The Directorate General for Water has put in place a comprehensive plan to provide water to pilgrims in Makkah and the holy sites during this year's Haj season. Muhammad Ahmad Baghdadi, Supervisor General of the Directorate, said 3,000 people have been involved in carrying out the plan. He said 300,000 cubic meters of water would be pumped to Makkah, 290,000 of which would come from the Al-Shu'aibah Desalination Plant and 10,000 from Malakan Valley. The water will be used for toilet facilities in the central area around the Grand Mosque. Baghdadi said that all water tanks in Makkah and the holy sites have been filled and that three water distribution points in Al-Mu'aissim, Kuday and Arafat are at full capacity to fill water tanker trucks during the Haj season. Centers for the purification of water tanker trucks will be set up at entry points to Makkah with teams to purify water with chlorine. Baghdadi said monitoring of water in Makkah and the holy sites would be strict, with water samples taken for chemical and bacterial analysis to ensure conformity to regulatory standards. The plan is being conducted together with the Saline Water Conversion Corporation. The water network in the holy sites will be in operation as of Dec. 4. – Okaz/SG __
