Alternative solutions and mitigation measures of a sewerage system, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

In the seventies, Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia expanded rapidly, with the public sewerage system existing only in the old city while the suburbs and newly developed areas depended only on cesspools to dispose its municipal wastewater. The use of this improper effluent control system caused the groundwater table to rise sharply and reach the ground surface creating ponds of wastewater which became breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects and unpleasant scenes. The impacts on walls (fences) of the buildings, deterioration of foundations and pavements were very clear in some areas where property and land values had declined. A variety of socio‐economic and environmental problems were recognized in affected areas.

This paper investigates a wide spectrum of sewerage systems and sewage management disposal systems as alternatives to the cesspool system existing now in the unsewered areas of Jeddah city — Saudi Arabia. These alternatives are evaluated in the light of local soil conditions, availability of local materials, manpower and facilities, construction and operation and maintenance costs, and preference of local authorities.

Meetings with local authorities, verbal communications with local residents, and a study of existing and future wastewater management plans are led to considering the wide variety of structural and non‐structural alternative solutions (options) to solve the problem.

Keywords:

• Cesspool
• Water table
• Flooding
• Septic tank
• Hydrochemical
• Tube well