People in the past have complained when gasoline prices were increased, but their complaints simmered and died down soon when the overwhelming majority accepted the hike as logical, believing the cheapest price for gas for such long periods was not rational and that indirectly the rise in price might help in easing the traffic on the road. Nearly two weeks ago, people welcomed the hike in the price of a cigarette pack saying that it will hit the smokers where it hurts most — harm them financially — while hoping that they either reduce their smoking habit or quit smoking completely. But what people felt was the hardest hit of all was the whammy from the water bills. They surely did not expect or welcome the recent and sudden sharp rise of water bills that in most cases reached unbelievable numbers. Bills did not double or triple, but they were multiplied by more than five or six times. Nor was one able to understand what was happening and how the rate was fixed such that the people are now not looking forward to getting a water bill. What made the matter even worse was the callous statement of the minister of water and electricity when his attention was brought to this problem. He made a statement advising those who did not want to see an increased water bill to dig wells. In addition, during a TV interview, he put the blame on flushing water in bathrooms as a major source of wastage. The minister veritably put his foot in his mouth with such gaffes and was lampooned by nearly everybody. He proved to be a good mocking material for people in social media, a punching bag for cartoonists and a hot topic for columnist in newspapers. Journalists, who had met with the minister in a press meeting where he introduced the new water tariffs and then woefully tried to justify the sudden increase, described him and his statements as provocative to the people. In an earlier statement the minister had said that the water bill would not reach half of the cell phone bill of a person. The statement had assuaged the people's fears of not possibly getting a colossal bill, but many people were shocked with a water bill of more than SR10,000, leaving their serenity rocked. An aside that follows from the minster's statement is the next logical question. Does that mean the cell phone bill of the person is SR20,000 a month? We all realize the importance of saving water, especially in a country like Saudi Arabia where water is considered a scarce commodity. We all have witnessed many periods of water shortage and during that time how the house virtually comes to a standstill because there was no water. We are all against those wasting water recklessly by leaking water onto the street, and those who keep the water running at different taps at home when it is not needed. Officials at the water department are doing their job by fining those who are wasting water by washing their cars outside their homes using hoses or when water leaks outside their homes because of negligence. And it is these people who shout the loudest when they are landed with a hefty bill. Indeed we need to teach our children the importance of preserving water by setting a personal example. Awareness programs and repeated lessons and practical displays at schools could go a long way in instilling this value in the young minds. Stressing this fact in mosques during Friday sermon could also help not only the children but adults too. A friend of mine was one of the many who was billed a huge amount. He was shocked when he received a water bill of SR15,000. When he went to the water department to complain, he found there was a huge crowd of people with similar problems already there to take issue. Some people had received bills for more than SR30,000, while some said that the increase was more than 2000 percent. The various litany of the bill follies made the rounds as the crowd vented their ire while they waited. I cannot imagine what people with limited income would do if they are slapped with this kind of water bill. The ministry should check the reading on the water meters and the rate application because it is simply not possible that prices could increase in this manner. There has to a solution to this soon. I would also like to ask where was this ministry in the past? We never heard from them and all of the sudden we hear about these crazy water issues. There was absolutely no introduction to all this. It just happened. I hope that this ministry will check its own water network system that, according to many reports in the past, has been leaking and wasting more than 40 percent of the water. The ministry and its minister should be held accountable and questioned about it. There is a serious problem here and I believe that the new tariffs should be postponed until the ministry organizes itself from the inside and fixes the underground water leakage problem. They should study how this new pricing would affect the middle- and low-income people. It is not like people have another alternative to water. Water is a serious issue and should be dealt with carefully. Some people have suggested a quick fix that they close the water pipe that is coming from the ministry and buy water tanks from the distribution center because it is much cheaper. This, however, is not a solution and it is just making matters worse. We do not want to go back to the days where we line up in long lines and wait for days for a water tank. If the Water Ministry wants to increase its prices, then it should be dealt with gradually, in a similar manner to that of gasoline prices. The minister is in a sensitive position and dealing with a very sensitive product called water. He should absorb the pressure of the public and deal professionally with public anger. People should not be left in the dark when at times they are desperate for honest answers. The writer can be reached at [email protected] Twitter: @anajeddawi_eng
