article · Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Engineering and Architecture
An analysis of water management data from 2009 to 2023 reveals how Saudi Arabia addressed severe water scarcity by balancing supply expansion with demand reduction. Total water supply doubled from 3,968 to 8,064 million cubic metres, driven by a 119 percent increase in desalination and a significant rise in treated wastewater reuse. Non-conventional water sources now account for approximately 60 percent of total supply. Over the same period, agricultural water consumption fell by 43 percent following the adoption of drip irrigation, crop diversification, and restrictions on water-intensive crops such as wheat and alfalfa, despite a 69 percent rise in domestic demand. Policy interventions, including well licensing and subsidy reforms, helped curb groundwater depletion. However, reliance on non-renewable groundwater and high per capita consumption remain ongoing challenges requiring further decentralised reuse and industrial recycling.
Arid regions globally face critical water deficits driven by climate conditions, population growth, and intensive farming. Understanding how large-scale desalination, treated wastewater reuse, and strict agricultural demand management can be combined provides practical guidance for water-scarce countries. This balance demonstrates how national policies and technological transitions can maintain water security alongside ongoing economic and demographic expansion.
The findings highlight practical opportunities for technology providers and industrial operators in solar-powered desalination, drip irrigation equipment, and decentralised wastewater treatment systems. These solutions represent applied, commercially deployed technologies that are already operating at scale within national infrastructure. Future opportunities are explicitly identified in industrial water recycling systems and localised reuse infrastructure, where equipment manufacturers, engineering firms, and utility operators can address mandated recycling and regional conservation targets.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Abstract The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), one of the world’s most arid countries, has faced severe water scarcity due to limited renewable resources, rapid population growth, and high agricultural demand. This study examines KSA’s strategies over the past two decades to bridge the water demand-supply gap, analyzing data from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) from 2009 to 2023. Findings reveal that KSA doubled its water supply (3,968 to 8,064 MCM) through desalination expansion (119% increase), treated wastewater reuse (2,055 MCM by 2023), and optimized groundwater management. Concurrently, agricultural water demand decreased by 43% (2015–2023) due to drip irrigation, crop diversification, and reduced wheat/alfalfa cultivation, while domestic demand rose steadily (69%) with urbanization. Key lessons emerge: (1) demand management (e.g., water-saving technologies) proved as critical as supply augmentation; (2) non-conventional sources (desalination, wastewater reuse) now constitute ~ 60% of supply; (3) renewable energy integration (e.g., solar-powered desalination) enhances sustainability; and (4) policy enforcement (e.g., well licensing, subsidy reforms) curbed groundwater depletion. Challenges persist, including high per capita consumption and non-renewable groundwater reliance. Aligned with Vision 2030, KSA’s experience offers a blueprint for arid regions: prioritize circular water economies, data-driven governance, and cross-sectoral coordination. Recommendations include scaling decentralized reuse systems, mandating industrial water recycling, and regional aquifer management. This research underscores that holistic, adaptive strategies can reconcile water security with economic growth in water-scarce environments.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1007/s43995-026-00296-4
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
