Analyzing the Official Policies Water Management

7.1 Introduction

This study investigated the opinions and the water usage habits of the households and assessed the views of the policy-makers to provide a complete and methodical analysis of the water consumption practices and the conservation attitudes in Dammam from the top-down (supply-side) and bottom-up (demand-side) approaches. Chapter Six elucidated the study of the information collected from the household questionnaires in detail. The questionnaire survey method signified a bottom-up approach to water consumption and its consequences for the future of the water management strategies in Dammam. As an organized study of the water conservation practices in the residences of Dammam, the study can help to formulate the plans and the policies and the successful implementation of water management in the region (Covington, 2010).

The interviews with the policy-makers aimed to examine the present status of the water management plans in Dammam and to learn which policies are enforced or planned for in the future. The interviews were also aimed at identifying the perspective of policy-makers and authorities on different strategies available. Since the successful implementation of a water conservation program is greatly influenced by the outlook of the government towards the proper planning and addressing of the issue and as the policy-makers can impact the management of the water resources of the region, the study examined their attitudes and opinions (Nash, 2011).

Eight key questions were formed to achieve the objectives of the study, and follow-up questions were posed whenever required while conducting the interviews (Appendix D). The follow-up questions pertained to the main topics of the study. Chapter Four presents the procedure for conducting the interviews in detail. Overall, there was a strong degree of consensus across the interviews. The outcomes of the detailed personal interviews are discussed under two main headings namely, analysis of the responses of the policy-makers and the assessment of the attitudes of the policy-makers (Faruqui, Biswas, & Bino, 2001).

7.2 Analysis of the Responses of the Policy Makers

    This constitutes the lengthiest portion of the chapter as it deals with all the eight key questions of the interviews. The section is arranged as per the chief interview themes namely, communication and information, the policy of the government, the strategies and the programs, making decisions and involving the public, and the opinions of the policy-makers on the attitude of the public (Suzenet, 2000).

7.2.1 Communication and Information

    Most of the authorities interviewed were of the opinion that a lack of adequate information and communication might impact the successful management of the water resources in Dammam, leads to improper water usage, and results in the absence of any concrete conservation habits in the customers. One primary concern of the officials is that no dependable data is available concerning the different water use consumers and their distribution in the nation. A map that depicts the pattern of water usage is required to ascertain the allocation of the water services in the area. According to the policy-makers, the absence of such crucial information stops them from taking meaningful decisions (Maltby, 2009).

Prudent use of water is possible only if trustworthy information regarding the consumers is available. For instance, the data helps to distribute the water resources as per their use- potable water for consumption by the humans and the treated and brackish water for the non-human purposes such as in the industries, the farms, and a few domestic applications. “Water consumption in rural areas is unmeasured, and not only the humans drink and waste it in households but also they use excessive water in their industries and mills.” (Brebbia & Popov, 2011)

The policy-makers stated that they were not aware of the quantity of water utilized and the payment rates of the consumers as the meters were dysfunctional or faulty. According to the officials at MEWA, “the water meters do not help to determine the genuine demand for water accurately and the quantity of water consumed.” This implies that installing dependable water meters is essential for measuring the water consumption patterns in Dammam. The authorities asserted, “We require dependable meters for measuring the water consumption to formulate a plan for proper water management in Dammam.” (Maltby, 2009)

Another important issue in water management about information is the paucity of an authoritative, all-inclusive, and ongoing educational program that has led the consumers to develop an incorrect attitude towards the water sources of the country and its capacity to meet the rising demands. The officials observed that the information spread among the people is broad, disjointed, and sometimes even conflicting. They stated, “This baffles the consumers and reduces their possibility of cooperating with the Ministry.” (Matthews, 2012)

It looks like the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) will never provide the Saudis with enough information regarding what’s going on and how they will resolve the issues. The officials express a common opinion that it is essential to communicate and spread information among the consumers. Only when informed can people better comprehend the problem and cooperate with the MEWA for finding a solution for the issue. Thus, entirely novel information policy and strategies are the need of the hour.   In general, the detailed interviews substantiate that scant information is the primary cause of ineffective policies and unchanged public mindsets in Dammam. The officials acknowledge that information holds the key to achieving success in water management in Dammam and proposed several strategies (Moy, 2011). A long-term strategy suggested was:

The educational programs are the key components of the plans concerning water preservation. Educational programs are the most effective for generating innovative ideas, convictions, and beliefs and for modifying the water consumption practices of the present generation (Magiera, Jach, & Kurcius, 2017).

The authorities also accepted that such a long-term strategy involves the use of several mass media means and the active participation of the social and the religious institutions. For example, the radio, the television, and the newspapers are the effective communication tools as are the community centers and the mosques for reaching out to the public (Volk, 2013).

