RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has launched water and sewerage projects worth $533 million in the Riyadh region as part of its efforts to expand public utility services and meet the growing demand.
According to a press release from the National Water Co., work has begun on 30 projects covering nearly 2,000 km across Riyadh city and its surrounding governorates. The goal is to expand service coverage and enhance system efficiency.
This initiative aligns with the government’s Vision 2030 plan, which aims to boost infrastructure investment and improve the quality of life as population and economic activity continue to grow.
Of the 30 projects, 16, valued at over SR1 billion ($266 million), are focused on expanding water services.
These include the construction of 18 reservoirs with a total storage capacity of 85,000 cubic meters, the installation of more than 1,192 kilometers of new pipelines, and the development of pumping stations with a daily capacity of 247,000 cubic meters.
These include parts of the Al-Taawun, Al-Janadriyah, Laban, Al-Diriyah, and Dyrab neighborhoods in Riyadh. Other affected areas include Al-Quway’iyah, Afif, and Al-Dawadmi.
They also cover parts of Al-Muzahimiyah, Al-Rayn, and Al-Kharj, as well as Hotat Bani Tamim, Al-Hariq, and Al-Majma’ah. Additionally, the list includes Al-Zulfi, Thadiq, and the Al-Uyaynah and Al-Jubayla centers.
The remaining 14 initiatives target sewerage infrastructure in areas such as Al-Munsiyah and Al-Zulfi, adding 763 km of pipelines and lift stations with a total daily capacity of 117,000 cubic meters. These projects are valued at SR902 million.
The latest project package follows two significant announcements from last year—46 projects worth SR1.6 billion in May and 20 projects costing nearly SR1 billion in August—highlighting the ongoing investment in the sector.
These initiatives, according to the company, are aimed at strengthening water distribution, addressing environmental challenges, enhancing sustainability, and supporting national objectives under Vision 2030.
In March, the Saudi Water Authority and National Water Co. signed an agreement to build and operate 16 decentralized purification plants across the Kingdom.
This partnership also seeks to improve the availability of drinking water and advance sustainable groundwater desalination technologies.
The plants are expected to produce over 18,000 cubic meters of water daily, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Currently, Saudi Arabia treats and reuses 21 percent of its wastewater, with plans to increase this to 70 percent by 2030. The new facilities align with this goal, contributing to environmental sustainability and enhancing service delivery.
Designed to serve over 80,000 people, the purification plants will be supported by integrated water treatment and distribution systems, aimed at improving supply reliability in resource-limited regions. This represents a crucial step toward bolstering essential services.
Given the Kingdom’s ongoing challenges with water scarcity due to its arid climate and limited natural resources, these initiatives are key to fostering innovative solutions in water production, management, and distribution.
