Makkah to use rainwater harvesting technology

By ANWAR AL-SAYED | ARAB NEWS


Published: Mar 30, 2010 00:11 Updated: Mar 30, 2010 00:11

MAKKAH: The Geological Survey Commission in Makkah is currently studying the introduction of a new international technology known as the rainwater harvesting (RWH) under which the rainwater is collected from plains and roofs of buildings, purified and then injected in the ground to increase the level of underground water and at the same time reduce the quantities of rainwater drained through conventional drainage system, an official source at the commission announced Monday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said the program will be implemented in the Jabal Omar project which is expected to be completed in two years time. “This is the first time that the world environmental system of RWH is being applied on one of the mega projects in the Kingdom,” he added.

Meanwhile, director general of Jabal Omar Company for Development, Mamdouh Tashqandi said the new technology will increase the level of underground water in the holy city. He said rainwater on Jabal Ali project will also be drained through two drainage networks.

At present, a total of 30 projects for rainwater drainage are being implemented in Makkah at the cost of about SR412 million. The rainwater will be collected in concrete canals on the main roads and then pumped into the main drainage system. The bottoms of the valleys will also be cleaned up so that water can easily pass through them.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article36665.ece