Neighbors depend on private water tankers due to sudden decline in the amount of potable water that caused water shortage in several districts of Jeddah.

A number of districts in Jeddah have been hit once again by a water shortage crisis caused by the sudden decline in the amount of potable water pumped to households, which dropped to less than 40 percent.

The National Water Company promised to resolve the issue within two days, but neighbors assert they have been left without drinkable water since Saturday.

Many residents living in Al-Azizia, Al-Safa and Al-Faisaliah districts claimed this is a common problem in the area, as they experience similar water shortages several times a year.

According to neighbors, they are forced to depend on water tankers as they haven’t been offered any alternative options. Chronic water shortages are creating great discomfort for the locals as well as long queues at water filling stations. Neighbors also complain there is no official news as to when service will be fully restored.

“This problem will be solved sometime this week, but at the current time we are unable provide the service,” a worker at a water station at Makarona Street told Arab News.

Adding to the problem, water tankers usually delivered within an hour of booking, now take more than 72 hours to reach residents. A number of them pointed out that now they have to reach a water supply spot in Tahlia station after being unable to receive any service through the call center.

But for some people receiving a water tanker is a luxury they cannot afford. The area residents favor 19-ton water tankers, the biggest available, but some neighbors are unable to buy even the smallest ones, that have a seven-ton capacity. These residents are then forced to stand in long queues for hours every day.

“We always ask our building guard about this water shortage but he says that the municipality stopped delivering the service, while we must pay unexpected costs to have a water tank,” said Omar Al-Bardri, a resident from the Al-Azizia district.

[wpResize]