National Water Company's readiness for the Hajj season 1447 AH | 3.5 million m3
Ongoing efforts and confirmation of the National Water Company's readiness for the Hajj season
The National Water Company in Saudi Arabia announced the completion of its operational plan, confirming its readiness for the 1447 AH Hajj season. These preparations aim to ensure the provision of the best water and sanitation services in Mecca and the Holy Sites, reflecting the wise leadership's commitment to harnessing all resources to serve the pilgrims of the Sacred House of God and facilitate their performance of the rituals with ease and peace of mind. The company has continued its work uninterrupted since the end of the previous season to implement strategic development projects.
The historical context of water provision in the holy sites
Historically, providing pilgrims with clean water in Mecca and the holy sites has been a significant challenge due to the region's geography and climate. From the time of the historic Ain Zubayda to the present day, providing water has been among the most important services offered to pilgrims. With the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, this service has undergone tremendous transformations. The state has invested billions of riyals in building massive desalination plants on the Red Sea and extending complex transportation networks to ensure a sustainable water supply, making the water crisis during Hajj a thing of the past and transforming it into a national success story recounted every year.
Record numbers and huge strategic reserves
In detailing its operational plan for this year, the company explained that fieldwork is managed by a highly trained national workforce exceeding 2,400 personnel, including engineers, technicians, and administrators. The plan is primarily based on providing a massive operational and strategic water reserve of up to 3.5 million cubic meters. This is achieved through comprehensive coordination with all relevant authorities to ensure the continuity of service throughout the Hajj season. The plan includes continuous, round-the-clock pumping of water to the Grand Mosque and the Holy Sites, averaging over 760,000 cubic meters daily, via a sophisticated network spanning more than 5,700 kilometers. The pumping rate is expected to increase to one million cubic meters on the days of Arafah and Eid al-Adha to meet the increased demand.
Regional and international impact of successful crowd and resource management
The crucial importance of successful water provision plans extends far beyond the local level, encompassing a broad regional and international impact. Internationally, this early and meticulous preparation provides reassurance to over 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide that their pilgrims will perform their rituals in a healthy and safe environment. Regionally, the Kingdom's success in managing these millions of pilgrims and efficiently providing essential resources reinforces its leading position in crisis and major event management, and sets a benchmark for planning smart, temporary cities that come alive for a few days and require highly flexible and advanced infrastructure.
Improving environmental services and proactive measures
In terms of environmental services, the company has worked to enhance the readiness of its wastewater networks, which span over 4,000 kilometers, and has equipped its wastewater treatment plants with high efficiency to treat more than 750,000 cubic meters per day at the Hada and Arna plants, thus ensuring environmental sanitation. Twelve capital and operational projects were initiated early to improve infrastructure and increase operational efficiency. The company has also utilized the latest digital technologies to monitor water pressure in the networks and reservoirs around the clock. To guarantee the highest quality standards, central and mobile laboratories conduct more than 4,000 tests daily, providing the best possible services to pilgrims from their arrival until their departure.
