Addressing WaterScarcity SaudArabia

addressing water scarcity in Saudi Arabia:
policy options for continued success

by Colin Enssle and Jon Freedman
Find a contact near you by visiting www.suezwatertechnologies.com and clicking on “Contact Us.”
*Trademark of SUEZ; may be registered in one or more countries.
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Addressing_WaterScarcity_SaudArabia.docx Jun-15
addressing water scarcity in Saudi Arabia: policy options for continued success
table of contents
introduction 3
water reuse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 4
water reuse policy and regulations in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia 7
a range of technology options 10
water reuse policy case studies
case study #1: water reuse in the Canadian oil sands 13
case study #2: successful MBR implementation promotes reuse in an oil refinery 13
conclusion 15
notes 16
Addressing_WaterScarcity_SaudArabia.docx Page 1
ZeeWeed Ultrafiltration membrane technology will help improve wastewater treatment at the Qinghe Waste
Water Plant in Beijing.
Page 2 Addressing_WaterScarcity_SaudArabia.docx

introduction
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is among the most water-scarce countries in the world. One strategy Saudi Arabia is
1
using to solve this challenge is increased water reuse; and in fact the country currently ranks among the top ten
countries globally in terms of water reuse. Looking forward, the country has aggressive long-term goals of
2
increasing water reuse to more than 65 percent by 2020 and more than 90 percent by 2040, all by transforming
more of its existing and planned wastewater treatment assets into source water suppliers across all sectors. 3,4,5,6
While governments in water-scarce regions like Saudi Arabia continue to look for ways to expand water recycling
and reuse, they may have difficulty finding information on available policy options. This white paper attempts to
highlight a broad menu of existing water reuse policies. We first review the current status of water reuse and
related policies in Saudi Arabia. Next is a short discussion of the following four major water reuse policy options
available to governments:
• Education and outreach
• Removing barriers
• Incentives
• Mandates and regulation
We then briefly touch on water reuse technologies. Finally, we highlight two recent examples in which governments
have developed regulations resulting in increased water reuse in the oil and gas sector, which we believe will be of
interest to Saudi Arabia.
water reuse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

In its commitment to solving its water challenges (and expanding water reuse), Saudi Arabia recently launched a
National Water Strategy. Furthermore than $66 billion (B) in long-term capital investments have been committed
7
to water and sanitation projects over the next 10 years. The more than $10B dedicated specifically to wastewater
8
capital and operational projects between 2012 and 2015 will balloon to over $35B by 2020. Additionally, a pilot solar
9
desalination plant became operational at the close of 2013, with a second plant already planned that will be 10
times its size, producing 80 million gallons per day (MGD). And Jeddah, the second largest city in Saudi Arabia,
10
rocketed from 22 percent municipal sewerage coverage in 2009 to 72 percent today. 11
Specific to water reuse, Saudi Arabia is aggressively targeting 100 percent reclamation (reuse) of wastewater from
cities with 5,000 inhabitants or greater by 2025. Overall water reuse from treated wastewater is currently
12
estimated at an impressive 30–40 percent and continues to grow, with at least five major projects planned for the
near future. Furthermore, projections indicate that Saudi Arabia has the potential to produce more than seven
13
times its current water reuse volume of 241 million cubic meters per year (MM m³/yr). 14
This leadership by Saudi Arabia comes in the face of significant water supply and demand challenges which include
water scarcity; dwindling surface water and groundwater supplies; infrastructure build-out; and tariff and demand
management. Nevertheless, with over 250 water projects pending across the Kingdom in 2013, Saudi Arabia
15,16,17,18,19,20 21
is acting on its water challenges and has bold goals, especially regarding water reuse, as highlighted in Table 1
22
below.
Global Water Intelligence (GWI) expects the water reuse market in Saudi Arabia over the 2010–2016 period to be
worth approximately $3.3B (2012 US), making the Kingdom the third-largest water reuse market in the world. 25
Table 2 below illustrates that, among the largest sectors, the agriculture and landscaping sectors are projected to
be the largest contributors to reuse by 2035, while industrial sector water reuse is foreseen to grow at the fastest
pace. 26

table 1. Saudi Arabia’s national water strategy goals, 2013 23,24
Indicator Unit 2010 2015 2020 2030 2040

baseline target target target target
Yearly use of non-renewable water sources km

