Desalinated water production capacity rises to 3.8 MCM/d: SWA

The Saudi Water Authority improved the efficiency and sustainability of the Kingdom’s water system, said Spokesperson Abdulrahman Alodah.

The Saudi Water Authority (SWA) implemented a series of projects and operational plans during this year’s Hajj season to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the Kingdom’s water system, Spokesperson Abdulrahman Alodah told CNBC Arabia.

Alodah said desalinated water production capacity increased by 18% to 3.8 million cubic meters per day (MCM/d), helping boost water transmission capacity by 32% to 2.3 MCM/d.

The water storage capacity also expanded to 8.8 MCM, while SWA upgraded its smart distribution system linked to main networks and sub-distribution points in consumption areas.

Alodah said water reservoirs are connected to more than 4,000 sensors that monitor water levels and pressure fluctuations, alongside field monitoring systems that support operational oversight.

SWA adopted an operational governance code covering more than 4,100 facilities and 18 water-sector entities. The framework includes all operational plans and is based on 11 key performance indicators covering more than 15 operational and technical activities.

In the Hajj season 2025, peak water distribution in Makkah and the holy sites reached around one MCM, he said. The capacity was increased by 800,000 cubic meters this year, bringing total water pumping and distribution capacity to about 1.8 MCM.