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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