<P> Water supply and sanitation in Saudi Arabia is characterized by challenges and achievements . One of the main challenges is water scarcity . In order to overcome water scarcity , substantial investments have been undertaken in seawater desalination , water distribution , sewerage and wastewater treatment . Today about 50 % of drinking water comes from desalination , 40 % from the mining of non-renewable groundwater and only 10 % from surface water in the mountainous southwest of the country . The capital Riyadh , located in the heart of the country , is supplied with desalinated water pumped from the Persian Gulf over a distance of 467 km . Water is provided almost for free to residential users . Despite improvements , service quality remains poor , for example in terms of continuity of supply . Another challenge is weak institutional capacity and governance , reflecting general characteristics of the public sector in Saudi Arabia . Among the achievements is a significant increase in desalination , and in access to water , the expansion of wastewater treatment , as well as the use of treated effluent for the irrigation of urban green spaces , and for agriculture . </P>
<P> Water supply and sanitation in Saudi Arabia is characterized by challenges and achievements . One of the main challenges is water scarcity . In order to overcome water scarcity , substantial investments have been undertaken in seawater desalination , water distribution , sewerage and wastewater treatment . Today about 50 % of drinking water comes from desalination , 40 % from the mining of non-renewable groundwater and only 10 % from surface water in the mountainous southwest of the country . The capital Riyadh , located in the heart of the country , is supplied with desalinated water pumped from the Persian Gulf over a distance of 467 km . Water is provided almost for free to residential users . Despite improvements , service quality remains poor , for example in terms of continuity of supply . Another challenge is weak institutional capacity and governance , reflecting general characteristics of the public sector in Saudi Arabia . Among the achievements is a significant increase in desalination , and in access to water , the expansion of wastewater treatment , as well as the use of treated effluent for the irrigation of urban green spaces , and for agriculture . </P>
where does saudi arabia get its drinking water from
where does saudi arabia get its drinking water from
about 50 % of drinking water comes from desalination , 40 % from the mining of non-renewable groundwater and only 10 % from surface water in the mountainous southwest
about 50 % of drinking water comes from desalination , 40 % from the mining of non-renewable groundwater and only 10 % from surface water in the mountainous southwest