The policy-makers suggested five exclusive strategies for prioritizing public education:

o   Posters that not only display slogans but also exhibit simple methods that can help to reduce the wastage of water. They feel that slogans are a good idea since these can be used to depict their message in a better way and are easy-to-implement. Thus, placing these posters in the public places can help to catch the public attention quickly. Previously, for instance, slogans were used in different marketing and promotional campaigns (Covington, 2010).

o   Lectures that are lucid and straightforward to make sure that the message is clearly put across (Nash, 2011).

o   Media, including the radio, the television, and the newspapers for a wider outreach. Some famous public figures and American politicians can come forward and canvas water conservation for maximum effect (Faruqui, Biswas, & Bino, 2001).

o   Manuals that the MEWA and the other associations can prepare and provide for free. These manuals should explain and depict the need for and the methods of saving water. They can help to introduce the water-saving gadgets and good water consumption practices in the consumers (Brebbia & Popov, 2011).

o   Displays that post the day-to-day consumption rates and the names of the consumers in public for a given time period as a way to recognize and encourage good water consumption habits . Placing the displays in strategic locations can help to enhance their effectiveness. Displays are a great practice since they help in behavioral research (Suzenet, 2000).

The officials have realized that success is not achievable in the water conservation programs in Dammam without the cooperation of the people. For this, changing the outlook of the people is necessary. As it needs a great amount of time, it may not be possible to complete the project within a short period. The officials admitted that there is a need to commence the project now instead of later (Maltby, 2009). According to Arshad and Abbas (2017), the idea of using the displays is interesting and especially effective as it personalizes the problem of water conservation (Matthews, 2012).

7.2.2 Policies, Programs, and Strategies of the Government

Interestingly, the officials frankly admitted that the government policies, programs, and strategies were weak in certain areas. They acknowledged that instead of addressing the realities of the water crisis in Dammam using the consequential methods, “the government is only attempting to solve the problem of rising demand for water by hastening the development, by constructing new infrastructure, and by expanding the distribution methods and other facilities.” It looks like this approach will make it easy for locals to access fresh drinking water, which is important for their survival, and that is clearly depicted in the findings. This implies that constructing the cost-intensive, high-technology plants to fulfill the growing water requirements is not the way forward. Rather, people must understand that the water and the financial resources of Dammam are limited (Moy, 2011). 

In a statement about the problem of an increasing demand versus the availability of the resources, the authorities said that the construction of plants to supply more water commenced when the economy was stronger than it is today. They believe that this approach conveys an incorrect message to the customers who continue to use the resource extravagantly instead of conserving it as they feel that it is available in abundance. Indeed, a few authorities vehemently argued that the current economic status of the country is negatively influencing the designing and the growth of the water management programs. Therefore, increasing the supply of water is no longer viable (Magiera, Jach, & Kurcius, 2017).

Now that the oil market has weakened, the economic troubles of the nation may not allow the completion of such projects. In this new situation of reduced economic strength, it has become even more difficult for the country to expand its water resources. If the public does not save water and new facilities for increasing the water production are not constructed, then Dammam may face a genuine crisis with regards to proper water management. One issue that is related directly to the existing policy of “incessant construction of the distribution systems and pipelines” is the failure of the government to address the technical glitches. Since the network of the distribution lines is complex, many of the damaged water mains and severe leakages in the distribution system stay unattended for long periods owing to negligence or ignorance on the part of the officials. As a result, there is a massive wastage of water that the authorities can prevent by taking corrective measures. Such wastage also increases the production, distribution, and water management costs in Dammam. The customers also do not report any water leakages on their properties unless it becomes a nuisance for them thereby adding to the water problems of the country. Merely constructing more water production facilities cannot solve this problem (Volk, 2013).

According to the policy-makers at the MEWA, one grave problem in proper water management is the lack of relevant legislation in Dammam. For example, several consumers avoid remitting their water invoices with the result that they accumulate heavy overdue payments. Moreover, they are not punished or made aware of the gravity of the problem as there are no regulations to coerce them into paying their dues. The officials explain that the issue becomes more complex since a few members of the Saudi Consultative Assembly vehemently argue in favor of the offenders and offer the excuse that they are not financially well-off to afford the payments. They keep saying “we are favoring offenders because they are not going to harm either the government or the public .” (Arshad & Abbas, 2017)

Although the MEWA brought in a payment structure that allowed the consumers to pay their bills in installments, this method was rendered ineffective as, in the absence of proper laws, the consumers never felt the pressure to abide by the strategy. It should be noticed that payment can resolve many of the issues as it will help implement new strategies and encourage high-level water conservation projects, providing people with pure and clean drinking water on a regular basis (Zabkowski & Gajowniczek, 2017).

