The Saudi government is set to spend around SR2 billion ($533 million) on projects aimed at enhancing water security in the Makkah region, said a report.

The project being implemented by National Water Company (NWC) covers Makkah, Jeddah and Taif and on completion it will boost the water capacity by 5.4 million cu m, reported the Arab News, citing a senior minister.

The project would be carried out in three phases, with Jeddah getting an additional capacity of 4 million cu m at a cost of SR1.5 billion ($399 million), stated Abdullah Al Hussayen, water and electricity minister and chairman of the NWC board.

“The goal is to increase the operational efficiency of the water sector and keep up with the demand from other neighbourhoods. The cost of this phase will be more than SR219 million ($58.3 million),” he was quoted as saying in the report.

He said the company would also upgrade nine sewage treatment plants serving the three cities from 540,000 to 1.5 million cu m a day, and to boost its quality with triple treatment.