National Water Co. completes $106m in upgrades ahead of Hajj
JEDDAH: The National Water Co., through its Western Cluster, has completed 18 infrastructure and operational projects ahead of the Hajj season in Makkah and the holy sites, valued at SR400 million ($106 million).
The projects are part of efforts to refine water and environmental services for residents, visitors and the millions of pilgrims expected during Hajj.
Upgrades will boost operational efficiency, expand network coverage and enhance real-time monitoring capabilities.
Capital works include the construction of a 190,000-cubic meter steel water tank along with the development and rehabilitation of water storage facilities, main pipelines, valve rooms and distribution networks.
These efforts are designed to support supply sustainability and reliability, particularly during peak pilgrimage hours.
Operational upgrades include the installation of advanced monitoring systems such as pressure gauges, meters and network sensors. Pumps and isolation valves across water, wastewater, fire and cooling systems have also been modernized to boost performance.
More than 1,200 technical, engineering and administrative staff have been assigned to oversee operations and maintain uninterrupted service during the Hajj season. The company said it will provide round-the-clock water supply to the Prophet's Mosque and key religious and historical sites in Madinah.
To safeguard water quality, all storage units and connections to pilgrim accommodation are subject to testing. Monitoring is conducted through teams at central and mobile laboratories, which can analyze more than 1,000 water samples per day.
Water flow in Madinah's central area will be managed using a smart operation system connected to the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition monitoring and control room, allowing real-time oversight throughout the Hajj season.
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