The officials believe that the regulations concerning water usage should encompass three sectors. Firstly, there is a need to enact a law that mandates the consumers to remit their overdue bills at the earliest. Indeed, the recommendation is to enforce some punitive action in case of delinquency, such as discontinuing the service and imposing additional charges for re-commencing the same. The authorities say, “in order to bring positive changes, it is important to implement new policies as soon as possible before it’s too late and the people lose what they really deserve.” (Covington, 2010)

However, the authorities understand that the Saudis may not accept these stringent measures easily owing to their disposition and the support of the members of the Consultative Assembly in the country. In Saudi Arabia and other countries, there is a lack of pure drinking water and both locals and tourists have to suffer due to this reason (Nash, 2011). That’s why it is important to support the members of the Consultative Assembly so that the provision of quality food and water is made sure. It’s safe to say that these practical problems can make it difficult to regulate water consumption. However, regulation in this regard is imperative.  For instance, the regulations that state that water consumption should be balanced with that of water supply are favorable and good to go with (Faruqui, Biswas, & Bino, 2001).

Secondly, the government must bring in laws that make it compulsory for new constructions to include the water-saving gadgets. It should be noticed that these gadgets have already been used and appreciated by Americans, Europeans, and Canadians. In addition, there is a need to encourage the existing buildings to install these devices through appropriate incentives (Magiera, Jach, & Kurcius, 2017). The officials said:

Extensive research concerning improved methods of water usage habits by the consumers, within and outside their homes is required. Installing the devices that help save water in the houses, the offices, the factories, and the farms are necessary (Moy, 2011).

This implies that the officials must know the particular areas where it is best possible to apply the water conservations practices and which gadgets, guidelines, and habits to recommend (Brebbia & Popov, 2011).

Thirdly, the policy makers feel that a “wide-ranging law that allows the government to successfully implement its water conservations plans and promote sustainable water usage in the country” is required to encourage the judicious use of water and a conservation attitude in the Dammam. It will eventually allow them to provide people with pure drinking water without any issue or seasonal problems (Arshad & Abbas, 2017). At present, the officials are asking for general legislation to control the management of the water resources in the different sectors of the economy including the households, the enterprises, the industries, and the farms. Also, they admit that the current laws are insufficient and need expansion. The objective of these laws is to ensure that the water resources are used appropriately. For instance, consumers should not use potable water for the non-human purposes (Volk, 2013).

Zabkowski and Gajowniczek (2017) argue that the authorities have proposed a pricing policy as they are firm in their opinion that the heavy government subsidies are a major reason a conservation behavior does not exist in the Saudis. At present, the Saudi government subsidizes water by approximately 95 percent, which implies that the consumer remits less than 5 percent of the cost of producing water. Also, the potable water production cost in the country is approximately 2.5 SR per cubic meter, and the citizens pay only 0.10 SR per cubic meter (Institute, 2010).

Officials suggested three alternatives:

o   Fixed fees (flat payment rate) with a limited volume of water consumed for every household (Covington, 2010).

o   Fees (flat payment rate plus extra costs) should increase steeply as the quantity of consumption rises beyond the given limit for the household (Covington, 2010).

o   A varied pricing system for the various water sources such as distilled, brackish, groundwater, and treated effluents. Distilled water priced the highest and modest or no subsidy provided for it (Covington, 2010).

Such a fee structure cannot only decrease water wastage but also make the users more selective when using water from the different sources. For example, the consumers should use the drinkable water only for consumption and the other water sources such as treated and brackish for the non-consumption purposes. The officials believed that in addition to a revised pricing system, a systematic and regular billing method is required. Currently, the billing system is ineffective, and the officials that a new system could benefit both the authorities and the users (Zabkowski & Gajowniczek, 2017). In this regard, two suggestions were put forward:

o   A consistent billing method issued on a monthly basis to help the consumers assess their water consumption pattern and ease the payment of the bills (Arshad & Abbas, 2017).

o   Impose mechanisms to clear the outstanding bill payments and setting up a system of responsibility in the consumers. Enforcing penalties for delayed payments by stopping the services until all the dues are settled and charging for reinstallations is required. However, this can pose hurdles during implementation in the country (Arshad & Abbas, 2017).

Importantly, the officials stated that along with a new billing methodology, an enforcement system is also needed so that the consumers realize that the MEWA is keen on conserving water and that they too must take the issue seriously.  In all, the decision-makers accepted the lacunae in the current policies, strategies, and programs, but at the same time reiterated that some progress was achieved in the direction of conservation over several years. Understanding that there are many areas of improvement, the officials completely backed an all-inclusive novel policy that emphasized information dissemination, the conservation techniques and habits, and better tools of management (Brebbia & Popov, 2011).

