JEDDAH — Residents of a Jeddah neighborhood have been complaining to the municipality about sewage water frequently flooding the streets, making movement impossible for them.
Zakariah Ibrahim, who lives in Jameel Bin Muammar Street in Rehab district of north Jeddah, said the municipality should take drastic action to prevent the recurring phenomenon.
"Absorbing the sewage every time it floods is not helpful or effective as the streets get flooded again in a matter of weeks. Leaking sewage has created swamps in the area, attracting pests and spreading bad odor," said Ibrahim.
Khalid Al-Ghamdi said leaking sewage has been polluting the Rehab district for some time.
"Private and public sectors have spent millions of riyals building the district and now it is barely approachable with sewage all over the place. The district had a high value in real estate but the existence of sewage swamps is threatening its appeal," said Al-Ghamdi.
He said he cannot open his windows because of the stench.
"Where are the pertinent authorities? Where are the municipality and the National Water Company? Why is this issue neglected? Construction should not be licensed if the infrastructure was not complete. If there was a malfunction in the sewage system of the area, all these buildings should not have been constructed in the first place," said Al-Ghamdi.
Saeed Al-Ahmad said the swamps in Jameel Bin Muammar Street have obstructed people who jog in the walkway near the street. "The phenomenon has not only affected the beauty of the area but it has also harmed the environment," he said.