3
14.5 10 8 5 5
Implementation of regional water plans % n/a 50 100 100 100
Use of renewable water resources % n/a 60 70 80 90
Sectoral metering coverage % n/a 40 60 80 95
Reuse of treated municipal wastewater % 30 60 80 100 100
Reuse of industrial wastewater % 10 40 65 80 90
Targeted per capita consumption l/d 238 200 180 170 170
Municipal water supply losses % 30 20 12 5 5
Urban households connected to sewer network % 48 50 65 80 95
Muni water treated to tertiary standards or + % 35 50 60 70 100
km = cubic kilometers
3
l/d = liters per day
Source: Global Water Intelligence (GWI), Al-Saud (2013).
table 2. Saudi Arabia water reuse by sector, 2012–35 27,28
Sector (1,000 m³/d) 2012 2035 % of total (‘35) CAGR* ‘12–’35
Industry 233 767 13.1% 5.3%
Landscaping 650 1,533 26.3% 3.8%
Recreation 0 167 2.9% 38.1%

29
Agriculture 1,467 3,350 57.4% 3.7%
Aquifer recharge 17 17 0.3% 0.0%
TOTAL 2,367 5,834 100.0% 4.0%
1,000 m /d = thousands of cubic meters per day

3
*CAGR = compound annual growth rate
Source: Global Water Intelligence (GWI), SUEZ analysis.
Thorton ZeeWeed system

water reuse policy and regulations in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Primary responsibility for regulating wastewater – and thereby water reuse – is split among the Ministry of Water
& Electricity (MOWE), the Presidency of Meteorology & Environment (PME), and the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA). 30
The National Water Company (NWC), however, is responsible for implementing projects. Saudi Arabia’s first
regulation specific to water reuse was Royal Decree No. M/6 1421 H, set forth in May 2000. It established secondary
31
and tertiary treatment requirements, but did not list water quality standards. In 2001, Rules of Implementation
32,33
(No. 1422 H, 2001) outlined water quality standards for both wastewater effluent discharge and reuse, as well as
pre-treatment standards for industrial effluent. Ultimately, the MOWE in 2006 published a booklet in which
34,35 36
standards for safe reuse practices in agriculture were formalized, a milestone in Saudi Arabia’s reuse policies. 37
Additional landmarks in the Kingdom’s water reuse policy to date include the Royal Commission Environmental
Regulations (RCER 2010) and the draft Saudi Water Act (2010). Figure 1 shows major developments in the
38
Kingdom’s water and water reuse policy over the past 35 years.
figure 1. historical landmarks and future goals of Saudi Arabia’s water reuse policy 39
Source: King Abdullah University for Science & Technology (KAUST), Industry Collaboration Program (KICP).
In terms of industrial reuse, overarching regulations are not set forth by Saudi Arabia at the country level. However,
40
enforcement of and compliance with industrial wastewater discharge standards for wastewater treatment plants
under 1422 H are through the MOWE and MOA, which affects reuse. Yet in practice, two factors indicate a low
compliance rate with these standards:41 first, monitoring and sampling criteria in 1422 H are not described in
detail; and second, fines for industrial discharges are low.42 This, coupled with a lack of broad federal government
incentives for industries to reuse wastewater, creates a challenging environment for industrial water reuse
projects to take off outside specific regions.
Individual cities, however, such as the industrial cities of Jubail and Yanbu, have taken the initiative to create strict
local water reuse standards. Most recently, in 2010 the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY) updated
43
the Royal Commission Environmental Regulation (RCER), which strictly regulates the (re-)use and discharge of
industrial water and wastewater in its jurisdiction. In the future, Jubail and Yanbu, as well as Ras az Zawr and Ras
44
AlKhair, are expected to be joined by other industrial cities under the RCER.
In the private sector, companies like Saudi ARAMCO, the largest oil and natural gas company in Saudi Arabia, are
becoming leaders in establishing public water safety standards for water reuse practices within their facilities. 45
ARAMCO has established engineering standards in line with California’s strict Title 22 reuse standards, and 46
targets 90 percent reuse of its sanitary wastewater. 47
Currently, Saudi Arabia is executing its 9th Development Plan (2010– 2014), a long-term strategy for achieving
sustained development in the Kingdom. The Plan lists increasing treated wastewater reuse to 50 percent as one
48,49
of its main long-term goals. With the 8th Development Plan as its foundation (during which wastewater treatment
plants increased reclaimed water use by an annual average growth rate of over 9 percent from 2004 to 2008), 50
water reuse will increase greatly during the 9th Development Plan. Going forward, Saudi Arabia has ambitious
policy goals it wants to reach by 2015, including:
• Officially adopting its National Water Strategy
• Establishing a Supreme Council for Water Affairs
• Passing a new water law
• Establishing an independent regulator for water resources and water services
• Creating a water management department within the MOWE 51
As Saudi Arabia pursues these comprehensive policies, water reuse will remain a key element. A representative
menu of additional or expanded water reuse policy options are listed below in Figure 2 and discussed in detail in
SUEZ’s white paper, “Addressing Water Scarcity Through Recycling and Reuse: A Menu for Policymakers”.