7.2.3 Making Decisions and Involving the Public

The interviews also shed light on the key issues with decision-making and public involvement in the management of the water resources in Dammam. The decisions that the MEWA takes face hurdles as other departments and ministries in the government also shoulder a similar responsibility. According to the MEWA officials, the mutual jurisdiction of the other official agencies impacts their plans and decisions as these other departments oppose and are not willing to participate or tackle the problem (Volk, 2013). Since there is poor coordination among the officials of the different government departments, developing and launching the water management programs successfully becomes difficult. However, the new water conservation strategy seeks to develop a close association between all the concerned official agencies. At the same time, the officials insist that solving the water problems is complicated and not possible if the actions are disjointed. Expanding this point further, the officials stated that the authorities do not have the absolute powers to make decisions. To achieve the desired results, different departments of the state should come forward and cooperate with each other to resolve issues, decide and implement new policies, and introduce better conservation programs as well as payment or fee structure (Institute, 2010).

The minimal collaboration between the various authorities has made the water management policies quite inflexible thereby interfering with their successful implementation in Dammam. Such a situation may mirror the political system of the country, which to a great extent depends on the policies made at the central level. For instance, the policymakers say “implementing new policies means guarantying that people will get pure drinking water and most of their problems will be resolved.” Even though the other ministries do not directly impede planning, their involvement is vital for promoting the policies. Their cooperation with the MEWA is essential for the successful adoption and implementation of the policies and programs (Volk, 2013).

The policy-makers also understood that the role of the consumers is crucial if the water management policy is to succeed. In this regard they stated:

If the public is involved in the planning stage, they can better understand the intensity of the problem, and realize that their participation and cooperation in the water management programs of Dammam are essential (Zabkowski & Gajowniczek, 2017). However, the officials quickly explained the existing ground realities in Saudi as:

Involving the people is a novel concept in the region, for until now the government decided and provided them with everything they needed. In the beginning, involving the public might seem chaotic. However, its effectiveness, in the long run, is undeniable. That said, proper testing in this regard is a must in the Saudi society (Institute, 2010).

The MEWA is fully aware that cooperation between the authorities and the public is important. That is why, unlike earlier, today it is expanding its efforts to forge strong relations between the Ministry and the others involved in water management. The MEWA is also aware that many other official agencies, the non-governmental organizations, and the users are an essential part of successful water management and conservation scheme in Dammam. We look forward to coordinating and cooperating with all the organizations and the agencies involved and believe that the people must participate in the issue (Covington, 2010). The current social trends imply that everyone favors an increased public involvement, which the policy-makers fittingly explained as:

A strong partnership between the government and the consumers can show the MEWA that it is important to involve everyone in the issue. We should put in more efforts to discuss the water crisis in Dammam with the other related institutions and the people, and take their opinions when creating the water management policies for the country. Succinctly put, the involvement of everyone is necessary as everybody uses water- the government alone cannot design, determine, and implement the policies (Covington, 2010).

Envisioning such innovative dynamics for creating the policies, the officials are hopeful that the water management strategies in Dammam attain success. That said, it is necessary to sketch out the role of each participant regarding the nature of the role, its extent, its definition, and its limitations so that confusions and conflicts are avoided.  Although greater involvement is essential, it is important to organize well for generating effective outcomes (Nash, 2011).

7.2.4 Viewpoints of the Policy-Makers Regarding the Attitude of the Public

The interview responses showed that the officials agreed that the Saudis must alter their behavior towards the use of water. The officials deemed that much of the water management problems of the country are due to the excessive consumption and the absence of a conservation disposition. As a result, the consumers give the impression that they do not want to adopt and practice the water conservation techniques. The need of the hour is for them to comprehend the seriousness of the issue at hand so that a result-oriented water conservation plan is developed (Brebbia & Popov, 2011).

Many factors can elucidate this disposition. Perhaps, the most important one is the excessive wealth from the oil trade in the country. The oil boom started in the mid-1970s and brought in drastic changes in the society thereby affecting the attitudes of the Saudis. The greater affluence of the Saudis is responsible for several social issues in the region today (Faruqui, Biswas, & Bino, 2001). The decision-makers stated:

Right from the mid-1970s, Saudi Arabia, particularly Dammam, has witnessed a quick economic development owing to a drastic increase in the revenues earned from the trade of oil. The development stoked a steep rise in the demand for water and the other resources of the country. However, the development was poorly planned without due consideration for the natural limitations of the region. Rather, the progress was based on the abundance of the wealth generated via oil exports and modernization.  Paradoxically, the enormous wealth obtained from the oil trade encouraged a rash water consumption pattern in a generation acclimatized to prosperity. Their prosperity was apparent by the huge size of their abodes, the extensive gardens, their extravagant lifestyles, and a disposition that lacked seriousness about conservation. In fact, the Saudi people are quite lavish (Suzenet, 2000).

