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Ensuring water security through robust regulation

Ensuring water security through robust regulation

Ensuring water security through robust regulation
With water scarcity looming as a global crisis,º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is making water security a national priority. (SPA/File)
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º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is rapidly advancing its water infrastructure in alignment with Vision 2030, taking bold steps to ensure the long-term sustainability, resilience, and efficiency of its water distribution networks.

With water scarcity looming as a global crisis, the Kingdom is making water security a national priority — modernizing networks, investing in smart infrastructure, and tightening regulatory frameworks to set a new standard for sustainable water management.

In recent years, these regulations have become more stringent, reinforcing the need for standardized, high-quality solutions that reduce inefficiencies and enhance system resilience.

Yet, despite the progress, challenges persist. Aging infrastructure, high rates of non-revenue water, and inconsistent implementation of standards continue to undermine these efforts.

Bridging the gap between regulation and real-world execution requires more than meeting minimum requirements. Industry players must take a proactive stance — going beyond compliance to integrate best practices and durable components that protect the integrity of º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s water networks for decades to come.

Unified standards ensure that water network components — such as valves, hydrants, and pipeline fittings — are designed to withstand the Kingdom’s demanding conditions, from high temperatures to corrosive soil environments.

Adherence to internationally recognized standards, like International Organization for Standardization and American Water Works Association, guarantees that these components are built for performance, even under pressure.

Material compliance is especially critical. Poor material choices can lead to corrosion, leaks, and premature failure — issues that significantly increase long-term maintenance costs.

According to the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Global Risks Report, failure of critical infrastructure — including water systems — is one of the top risks facing governments in the coming decade due to inadequate investment and poor resilience strategies.

By strengthening material specifications and standardizing design requirements across the Kingdom, º£½ÇÖ±²¥ can reinforce the backbone of its water infrastructure and reduce lifecycle costs over time.

Globally, utilities lose an average of 25-30 percent of their water as non-revenue water — lost through leakage, theft, or metering inaccuracies. In some developing regions, that figure can exceed 40 percent.

Non-compliant or substandard components are a major contributor to non-revenue water. When pipes, valves, and fittings are not installed or maintained properly — or are made from inferior materials — leakages occur more frequently, reducing pressure and disrupting supply.

Enforcing compliance with best practices, particularly pressure management and valve quality can significantly reduce these losses.

According to a 2022 study by the International Water Association, utilities that adopted pressure regulation and high-quality components saw non-revenue water reductions of up to 15 percent within the first year of implementation.

Additionally, digital monitoring systems paired with compliant infrastructure can detect leaks in real time, allowing operators to respond proactively rather than reactively conserving water, energy, and money.

Regulation isn’t a burden — it’s a catalyst. It presents an opportunity to raise the bar for what’s possible in water sustainability.

Mads Helge

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is undertaking large-scale water infrastructure projects as part of its Vision 2030 agenda, including smart water grids, desalination plant expansions, and wastewater reuse networks.

The Saline Water Conversion Corporation, for instance, has become the largest producer of desalinated water globally, with plans to increase daily capacity to 8.5 million cubic meters by 2030.

As these investments scale, ensuring all components align with international and local standards will be crucial.

Certified, regulation-compliant components not only reduce the risk of future disruptions but also deliver long-term operational savings.

For example, ductile iron valves designed to ISO 2531 standards — such as those manufactured by AVK — can have a lifespan of over 50 years when correctly installed and maintained.

However, quality doesn’t end at certification. It’s critical to consider the total cost of ownership, including durability, maintenance needs, and warranty coverage. Short-term savings often result in higher long-term costs if components degrade quickly or require frequent replacement.

Not all suppliers offer extended warranties, and municipalities should prioritise those that provide long-term guarantees such as 10-year warranties as a marker of component reliability and supplier accountability.

These standards help future-proof infrastructure, ensuring it can adapt to changing demand, pressure conditions, and sustainability requirements over the coming decades.

