RIYADH ( WNAM MONITORING): Water demand surges across Makkah and the holy sites during the peak days of Hajj, when the region temporarily functions as a mega-city under extreme heat.
The increased demand requires uninterrupted access to safe water for drinking, ablution (wudu), sanitation, cleaning, and cooling.
This year’s Hajj saw enhanced readiness across the water sector, with upgrades aimed at improving reliability and sustainability during peak demand.
Saudi Water Authority spokesperson Abdulrahman Al-Oudah told Arab News: “The 2026 Hajj season witnessed a qualitative development in the readiness of the water system. The system expanded capacity across multiple stages of the supply chain compared with 2025 to improve flexibility and response speed in Makkah and the holy sites.”
Al-Oudah added: “Compared with last Hajj season, desalinated water production capacity exceeded 3.8 million cubic meters per day — an increase of more than 18 percent — while transmission capacity rose by 32 percent and storage capacity by over 49 percent.”
The authority also adopted a unified operational approach in the holy sites to standardize water service procedures.
“A unified operational code for water services in the holy sites was also adopted to standardize procedures, strengthen coordination among relevant entities, and improve the efficiency of water supply chain management during the season,” Al-Oudah said.
He said the water journey begins at major desalination plants along the Kingdom’s western coast, which supply Makkah and the holy sites through strategic transmission systems.
The authority then relies on reservoirs in Makkah and the holy sites, whose combined capacity exceeds 8.8 million cubic meters, before water is distributed through networks to service points used by pilgrims.
“From there, distribution is managed via smart networks and advanced control rooms operating around the clock to ensure continuous and safe supply to all service locations, including drinking water systems, ablution facilities, cooling, and other public services.”
Al-Oudah said the scale and time constraints of Hajj operations make water supply a complex test of infrastructure and coordination, highlighting integration among entities, modern technologies, and real-time monitoring systems.
“The Hajj water system reflects the Kingdom’s progress in managing infrastructure and essential services according to the highest global standards,” he added.
Al-Oudah said the approach supports broader national goals to enhance service quality for pilgrims.
“It also confirms the Kingdom’s ability to turn geographical and climatic challenges into a global model for efficient water management and sustainable supply, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030,” he said.
Earlier, the National Water Co. announced an operational plan for Madinah during the Hajj season, targeting the distribution of over 627,000 cubic meters of water per day.
The company said more than 1,200 employees from technical, engineering, and administrative teams were deployed to oversee operations. Daily drinking-water distribution includes continuous pumping at the Prophet’s Mosque and other religious sites.
The plan also includes laboratory testing to ensure compliance with approved standards, at a rate of 818 tests per day, covering networks, reservoirs, and pilgrims’ accommodations through central and mobile laboratories.