During the oil boom, the authorities and the people were not well prepared to handle the sudden increase in the wealth of the country. It is this sudden affluence that has made the consumers prefer an extravagant lifestyle (Maltby, 2009). Some authorities asserted that:

Paradoxically, the enormous wealth obtained from the oil trade encouraged a rash water consumption pattern in a generation acclimatized to prosperity. Their prosperity was apparent by the huge size of their abodes, the extensive gardens, their extravagant lifestyles, and a disposition that lacked seriousness about conservation. In fact, the Saudi people are quite lavish. The findings of this research or study can be used to introduced new policies and replace the ones which are good for nothing regarding providing people with pure drinking water (Maltby, 2009).

The lavish way of life of the Saudis, which the government fostered unintentionally became evident in various ways such as the ornate lawns. Even today, the citizens grow decorative gardens with the least regard for the water limitations. The problem is enhanced further because the contemporary irrigation methods and the sprinkler systems are not used. Earlier, the officials claimed that they were only providing the citizens with the goods and services at low costs but this only cultivated a non-conservation attitude in the people. However, now they candidly admit that although the subsidy at low costs policy seemed productive, it became a burden on the constrained water resources and the arid climatic conditions of the country. Even so, the policy-makers were hopeful that they could change the attitudes of the citizens through proper information dissemination and the education programs as mentioned earlier. Further, they stressed the religion aspect as the Saudi is a Muslim country. The officials felt that among all the techniques, Islamic education is the most effective in changing the wasteful tendencies of the Saudis (Matthews, 2012).

Special efforts are required on the religious front. Islam teaches conservation concerning consumption. Since the society in the Saudi practices this religion, one effective way of promoting water conservation is to give an opportunity to the leaders in Islam to assume a wider role in explaining its importance. The sermons on Fridays and the lectures funded by the non-official and official religious institutions in the region make for excellent platforms for the purpose. Also, since a greater section of the society keenly attends the various religious symposiums conducted in Dammam, they can serve as valuable media for generating public awareness about the water issue. Although today many people shy away from applying the religious tenets in their everyday life, there is no doubt that in this Muslim country, the religious sermons still have a strong potential in influencing the public mindset (Moy, 2011).

In fact, utilizing the Islamic code of conduct can help the Saudis achieve success.  That was highlighted as-

As Muslims who believe that Islam is the guiding principle and the way of life, we must realize that it is needed that we don’t cross our limits and try to amend our ways as well as our behavior. Indeed, Islam can help us in all the facets of our growth- religious and materialistic. Therefore, we must begin from our religion. Indeed, Islam can help us to successfully manage the water resources in Dammam, for the people tend to listen more to the religious tenets than to the secular legislation (Magiera, Jach, & Kurcius, 2017).

Although buoyant regarding the use of religion to modify the conservation attitude among the citizens, there still is a need to see if the moral convictions alone encourage the people to save water. The authorities must take a firm stand and ensure that people across the economic sections understand the gravity of the water issues in the country.  Simply put, religion on its own cannot help to achieve the objective of successful water management in Dammam. Rather, a collaborative effort is imperative (Magiera, Jach, & Kurcius, 2017).

7.3 Analysis of the Attitudes of the Policy-Makers

The responses to the associated issues reveal their own attitudes to a great extent. This section delves into their personal stance on certain water-related issues to determine if the present approaches of the MEWA match well with the authorities and the trends in the future.  It’s good to outline the methods and techniques used in the study before presenting the results and coming up with a conclusion.  The researcher created this questionnaire based on the detailed interviews of 25 chief policy-makers from the various government agencies. As stressed before, the objective of this statistical survey is to gauge the outlook of the policy-makers to determine if the present and the future policies for water management in Dammam match well with the ideologies of those who are in the position to make decisions. This data is useful for comparing the water consumption habits of the householders as discussed extensively in Chapter Six (Arshad & Abbas, 2017).

Although the 25 officials answered the questionnaire, some of them responded to the queries while the others did not give any response. To achieve the aim of this project, six sets of questions were formulated. Off the six, five contained specific parameters whereas, the last question was open-ended. The questions along with a summation of the responses are given below (Table 7.1). It was not deemed necessary to undertake a full demographic analysis of the policy-makers. They were required to grade four vital national issues of Dammam including conservation of water and were given an option to mention any other problem. As presented in Table 7.1, a majority of the water-related officials, specifically 96 percent, placed security as the most important national issue. Only 28 percent of the interviewees ranked the economic troubles as the second most important national issue. Important to note is there is a wide difference of 68 percent between the importance given to the two issues (Zabkowski & Gajowniczek, 2017). 