Even the highest-quality components can underperform if installed incorrectly. Across the region, unskilled contracting, inconsistent commissioning, and lack of oversight continue to impact water network reliability.

A 2023 McKinsey report on global water infrastructure identified poor installation and weak inspection protocols as key causes of early-stage failures and maintenance backlogs.

To address this, regulatory bodies in the Kingdom should enforce mandatory training and certification programs for contractors. In countries like Denmark and the Netherlands, technician accreditation is mandatory for working on municipal water systems — ensuring consistent installation quality and safety standards.

Third-party audits should also be a regulatory requirement. Independent inspections ensure accountability, catch flaws early, and verify that installation matches design intent. With improved oversight and qualified personnel on the ground, º£½ÇÖ±²¥ can maximize its return on infrastructure investments and extend the lifespan of critical assets.

Water security is not just about increasing supply — it’s about protecting what’s already in circulation. º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s regulatory frameworks have laid the foundation for resilient, future-ready infrastructure. But their true impact depends on execution.

By prioritizing best practices, embracing international standards, and enforcing robust compliance across every link in the value chain — from manufacturing to installation — the Kingdom can drastically reduce inefficiencies, cut down on water loss, and build networks that serve its growing population for decades to come.

Regulation isn’t a burden — it’s a catalyst. It presents an opportunity to raise the bar for what’s possible in water sustainability. At its core, this is not just about cost-efficiency or ticking boxes. It’s about protecting the very foundation of life — for the Kingdom today and for generations to come.

• Mads Helge is general manager at AVK Saudi Valves Manufacturing Co. Ltd.


 

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view

Some airlines checking Boeing fuel switches after Air India crash

Some airlines checking Boeing fuel switches after Air India crash
Updated 5 min 1 sec ago

Some airlines checking Boeing fuel switches after Air India crash

Some airlines checking Boeing fuel switches after Air India crash
  • Precautionary moves by India, South Korea and some airlines in other countries
  • Some airlines around the world said they had been checking relevant switches since 2018
NEW DELHI: India on Monday ordered its airlines to examine fuel switches on several Boeing models, while South Korea said it would order a similar measure, as scrutiny intensified of fuel switch locks at the center of an investigation into a deadly Air India crash.
The precautionary moves by India, South Korea and some airlines in other countries came despite the planemaker and the US Federal Aviation Administration telling airlines and regulators in recent days that the fuel switch locks on Boeing jets are safe.
The locks have come under scrutiny following last month’s crash of an Air India jet, which killed 260 people.
A preliminary report found that the switches had almost simultaneously flipped from run position to cutoff shortly after takeoff. One pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel. “The other pilot responded that he did not do so,†the report said.
The report noted a 2018 advisory from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which recommended, but did not mandate, operators of several Boeing models including the 787 to inspect the locking feature of fuel cutoff switches to ensure they could not be moved accidentally.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation said it had issued an order to investigate locks on several Boeing models including 787s and 737s, after several Indian and international airlines began making their own inspections of fuel switches.
The regulator oversees the world’s third-largest and fastest-growing aviation market. Boeing planes are used by three of the country’s four largest airlines.
Precautionary checks
Some airlines around the world said they had been checking relevant switches since 2018 in accordance with the FAA advisory, including Australia’s Qantas Airways and Japan’s ANA.
Others said they had been making additional or new checks since the release of the preliminary report into the Air India crash.
Singapore Airlines said on Tuesday that precautionary checks on the fuel switches of its 787 fleet, including planes used by its low-cost subsidiary Scoot, confirmed all were functioning properly.
A spokesperson for the South Korean transport ministry said checks there would be in line with the 2018 advisory from the FAA, but did not give a timeline for them.
Flag carrier Korean Air Lines said on Tuesday it had proactively begun inspecting fuel control switches and would implement any additional requirements the transport ministry may have.
Japan Airlines said it was conducting inspections in accordance with the 2018 advisory.
Boeing referred Reuters’ questions to the FAA, which did not respond to a request for comment.
Over the weekend, Air India Group started checking the locking mechanism on the fuel switches of its 787 and 737 fleets and has discovered no problems yet, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday.
About half the group’s 787s have been inspected and nearly all its 737s, the source added, speaking on condition of anonymity. Inspections were set to be completed in the next day or two.
The Air India crash preliminary report said the airline had not carried out the FAA’s suggested inspections as the FAA’s 2018 advisory was not a mandate.
But it also said maintenance records showed that the throttle control module, which includes the fuel switches, was replaced in 2019 and 2023 on the plane involved in the crash.
In an internal memo on Monday, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said the preliminary report found no mechanical or maintenance faults and that all required maintenance had been carried out.

