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Strategic Reservoir Studies: Planning Saudi Arabia’s Water Security for 2075
Saudi Arabia is currently facing a significant strategic storage gap of over 50 million cubic meters. Therefore, a long-term plan is necessary to ensure a stable future water supply. The Water Transmission Company (WTCO) commissioned K&A to undertake Phase 1 of the Saudi Arabia Strategic Reservoir Studies. It involved evaluating 300 potential reservoir sites across the Kingdom. These studies enhance future water security and align with both the National Water Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.
Moreover, this project leverages K&A’s expertise in sustainability consulting, water management, infrastructure engineering, urban planning, geodatabase development, and stakeholder engagement.
Building Water Security for Saudi Vision 2030
The master plan study sets a long-term horizon to 2075, creating the strategic and technical foundation for future storage projects. Two priority batches are scheduled for implementation by 2030 and are expected to provide 11 million m³ of new water storage.
K&A’s scope also includes developing capacity and prioritization criteria, assessing existing projects, and updating a comprehensive GIS database that will serve as the planning backbone for decades to come.
Data-Driven Reservoir Planning Across the Kingdom
The project faced multiple complex challenges in addressing some of Saudi Arabia’s most urgent water issues. Achieving consensus among diverse stakeholders on a $2.6 billion prioritization methodology required structured decision analysis. Therefore, managing data from 566 storage sites serving about 800 city gates required a comprehensive GIS database.
The planning environment was highly dynamic, with continuous updates to existing, under-construction, and under-design facilities, each presenting unique storage gaps and varying demand profiles. To develop actionable plans, it was essential to harmonize differing perspectives on policies and priorities. Moreover, special attention is given to seasonal surges during Hajj and Umrah, ensuring adequate supply for millions of pilgrims.
Sustainable, Data-Driven Solutions for Water Infrastructure
K&A established clear criteria for the capacity and prioritization of a strategic storage project, ensuring that each reservoir contributes to Saudi Arabia’s long-term water security. As a result, the team thoroughly reviewed and updated existing projects, those currently under construction, and planned initiatives to align with the current needs of the water network. We also analyzed storage gaps and optimized the locations of reservoirs, subsequently integrating priority implementation phases into the GIS database to facilitate effective and practical planning.
GIS Modeling for Long-Term Water Infrastructure
The team also studied optimal locations for reservoirs, associated supply line routes, and their operational use following technical and planning standards. They prepared priority project packages ready for inclusion in investment plans and implementation programs. We reviewed environmental and safety aspects for ongoing construction at the Al Moghamas, which includes 72 reservoirs with a capacity of 170,000 m³ each.
Integrating Sustainability and the Energy-Water Nexus
Sustainability guided every stage of the work. K&A incorporated sustainability measures across all stages, maintaining a reliable water supply while minimizing environmental impact and optimizing energy consumption. We built integrated models to balance the energy-water system, maximize system reliability, and reduce operational energy requirements.
Saudi Arabia Strategic Reservoir Studies: A Framework for Water Resilience
The Strategic Reservoir Studies project creates a framework for future water storage initiatives in Saudi Arabia. It aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Water Strategy. The project aims to ensure a sustainable water supply for millions of consumers. It also focuses on preserving environmental health and maintaining system reliability.
By providing a data-driven foundation, the study prioritizes projects to address the Kingdom’s storage needs. It develops integrated models to optimize the energy-water relationship. This enhances overall system reliability. Ultimately, the project supports long-term water security and advances sustainability goals for the next fifty years.
