Water-Resources Management System for Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia faces severe water problems and needs new water policies to achieve sustainable development in its harsh environment. Problems include balancing supply and demand while facing aridity and water scarcity, nonrenewable supplies, poor quality of ground water, maldistribution of supplies, salt water intrusion, and overdrafting and contamination of aquifers. Although a great deal is known about its water resources and problems, developing effective planning and regulatory systems and other institutions is Saudi Arabia's principal water policy challenge. Building on previous reports on water issues, this paper compares the kingdom's water-management tasks with state government programs in the United States, including water law; planning, management, and coordination processes; organizational structure; infrastructure development; water-quality management; conservation programs; regulation, standards, and enforcement; and support functions. Water law and regulations are needed in Saudi Arabia, especially for conservation, ground-water management, and water-quality management. Defining roles and responsibilities is a challenge in both the United States and Saudi Arabia, but in Saudi Arabia intergovernmental issues are less daunting than in the United States. However, water security is a bigger challenge in Saudi Arabia. As the kingdom moves into the next decade, a water-management system should clearly be high priority during policy making.