Indonesia rescues 11 who swam for hours to survive boat capsize

Indonesia rescues 11 who swam for hours to survive boat capsize
Updated 13 min 52 sec ago

Indonesia rescues 11 who swam for hours to survive boat capsize

Indonesia rescues 11 who swam for hours to survive boat capsize
  • Two boats and dozens of rescuers hunted for those missing after the boat with 18 aboard overturned off the Mentawai Islands in the province of West Sumatra

JAKARTA: Indonesian rescuers found alive on Tuesday 11 people missing at sea who had survived a boat capsize in bad weather by swimming for at least six hours to the nearest island, officials said.

Two boats and dozens of rescuers hunted for those missing after the boat with 18 aboard overturned off the Mentawai Islands in the province of West Sumatra at about 11 a.m. on Monday, regional officials said.

“It was raining hard when the incident happened,†island official Rinto Wardana said. “Some of the passengers managed to swim and reach the nearest island.â€

Seven had been rescued earlier, Wardana added. Ten of those on board were local government officials on a business trip to the town of Tuapejat, the boat’s destination when it left Sikakap, another small town in the Mentawai Islands.

The Mentawai Islands consist of four main islands and many smaller ones.

Boats and ferries are a regular mode of transport in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, where accidents are caused by bad weather and lax safety standards that often allow vessels to be overloaded.

When a ferry sank this month near the tourist resort island of Bali with 65 aboard, 30 passengers survived, while 18 died and 17 went missing.


Bangladesh struggles to contain the fallout of an uprising that toppled its leader last year

Bangladesh struggles to contain the fallout of an uprising that toppled its leader last year
Updated 55 min 20 sec ago

Bangladesh struggles to contain the fallout of an uprising that toppled its leader last year

Bangladesh struggles to contain the fallout of an uprising that toppled its leader last year
  • One year after Hasina’s ouster, interim government faces growing unrest, delayed reforms, political fragmentation
  • Rights concerns remain a major issue, conservative religious factions gain ground and Yunus resists calls for early elections

DHAKA: Bangladesh was on the cusp of charting a new beginning last year after its former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was removed from power in a student-led uprising, ending her 15-year rule and forcing her to flee to India.

As the head of a new interim government, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus promised to hold a credible election to return to democracy, initiate electoral and constitutional reforms and restore peace on the streets after hundreds were killed in weeks of violence that began on July 15, 2024.

A year later, the Yunus-led administration has struggled to contain the fallout of the uprising. Bangladesh finds itself mired in a growing political uncertainty, religious polarization and a challenging law-and-order situation.

Here’s what to know about Bangladesh a year after the protests that toppled Hasina.

Chaotic political landscape

Uncertainty about the future of democracy looms large in Bangladesh.

The student protesters who toppled Hasina formed a new political party, promising to break the overwhelming influence of two major dynastic political parties — the Bangladesh Nationalists Party, or BNP, and Hasina’s Awami League.

But the party’s opponents have accused it of being close to the Yunus-led administration and creating chaos for political mileage by using state institutions.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s political landscape has further fragmented after the country’s largest Islamist party, the Jamaat-e-Islami, returned to politics more than a decade after it was suppressed by Hasina’s government.

Aligned with the student-led party, it’s trying to fill the vacuum left by the Awami League, which was banned in May. Its leader, Hasina, is facing trial for crimes against humanity. The strength of Jamaat-e-Islami, which opposed Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971, is unknown.

