Saudi environmental body begins campaign to weed out pollution in Jeddah lakes

Lake Al-Arbaeen is one of Jeddah’s lakes that are being targeted in an anti-pollution initiative. (Courtesy Wikimapia)
  • Sites have been drilled to identify sources of groundwater pollution within the vicinity of the designated lakes
  • The initiative aims to rehabilitate contaminated areas to ensure contagions do not multiply and spread

JEDDAH: The General Authority for Meteorology and Environmental Protection began a campaign to search for sources of pollution in lakes in the province of Jeddah.
The initiative, aimed at rehabilitating contaminated areas, will focus Lake Al-Arbaeen, Al-Shabab Lake and Lake Qasir Al-Salam (or Peace Palace).
Specialists from the General Directorate of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas responsible for environmental stewardship have been engaged in searching for sources of lake pollution.
Water samples were collected for test wells to determine which sources are likely to feed contaminated lakes,
The initiative is also part of the authority’s commitment to implement its initiatives within the National Transition Program 2020.
Moreover, 10 different sites were drilled to identify sources of groundwater pollution within the vicinity of lakes.
The environmental teams are currently working to confirm the levels of pollution after obtaining the laboratory results, in order to prepare for the implementation of treatment and rehabilitation plans.
The initiative aims to rehabilitate contaminated areas to ensure contagions do not multiply and spread and protect coastal natural resources from the effects of pollution.
In addition, it aims to contribute to tourism and economic sustainability by providing a healthy environment that is pollution-free for various sectors and promoting the water and coastal tourism sector.