المملكة: In numbers…the Kingdom leads the world in producing desalinated water

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has succeeded in achieving pioneering results and unprecedented records in various water sector projects.
Through its commitment to implementing the objectives of the National Water Strategy, the water system and its executive regulations, it was able to maintain its global leadership as the largest producer of desalinated water.

Water desalination projects in Saudi Arabia

It has the largest desalination capacity in the world with a total of 4.19 million cubic meters annually, and the largest network of water transport pipelines with a length of 14.21 thousand kilometers, and a capacity of 19.42 million cubic meters per day, which reflects the development of And the durability of infrastructure in the water sector.
The “Water Strategy” drew a national road map to achieve sustainable utilization of water resources, maximize the benefit from the use of renewed, renewable, and recycled water, and provide a safe supply and high-quality and efficient services that contribute to economic development and raise the value of the domestic product.
The state budget goals were achieved, and as a result of implementing the strategy, the Kingdom had, on the Guinness World List, the largest network of drinking water tanks with a capacity of “8.9” million cubic meters per day, and the largest drinking water storage facility in Riyadh with a capacity of “4.79” million cubic meters per day. It is the largest site in terms of production capacities, with a total of 2.99 million cubic meters per day.
As well as the largest drinking water storage tank in Riyadh with a capacity of 3 million cubic metres, the largest desalination unit using evaporation technology in Shuaiba with a capacity of 92 thousand cubic meters per day, and the largest mobile water desalination plant in the world with a capacity of 50 thousand cubic meters per day.

Water desalination plants in Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom also has the lowest energy consumption in water desalination plants at 2,271 kilowatts/cubic meter.
Regarding water services projects during 2024 AD, the National Water Company completed “36” projects at a total cost amounting to “992” million riyals, and these projects contributed to the implementation of main lines and networks with a total length of “894” thousand linear meters, and the construction of “29” tanks with a storage capacity. It amounted to 109.5 thousand cubic metres.
In addition to a purification station with a capacity of “5” thousand cubic meters per day, and pumping stations with a total capacity of “546.08” thousand cubic meters per day, it is targeted to complete “31” additional projects worth “2.14” billion riyals during the remainder of the current year.

Sanitation services

In the field of sanitation services, 12 projects were completed at a total cost of 1.2 billion riyals, and these projects contributed to the implementation of lines and networks with a total length of 293 thousand linear meters.
In addition to treatment plants with a capacity of “52” thousand cubic meters per day, and lifting stations with a total capacity of “277.7” thousand cubic meters per day. It is targeted to complete “26” projects worth “1.83” billion riyals during the remainder of the year.
“17,381” new sewage connections were implemented within the home sewage connections project, and “15” stations were established to reduce salinity in the eastern sector, where “12” stations are currently operating and benefiting from their quantities.

Pumping more than 45 million cubic meters of water

The National Water Company was also able to pump more than 45 million cubic meters of water through networks exceeding 5,000 kilometers in length, with a pumping rate of up to 24 hours in the holy sites and the Mosque of Mecca, and to conduct more than 75,000 tests. My laboratory during the 2024 Hajj season.
In order to ensure the quality of water provided to pilgrims, Hajj complaints were registered through the mobile application and the “Tarwiyah” call center, and unified monitoring and control of the networks of Al-Mashaer and Medina.
In an achievement that reflects the Saudi Water Partnership Company’s commitment to strengthening the national economy, it achieved a contribution to local content amounting to more than “60%” in most of its projects throughout the contractual period, through supporting and developing national capabilities.

Water rationalization in Saudi Arabia

In the field of water conservation, the Ministry, through the National Center for Water Efficiency and Conservation, has achieved cumulative water savings exceeding 31 million cubic meters on an annual basis, equivalent to 86.19 thousand cubic meters per day, by providing the best solutions to rationalize consumption.
This comes amid the implementation of best practices in rationalizing water consumption and implementing rationalization solutions in the government sector (995) sites, and providing leak detection services to more than (21) thousand beneficiaries through the electronic “Kashf” application, and as a result, financial savings exceeding (143) were achieved. One million riyals as a direct financial impact on an annual basis from government agencies’ expenditures.

The General Organization for Irrigation succeeded in exceeding the target by achieving “115%” of the targeted amount of reuse of treated water in the agricultural sector for the third quarter of 2024 AD.
The target was “181.19” million cubic meters annually, and the achievement was “390” million cubic meters annually. It also achieved the target of the treated wastewater reuse rate by “26.7%”, from the target of “22.7%”.

Patents

Regarding patents, the operational arm of the Saudi Water Authority, “Water Desalination,” obtained a patent for extracting divalent salts with high efficiency.
This is done by developing a new system to extract it from the wastewater and employing NATO technology using the wastewater. These innovations are a qualitative leap in the desalination industry, and obtaining a patent for registering an automatic control device for collecting samples.
As well as a patent for protecting water intakes from marine objects and organisms, a patent for a chemical washing system in desalination industry processes, as well as a patent for the production of clean energy through the “Waterra” research farm.