ENOUGH WATER FOR HAJ PILGRIMS

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