KSA produces 18 percent of the world's desalinated water
JEDDAH - The actual daily production of potable water in the country is about six million cubic meters.
Out of this, the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) produces about three million while the private sector produces 1.5 million and the rest is ground water and rainwater from dams.
A sum of SR56 billion was allocated for current potable water projects in the state budget, Fuhaid Bin Fahd Al-Sharif, SWCC Governor, was quoted as saying by Al-Madina Arabic newspaper.
Al-Sharif was speaking in Paris, Thursday, at an international water forum on the water crisis in the Middle East.
On average an individual Saudi consumes more than 250 liters of water per day, Al-Sharif said, adding that he expected the production of potable water in the Kingdom to increase to eight million cubic meters in future, given the new projects in 2014.
The Kingdom produces 18 percent of the world's desalinated water and 45 percent of the combined GCC reservoir.
At the Paris forum, Saudi Arabia is presenting an integrated working paper that shows the country's unique experience in water desalination and the state's support in establishing plants and pipe networks that connect various cities of the Kingdom, Al-Sharif said.
Dr. Saleh Bin Bakr Al-Taiyar, President of the Arab-European Study Center and Secretary General of the Arab-French Chamber, said the forum will discuss several issues concerning water and its future in the Arab region. The participation of international organizations with Arab representatives would give great significance to the forum's recommendations on water in the Middle East, he added. The event is being attended by more than 800 persons and international organizations and 24 speakers to discuss the water crisis and ways to deal with it, he said.
© The Saudi Gazette 2011
