Water trucks form a long line at the entrance of the distribution center in Quwaizah, south Jeddah.

NWC: Pumping stopped due to technical glitch

Five neighborhoods in Jeddah have been suffering from an acute shortage of water for the past three days due to technical glitches at the pumping station, Makkah daily reported on Sunday.

Bandar Al-Musfir, a citizen living in Al-Mushrefah District, said the water shortage in his neighborhood started last week.

“We had meager amounts of water dripping out from the municipal mains. After a few days, the supply was cut off completely. Some of us were obliged to go to the water company to get water trucks as a temporary relief,” said Al-Musfir.

He said the National Water Company has a toll free number to order water trucks.

“The tanks would normally arrive within nine hours or even less. However, in the past few days, residents of the entire neighborhood and some other districts are standing in long lines outside of the company. The trucks ordered over the phone take days to reach the houses,” said Al-Musfir.

Sultan Al-Harbi said the affected neighborhoods included Al-Mushrefah, Al-Nuzhah, Al-Marwah, parts of Al-Rehab and parts of Al-Bawadi.

“We have been suffering from the water cut throughout the past week. It is not the first time such glitches happen. When we call the company through its free number, it takes up to two days to get a response. They have enabled an online facility to order water trucks but the service is not consistent,” said Al-Harbi.

A source in the National Water Company said the company is facing a glitch in pumping of water through the municipal mains.

“The glitch has been fixed and the pumping is returning to normal. The delivery of trucks extends to all neighborhoods in the Kingdom. The free number is still operating and the company is delivering water by trucks to people’s houses,” said the source.

The source added that the average time the company takes to deliver water tanks is seven hours. He, however, asked the customers to remain patient in case of any delay.