Both BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami party are now at loggerheads over establishing supremacy within the administration and judiciary, and even university campuses.

They are also differing over the timing of a new parliamentary election. Yunus has announced that the polls would be held in April next year, but poor law and order situation and a lack of clear-cut political consensus over it have created confusion. The chief of Bangladesh’s military also wanted an election in December this year — a stance Yunus didn’t like.

“Post-revolution honeymoons often don’t last long, and Bangladesh is no exception,†says Michael Kugelman, a Washington-based South Asia analyst and senior fellow of Asia Pacific Foundation. “The interim government faced massive expectations to restore democracy and prosperity. But this is especially difficult to do as an unelected government without a public mandate.â€

Yunus wants reforms before election

Yunus has delayed an election because he wants reforms — from changes to the constitution and elections to the judiciary and police. Discussions with political parties, except Hasina’s Awami League, are ongoing.

Some of the reforms include putting a limit on how many times a person can become the prime minister, introduction of a two-tier parliament, and appointment of a chief justice.

There appears to be little consensus over some basic reforms. While both the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami parties have agreed to some of them with conditions, other proposals for basic constitutional reforms have become a sticking point.

The Jamaat-e-Islami also wants to give the interim government more time to complete reforms before heading into polls, while BNP has been calling for an early election. The student-led party mostly follows the pattern of the Jamaat-e-Islami party.

Kugelman says the issue of reforms was meant to unite the country, but has instead become a flashpoint.

“There’s a divide between those that want to see through reforms and give them more time, and those that feel it’s time to wrap things up and focus on elections,†he says.

Human rights and the rise of Islamists

Human rights in Bangladesh have remained a serious concern under Yunus.

Minority groups, especially Hindus, have blamed his administration for failing to protect them adequately. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council says minority Hindus and others have been targeted in hundreds of attacks over the last year. Hasina’s party has also blamed the interim government for arresting tens of thousands of its supporters.

The Yunus-led administration denies these allegations.

Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, says while the interim government has stopped enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions that had occurred under the Hasina government, “there has been little progress on lasting security sector reforms or to deliver on the pledge to create robust, independent institutions.â€

Meanwhile, Islamist factions — some of whom have proposed changes to women’s rights and demanded introduction of Sharia law — are vying for power. Many of them are planning to build alliances with bigger parties like the BNP or the Jamaat-e-Islami.

Such factions have historically struggled to gain significant electoral support despite Bangladesh being a Muslim majority, and their rise is expected to further fragment the country’s political landscape.

Diplomatic pivot and balancing with global powers

During Hasina’s 15-year rule, Bangladesh was India’s closest partner in South Asia. After her ouster, the Yunus-led administration has moved closer to China, which is India’s main rival in the region.

Yunus’ first state visit was to China in March, a trip that saw him secure investments, loans and grants. On the other hand, India is angered by the ousting of its old ally Hasina and hasn’t responded to Dhaka’s requests to extradite her. India stopped issuing visas to Bangladeshis following Hasina’s fall.

Globally, Yunus seems to have strong backing from the West and the United Nations, and it appears Bangladesh will continue its foreign policy, which has long tried to find a balance between multiple foreign powers.

But Kugelman says the country’s biggest challenge may be the “Trump factor.â€

In January, the Trump administration suspended USAID funds to Bangladesh, which had sought significant levels of US support during a critical rebuild period post Hasina’s ouster.

“Dhaka must now reframe its relations with an unconventional US administration that will largely view Bangladesh through a commercial lens,†Kugelman says.


Russia says it destroys 55 Ukrainian drones overnight, several people injured

Russia says it destroys 55 Ukrainian drones overnight, several people injured
Updated 46 min 54 sec ago

Russia says it destroys 55 Ukrainian drones overnight, several people injured

Russia says it destroys 55 Ukrainian drones overnight, several people injured
  • Several apartments in multi-story buildings in the city of Voronezh that is the administrative center of the broader Voronezh region were damaged
  • Additionally, several commercial facilities throughout the region were damaged by falling drone debris

Several people were injured and houses and non-residential buildings were damaged as a result of Ukraine’s overnight drone attack on the neighboring Russia’s southwestern regions of Lipetsk and Voronezh, regional governors said on Tuesday.

