition of a new desalination plant to be installed within three months. This plant will provide an additional 240,000 cubic meters of water to the city.