Interestingly, among the policy-makers concerned with water management, a mere 20 percent thought of water conservation as a chief national issue. That said, the water problems competed strongly with the economic troubles. For example, 28 percent of the interviewees considered water conservation as the second most crucial national issue. On the other hand, for the next two rankings, the scores of the issues were equal. Even though water conservation was rated the highest the second position, only 28 percent of the interviewees ranked it so. The issue secured a higher score of 40 percent only when it ranked third (Zabkowski & Gajowniczek, 2017).

Table 7.1 Significance of the Issues of National Concern

Issues	Responses (Numerical Rating)
	1	2	3	4
Security of the Nation	24 (96%)	1 (4%)	-	-
Economic Troubles	7 (28%)	4 (16%)	9 (36%)	5 (20%)
Conservation of Water	5 (20%)	7 (28%)	10 (40%)	3 (12%)
Water and Air Pollution	-	-	-	-
Miscellaneous	-	-	-	-

It appears that the policy-makers in charge of water management in Dammam have a general understanding of the priorities of the country. Perhaps, the present-day conflicts between nations have made many policy-makers view national security as the priority of the nation. A significant finding that changes in the country’s economic priorities has moved water conservation down the agenda (Institute, 2010).

Table 7.2 depicts the viewpoints of the policy-makers about the assessment of the water-related limitations that hinder the successful planning of water management in Dammam.

Table 7.2 The Primary Water Management Limitations in Dammam

ApparentLimitations		N	%
1.	Absence of an all-inclusive plan and continuing programs for regulating water usage	24	96
2.	Absence of a deep comprehension of the issue	4	16
3.	Fruitless policies concerning the pricing of water	5	20
4.	Hasty growth in construction and growing technical snags	9	36
5.	Absence of precise data regarding the consumers and their water usage trends	19	76
6.	Absence of proper regulations to the successful implementation of the plans	9	36
7.	Absence of a comprehensive plan and continuing water regulation programs	11	44
8.	Paucity of awareness in the public regarding the need for the regulating water usage	7	28
9.	High expenses involved in producing water from the non-natural sources	16	64
10.	Involvement of too many authorities and poor coordination between them that impedes success in the implementation of the water management policies	10	40
11.	Miscellaneous (specify)	-	-

Among the ten limitations listed, a significant majority of the policy-makers acknowledged that the most vital factor that hindered successful water management is the absence of an all-inclusive plan and continuing programs for regulating the water consumption. According to the policy-makers, it is necessary to control the production and demand for water, which is linked closely to a conservation disposition. This requires a widespread plan that comprehensively deals with the water-related problems. Since at present there is no plan of this nature, successful water management has eluded Dammam (Covington, 2010).

Table 7.1 Significance of the Issues of National Concern

Issues	Responses (Numerical Rating)
	1	2	3	4
Security of the Nation	24 (96%)	1 (4%)	-	-
Economic Troubles	7 (28%)	4 (16%)	9 (36%)	5 (20%)
Conservation of Water	5 (20%)	7 (28%)	10 (40%)	3 (12%)
Water and Air Pollution	-	-	-	-
Miscellaneous	-	-	-	-

It appears that the policy-makers in charge of water management in Dammam have a general understanding of the priorities of the country. Perhaps, the present-day conflicts between nations have made many policy-makers view national security as the first priority of the country. Important finding that changes in the country’s economic priorities has moved water conservation down the agenda (Institute, 2010).

Table 7.2 depicts the viewpoints of the policy-makers about the assessment of the water-related limitations that hinder the successful planning of water management in Dammam.

Table 7.2 The Primary Water Management Limitations in Dammam

ApparentLimitations		N	%
1.	Absence of an all-inclusive plan and continuing programs for regulating water usage	24	96
2.	Absence of a deep comprehension of the issue	4	16
3.	Fruitless policies concerning the pricing of water	5	20
4.	Hasty growth in construction and growing technical snags	9	36
5.	Absence of precise data regarding the consumers and their water usage trends	19	76
6.	Absence of proper regulations to the successful implementation of the plans	9	36
7.	Absence of a comprehensive plan and continuing water regulation programs	11	44
8.	Paucity of awareness in the public regarding the need for the regulating water usage	7	28
9.	High expenses involved in producing water from the non-natural sources	16	64
10.	Involvement of too many authorities and poor coordination between them that impedes success in the implementation of the water management policies	10	40
11.	Miscellaneous (specify)	-	-

Among the ten limitations listed, a significant majority of the policy-makers acknowledged that the most vital factor that hindered successful water management is the absence of an all-inclusive plan and continuing programs for regulating the water consumption. According to the policy-makers, it is necessary to control the production and demand for water, which is linked closely to a conservation disposition. This requires a widespread plan that comprehensively deals with the water-related problems. Since at present there is no plan of this nature, successful water management has eluded Dammam (Zabkowski & Gajowniczek, 2017).