Russia’s air defense units destroyed 12 drones over the Voronezh region that borders Ukraine, Governor Alexander Gusev said on the Telegram messaging app.

“Unfortunately, there were injuries,†Gusev said. “In central Voronezh, several people sustained minor injuries due to debris from a downed UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles).â€

Several apartments in multi-story buildings in the city of Voronezh that is the administrative center of the broader Voronezh region were damaged, as well as houses in the suburbs, Gusev said.

Additionally, several commercial facilities throughout the region were damaged by falling drone debris, he said, without providing further details.

In the city of Yelets in the Lipetsk region a drone crashed in an industrial zone, regional governor Igor Artamonov said on Telegram.

“One person was injured and is receiving all necessary medical assistance,†Artamonov said.

The Russian defense ministry said on Telegram that its units destroyed 55 Ukrainian drones overnight over five Russian regions and the Black Sea, including three over the Lipetsk region.

The full extent of damage from the attacks was not immediately known. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine about the attack.

Both sides deny targeting civilians in their strikes during the war that Russia launched against Ukraine more than three years ago. But thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian.

Ukraine has launched multiple air strikes on Lipetsk, a strategically important region with an air base that is the chief training center for the Russian Aerospace Forces.


Torrential rains, flash floods, landslide warnings issued for Punjab as monsoons continue

Torrential rains, flash floods, landslide warnings issued for Punjab as monsoons continue
Updated 15 July 2025

Torrential rains, flash floods, landslide warnings issued for Punjab as monsoons continue

Torrential rains, flash floods, landslide warnings issued for Punjab as monsoons continue
  • Over 110 dead across Pakistan in rain-related accidents since late June
  • Fesh monsoon spell to hit northern and central regions through July 17

ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Tuesday issued an urgent weather alert warning of torrential rains with strong winds and thunderstorms expected to lash cities across the province through July 17, posing serious risks of flash floods, urban flooding and landslides.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA)’s fresh warning comes as the country’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Monday the nationwide monsoon death toll had hit 111 since June 26, including 40 fatalities in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province. Another 212 people have been injured in rain-related incidents across the country.

The annual monsoon season, which brings 70 to 80 percent of South Asia’s rainfall, is vital for agriculture and the livelihoods of millions of farmers but increasingly brings devastation due to erratic and extreme weather. Pakistan remains among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, with memories still raw from the 2022 floods that killed over 1,700 people and submerged a third of the country, causing over $33 million in economic losses. 

“PDMA’s provincial control room and district emergency operation centers have been put on alert,†a PDMA spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday. “There are chances of heavy rain in upper river catchments, including Lahore and the northern regions, which could lead to flash floods.â€

The PDMA said the fresh wet spell, driven by a low-pressure area over India’s Madhya Pradesh state, is expected to affect upper and central parts of Pakistan in the coming days. Strong monsoon currents and a westerly wave could intensify rainfall, especially in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Dera Ghazi Khan and northeastern Punjab.

According to the latest alert, low-lying urban areas face risks of flooding in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad and other cities. The hilly regions of Murree and Galiyat could see landslides, while strong winds and lightning may damage vulnerable structures such as rooftops of mud houses, electric poles, billboards and vehicles.

The Director General of PDMA Punjab, Irfan Ali Kathia, has instructed district administrations to keep staff and machinery on high alert, ensure drainage channels stay clear and monitor low-lying areas to prevent urban flooding.

“WASA and municipal bodies must ensure that rainwater does not accumulate,†Kathia said. “Field officers should remain present and supervise operations.â€

Residents, tourists and travelers have been urged to avoid unnecessary exposure during the stormy spell and to seek safe shelter where possible. In case of emergency, citizens can call the PDMA helpline at 1129.