Saudi Arabia is the world's largest producer of desalinated water with 30 desalination plants pumping out three million cubic meters per day (cmd). It also produces 5.5 million cmd of drinkable water and treats two million cmd of wastewater, according to Minister of Water and Electricity Abdullah Al-Husayn. He made these remarks at a workshop entitled “Project Management of Innovative Water and Wastewater Technologies,” which was organized recently by Saudi Arabian Water Environment Association's (SAWEA). As many as 500 delegates attended the workshop. Water demand is expected to exceed 11 million cmd in the next 20 years, he said. "In order to meet that demand, wastewater collection and treatment will reach more than 5 million cmd in five years using tertiary treatment, which makes it reusable. Sewage treatment services also will be provided to 90 percent of the population by that time," he said, according to a report published by Saudi Aramco's web-site. --MORE
