MAKKAH — A number of Makkah residents were shocked after being charged by the National Water Company as much as SR50,000 for one year's supply of water, Al-Madinah daily reported Saturday. The residents said they did not understand how the company could charge them this much. Some residents said the NWC gave them a short time to pay the bill or risk having their water supply cut from their properties. A citizen who received a water bill for SR52,680 said he only had one apartment and a small family and did not consume that much water. He wondered if there had been a mistake or whether this was a real figure. Another citizen said his water bill was SR35,000. Al-Madinah contacted NWC's customer service unit and the official that answered the call said he was surprised at these figures. He said there might have been some mistake on the NWC's part and urged those affected to go to the company and present their bills so they could be checked. — SG
