November 09, 2009 14:36 PM

Enough Water For Haj Pilgrims

From Ahmad Kamil Tahir

From Ahmad Kamil Tahir MECCA, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- Saudi Arabian authorities have given the assurance that there will be enough water to cater for the millions of pilgrims during the Haj at the end of this month.

Sixty-three water storage tanks in Mecca and the holy sites, with a total capacity of 2.5 million cubic metres, will be filled for the use of the pilgrims, Saudi Arabian English daily "Arab News" quoted the General Supervisor of the Directorate of Water, Muhammad Ahmad Bughdadi, as saying.

"The actual pumping of water through the networks in Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat will start on Nov 24," he said.

Bughdadi said there were 36 water tanks in Mecca and 27 in the holy sites, the majority of which were in Mina, and added that an average of 410,000 cubic metres of water were pumped into Mecca daily.

He said sample quantities would be taken randomly every day for chemical and bacteriological analyses to make sure that the water was suitable for human use.

He also said that there were more than 68,500 toilets and 70,000 water taps for pilgrims to use for ablution, laundry and cleaning.

-- BERNAMA

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