The policy-makers also opined that a lack of precise data regarding the consumers, their geographical location, and their water usage trends affects proper planning. It partially explains how to develop a comprehensive water management plan in Dammam without adequate information. Indeed, the policy-makers must identify and classify the consumers based on the different water sources and sectors where the resource is used. This data can help to produce and supply water as per the specific consumer needs thereby enabling the judicious use of the various water resources of the country; for example, the potable water for consumption by the humans, and the brackish and the treated water for the non-human purposes (Arshad & Abbas, 2017).

Sixty-four percent of the interviewees ranked the steep expenses involved in producing water from the non-natural sources as a barrier to effective water management in the region. This implies that the desalination plants are cost-intensive and even more expensive than producing groundwater. The reality is that Dammam lacks adequate surface and groundwater resources, which renders desalination as the only feasible method of meeting its rising water demand. Item 6 illustrates the reluctance of the officials to enforce the water-related regulations that can greatly assist the MEWA in achieving the aims of water management. Perhaps, the reluctance is due to the fear of a negative public reaction, or it is their opinion on the issue. A mere 36 percent recognized the absence of the water regulating laws as a primary limitation. In addition, even though the policy-makers encouraged greater participation in decision making, just 40 percent perceived it as a major obstacle to effective planning. Nevertheless, they emphasized the need for increased involvement of the people and the other official bodies (Volk, 2013).

The third question aimed at investigating the opinions of the policy-makers with regards to the espousal of the available programs and the possibility of studying any hitherto untried alternatives. Contrary to the earlier findings, a vast majority, specifically 84 percent, is certain that the available programs are adequate for dealing with the water crisis in the country and that there is no need for considering any alternatives (Appendix D). Interestingly, the policy-makers who suggested the use of the alternative programs did not enumerate them. This is also contradictory as a conviction about the paucity of an all-inclusive plan suggests the inadequacy of the effectiveness of the available programs (Arshad & Abbas, 2017). Also, if the alternative programs are not deemed necessary, then perhaps the existing ones are not implemented correctly. Succinctly put, the policy-makers are aware of what they must do but have not attained success as of now.

Table 7.3 illustrates the way the officials handle the water crisis in Dammam. In this regard, their opinions were divided between enhanced water production (28 percent) and implementing large-scale of water conservation techniques (28 percent). However, 48 percent of the policy-makers favored a blend of both these strategies (Volk, 2013).

Table 7.3 - Solving the Increasing Demand for Water

Solutions	N	%
Generating more water	7	28
Applying the water conservation programs extensively	6	24
Using both the above solution	12	48
Total	25	100

Table 7.3 clearly shows that the policy-makers realize that conservation alone is not the answer to the problem of increased water demand in Dammam. Although they recognize the need to increase the water production facilities, they also accept that water conservation is an integral part of the water management plans for the future. Table 7.4 lists the possible options that the policy-makers consider as viable for dealing with the water management issues (Magiera, Jach, & Kurcius, 2017).

Table 7.4- Water Management Measures the Policy-Makers Considered

No.	Water Management Issues	Very Important (N=)	Moderately Important (N=)	Not Important (N=)
1.	Increased the use of the existing water resources	12 (48%)	9 (36%)	4 (16%)
2.	Regulate the water demand	7 (28%)	15 (60%)	3 (12%)
3.	Alter the pricing structure	16 (64%)	7 (28%)	2 (8%)
4.	Implement conservation measures only during crises	17 (68%)	8 (32%)	-
5.	Implement conservation programs regularly	13 (52%)	3 (12%)	9 (36%)
6.	Study public views regarding their involvementin the issue	9 (36%)	12 (48%)	5 (20%)
7.	Enforceregulation to revise water usagetrends	14(56%)	6 (24%)	5 (20%)
8.	Involverelatedagencies in decisionmaking	9 (36%)	8 (32%)	5 (20%)
9.	Set up an information center for planning for water usage in Dammam	13 (52%)	9 (36%)	3 (12%)

As part of the research, 68 percent of the policy-makers preferred the conservation programs only during crises.  This contradicts their earlier stance and highlights their reluctance to change their lifestyles via the conservation schemes. Significantly, 36 percent of the interviewees failed to support the conservation measures to get desired results.  In line with the expectations, all the policy-makers favored the conservation programs during crises. Impressively, 64 percent of the respondents believed that revising the pricing structure is necessary for successful water management in Dammam. According to them, a practical pricing policy can encourage a conservation attitude in the consumers and generate more monetary resources for water management (Magiera, Jach, & Kurcius, 2017).

