Level of water at a dumping sewage lake called Musk Lake, 40 km east of Jeddah, has risen from three to seven meters flooding the city with alarming signals. The little sand dam to block the water from overflowing into the city is now being threatened. But as the city continues to dump its sewage into the lake, it will keep contaminating the underground water which people have started to use during this water shortage problem in Jeddah, a resident lamented. Besides fear of contamination, the sewage lake water started to slowly break the dam one month ago. Jeddah Mayoralty has failed to take the necessary precaution towards health hazards and imminent threat, yet it celebrated the building this vulnerable dam, the citizen added. A company has been contracted to maintain the lake and its sand dam for three years at a cost of SR5.6 million, authorities said. Only one illegal alien guard, however, was spotted at the lake. The Mayoralty has engaged a few projects to reduce the water level in the lake, said Eng. Ibrahim Kutubkhana, Deputy Mayor of Jeddah for projects in a telephone interview. “The water level has already been reduced by half a meter,” he said. Part of the water of the dumping sewage lake was treated and sold to farmers for irrigation purposes, he said. But once the city finishes its sewage water projects within two years, no more sewage water will be dumped into the lake, he said. To partially alleviate the problem, treated water from the lake will be used to irrigate the new 2.5 million sq meter eastern park which will be set up with 200,000 trees at a total cost of SR28 million, he said. Another project involves creating a pipeline to take treated lake water to the sea, he said. – __
