The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) faces significant challenges due to unsustainable use of water resources, limited reserves of exploitable non-renewable groundwater and low recharge due to average annual rainfall of less than 100 mm for the entire Kingdom, and annual evaporation of 1,500 to 2,000 mm. The main water resources in KSA are deep groundwater aquifers, very limited runoff and effluent treated water. More than 88 percent of the water consumed is extracted from deep aquifers, 10 percent from desalination plants, and the remaining from limited and seasonal storage of sporadic runoff. Renewable water is extremely rare, the high demand for water in the agricultural sector is exacerbating the problem of water scarcity in KSA, and the government also bears a high cost for the water production and drainage services. However, levels of services are still sub-optimal, and the sector is further impeded by inadequate institutional setting and governance mechanisms.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) presented a strategic blueprint (Vision 2030) for the country and has embarked on an ambitious reform program to achieve this Vision by 2030. The vision for the water sector is “to be one of the best ten countries in the world in managing water resources sustainably.” To achieve this vision the government articulated a National Water Strategy (NWS) 2030 to reform the sector. The NWS comprises 10 strategic programs to address the main challenges facing the water sector in the country. The NWS outlines several key reforms in the sector. The objectives for the reform include: (a) optimizing water resources management for long-term sustainability; (b) improving water and wastewater services for customers; (c) reducing fiscal burden for the government because of past and current generous subsidies; (d) generating cash through asset monetization; (e) meeting the water sector targets of the 2020 and 2030 national plans; and (f) achieving greater efficiency.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), is leading the reform in the water sector as described in the NWS. MEWA requested the World Bank (WB) to focus the proposed first Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS1) - Technical Assistance Program for FY19 on main critical tasks for building the momentum for reform. RAS1 was designed as a programmatic RAS to be implemented in FY19 and 20. However, close to the completion of the first year of RAS 1, in May 2019, MEWA requested the WB to expand support for the above activities with special emphasis on selected initiatives of the 10 programs under the NWS through a new three-year (FY20-22) programmatic RAS (RAS2).
One of the emerging areas of support is for the operationalization of the recently established Center for Water Management and Control in MEWA. This involves work relating to a Business Model for this Center (outlined in this document) and a draft Terms of Reference for an AI-Based Decision Support System.
An interactive e-book is more than a pdf or static electronic document. This e-book includes text and a wide range of interactive elements (e.g. hyperlinks, photo galleries, video galleries, interactive graphs, interactive maps, interactive data/knowledge filters, etc.) drawing upon multiple online resources. This e-book has been developed to illustrate how the Center for Water Management and Control can use a range of available data services to develop new e-packaging for knowledge products such as this quick illustrative overview of Saudi Arabia Water Resources.
The e-book contains text and interactive graphics that enhances the user's knowledge and learning experience. The e-book works on any device having an internet connection (tablet, phone, laptop, touchscreens) and has a fully operating responsive design. The platform and programming provide user interface with a layout design that is adjusted automatically to the device hardware. The e-book is accessible on all browsers, although Chrome is recommended for best results.
A key feature of the e-book is it draws all the information from online services hosted by external services in the public domain. That makes the e-book a very “practical” tool that does not require a powerful machine or high-speed internet connections and allows for “real-time” data (e.g. those from earth observation or shared in-situ sensors) to be accessed.
Another important feature is some of the content can be translated into several languages using online translation tools – for example the data annex can be accessed (e.g. scrolling to the bottom of the and selecting language in the dropdown interface) in both English and Arabic (and other languages) using the online Google translation API (Application Program Interface).
This innovative and interactive knowledge e-Book allows easy central updating of the contents on an iterative basis as the linked data services are updated and contents are revised and modified based on continued stakeholder inputs and updates.