Hussein Hazzazi Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Residents of Jeddah's Petromin neighborhood are complaining about a stagnant lake that has randomly formed in their locality next to the Seaport Bridge. They said the lake could be a source of diseases such as dengue fever. Several residents claim that they have approached the National Water Company (NWC) to deal with the situation. But the NWC maintains that the lake has come from ground water, not sewage, and therefore the problem was not its responsibility. Residents said they also fear the lake could damage the bridge's foundations and cause a catastrophe. Local resident Saleh Al-Saeidi said some residents took samples of the water to a laboratory for analysis, which confirmed that the water contained traces of sewage. Al-Saeidi said residents of the neighborhood are bothered by the bad odor emanating from the lake and are also worried about possible health hazards. He said the Ministry of Health has repeatedly warned that stagnant water should be drained quickly. Another local resident, Saleh Madinee, said stagnant water has become a routine sight in the neighborhood. The stagnant lake that poses a health hazard to residents of the Petromin area in Jeddah. — Okaz photo Mohammad Al-Zahrani said residents are scared that water from the lake might seep into the neighborhood's streets and put their homes at risk. He added that residents are also apprehensive that the lake might increase in size and cause a disaster. Al-Zahrani said he would complain to the local municipality because the NWC has refused to help. Director of Jeddah Health Affairs Dr. Sami Badawood has said stagnant water in neighborhoods is a health hazard and an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. He said there is continuous coordination between the directorate and the municipality to drain stagnant water. Badawood warned parents against allowing their children to play near such water and remain outdoors after sunset. He said the number of dengue fever cases is dependent on the number of mosquitoes carrying the disease. He said a joint project between the Health Affairs and the municipality to combat dengue fever focused on field visits to affected areas. These areas are sprayed with pesticides and locals are told how to avoid catching the disease. This strategy, he said, has resulted in a decline in the number of new dengue fever cases in the city.
