A local resident negotiates his way around unpleasant puddles in an alley in the Al-Jami'a District. (Okaz photo)JEDDAH: With more rains exacerbating already unpleasant conditions, the residents of districts in the south of Jeddah have again voiced their dismay at streets and alleys flooded with water mixed with sewage. According to locals, the situation has become increasingly intolerable in recent weeks, and more rains have exacerbated fears that water tanks are becoming polluted. Hussein Bauqail, municipality chairman, said that all matters related to sewers and sewage were the concern of the National Water Company (NWC). “The NWC should be taking care of the situation,” he said. “Having said that, we have received no complaints on the issue, and it is up to the public to make their voices heard and contact the NWC which has a phone line specifically to hear complaints related to sewer leaks.” He said that the NWC would not dismiss complaints but would treat them with the utmost seriousness. “The municipal council will also send officials to check the situation,” he said. A representative of the NWC said that all reports from the public are dealt with urgently. “The company's emergency department does not ignore a single complaint, whatever it is,” he said. “Reports are passed on to the relevant specialists who deal them as quickly as possible.” Fawwaz Asiri, who lives in the Al-Jami'a District of south Jeddah, said that leaks from the sewers had been invading the streets and alleys near his house for several weeks. “We've reported it to the mayoralty, but they said it wasn't their responsibility,” he said. “We've also reported the problem several times to the National Water Company to have these large puddles and pools removed, but no action has been taken.”
