Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — About 78 percent of districts in Jeddah are without the sewage network despite the huge amounts of money spent for the purpose, Al-Madina Arabic newspaper reported on Sunday quoting a report by the General Auditing Bureau (GAB).

The report said that only 25 out of the city’s 113 districts have sewage system. Only 37 districts were partly covered by the sewage network while 22 of them never had any such service, the report said.

According to GAB, about 89.6 percent of sewage projects in Jeddah were faltering and that about 15 projects, representing about 62.5 percent, were delayed.

GAB accused the National Water Company (NWC) of failing to take action against contractors for delaying sewage projects.

It said the company had, on many occasions, extended the completion time.

The bureau said the company did not review or update sewage projects before offering them to contractors. GAB report also said the numerous amendments and changes in projects after they were offered were enough proof that the company made no careful studies.

Last month, the National Water Company awarded 42 projects worth SR2.1 billion in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Taif to improve sewage services in underpenetrated areas, expanding networks and household connections and complete the first phase of the National Water Strategy in Riyadh.

In Jeddah 19 projects worth over SR1 billion were awarded for sewage networks and household lines in Al-Naseem, Bani Malek, Al-Andalus, Al-Hamraa and Al-Khalidiya districts.