An encouraging aspect is that 52 percent of the policy-makers supported the implementation of the habitual conservation measures. This support equaled that for the setting up of an information center since inadequate public awareness is a serious obstacle for the MEWA. Further, 56 percent of the respondents opined that the regulations are crucial for achieving the objectives of water planning.  On the whole, it appears that the policy-makers acknowledged that curbing the increasing water demand in the future will be difficult owing to a growing population and economic expansion. Therefore, 60 percent of the interviewees regarded regulating the water demand as less important. Rather, their genuine objective is the judicious use of water and the promotion of the conservation habits (Moy, 2011).

Conclusion

    The Analysis of the official policies and the approaches to water management in Dammam and the assessment of the attitudes and the beliefs of the policy-makers underscores many vital concerns that center on some aspects of management including information and communication, the policy of the government, the programs and the strategies, the making of decisions and involving the public, the viewpoints of the policy-makers regarding the attitudes of the public, and the personal outlook of the policy-makers. The information and communication issue illustrates the need for concrete data concerning the consumers of water and their geographic distribution (Matthews, 2012).

Such information can help the authorities to supply water as per the specific consumer uses. In addition, the policy-makers must know the quantity of water consumed for various applications as it enables correct production, supply, and the appropriate use of the water sources. That, in turn, makes water management cost-effective and efficient and promotes the conservation habits. The faulty water meters are partly responsible for the absence of tangible information regarding the water usage rates and patterns. Inadequate information and communication also indicate the realities of the Saudi society, with the people lacking awareness about the limited water resources of the country and related issues. Consequently, the Saudis use water carelessly and seem disinterested in cooperating with the MEWA. According to the officials, the government is misleading the consumers through improper information dissemination. Therefore, the policy-makers advocated comprehensive information and education programs to make the citizens aware of the water situation in the nation. Indeed, they enumerated several meaningful information schemes (Maltby, 2009).

    The policy-makers felt that the policies, programs, and the strategies of the government are insufficient, and demanded some practical measures to bolster water management in the region. The most important measures proposed are a realistic pricing system and the enforcement of regulations dealing with all the aspects of water management namely, production, supply, maintenance, building codes, pricing, collection, and water abuse (Suzenet, 2000).

    The policy-makers clearly understood that involving the public and the other government agencies can help the MEWA attain success in its water management efforts. They stated that the existing practices were ineffective, and demanded greater participation from the public and better cooperation from the other government bodies. In line with the expectations, the water-related authorities frankly expressed their opinions regarding the attitude of the public. They portrayed the Saudis as lavish and wasteful regarding water usage and blamed it on poor information and the affluence that the vast oil wealth of the country cultivated. The officials also cautioned that today the country faces not only water crisis, but also a financial emergency, which implies that modifying the behavior of the consumer is imperative to achieving success in water management (Brebbia & Popov, 2011). 

    Since the water officials of the Saudi face the challenges of rising water demand and its economic, social, and environmental effects, they have broadened their philosophy and approach towards planning the policies for water management. True, national security and a buoyant economy remain the leading concerns. Even so, water conservation features in the list of the national issues. Clearly, today the policy-makers view water management from beyond the conventional approach that prioritized an increased supply. Rather, they seek viable alternative measures that give primacy to water conservation. The supply-side management is different from the demand-side management in that the latter demands the development of direct water management methods such as water-related legislation, conservation tools, pricing system, public education, and more involvement of everyone (Faruqui, Biswas, & Bino, 2001).

    In all, there is no marked difference between the personal attitudes of the policy-makers regarding water management in Dammam and their official policy. However, it appears that the policy-makers are cautious, and expect no drastic changes in light of the lavish disposition of the Saudis. Although they support the changes, they feel that the transformation must occur gradually and only when the mindset of the people is altered. The policy-makers also realize the need for practical and enduring futuristic water management strategies, policies, and programs. Given the present situation, they do not envisage short-term achievements in Dammam. However, the results of this study clearly show that Dammam is on the verge of impending significant changes with regards to water management and supply. Without any doubt, the present-day low crude oil prices have pushed the people to reconsider the use of two extremely vital resources- oil, which is the backbone of the economy of the nation, and water that sustains life (Nash, 2011).

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