figure 2. menu of water reuse policy options
education and outreach incentives

• Recognition awards and certification programs • Direct subsidies
• Information dissemination and educational • Reductions in payments to the government

outreach efforts • Payments for reintroduction of recovered water
• Reporting of water consumption, discharge, and • Pricing mechanisms
reuse data • Regulatory relief for recycled water users
• Government procurement of water recycling/
reuse equipment
• Structuring of water rights to reduce the use of
potable water
removing barriers mandates and regulation

• Modifying local regulations to require that all • Requiring utilities to develop plans for recycled
water meet potable standards water
• Revising plumbing codes to allow dual piping • Restricting potable water to human or food-
related uses
• Alleviating stringent permitting and inspection
requirements for recycled water
a range of technology options

Water reuse systems require treatment technologies. Together with the summary of policy options above, SUEZ
offers the following brief menu of water treatment technologies that can be deployed in water reuse projects. This
menu is not exclusive, and is meant to provide a starting point for Saudi Arabia to evaluate water reuse technologies
that best fit its needs. In addition, Figures 3 and 4 below on the following page illustrate how select technologies
may be deployed as a function of water recovery needs and water quality.
figure 3. Reuse technology spectrum: SUEZ water reuse technologies as a function of the percentage of
reuse/recycle and the level of project complexity
Source: SEUZ.

figure 4. A broad portfolio of SUEZ water reuse technologies
Source: SEUZ.
Membrane-based water reclamation—Sulaibiya, Kuwait City. The Sulaibiya facility is the world’s
largest membrane-based water reclamation facility.

water reuse policy case studies
In light of the current situation in Saudi Arabia, we believe the following two examples of reuse policies will prove
instructive.
case study #1: water reuse in the Canadian oil sands

The oil sands in Alberta, Canada are an immense resource, and in the coming decades will place Canada among
the top countries in terms of world oil reserves. Seven percent of Alberta’s surface and groundwater allocations
52
are used for oil sands mining and in-situ extraction —thus water reuse is critical. And in part as a result of
53,54
collaborative work between the government and industry, produced water recycling rates from January 2012 to
April 2013 averaged 92 percent for cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) and 90 percent for steam-assisted gravity
drainage (SAGD) operations. 55
The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) oversees water reuse in the oil and gas sector and issues directives that
56
companies and permit holders under AER jurisdiction must “obey.” Directives 74 and 81 provide specific guidance
57
in water management for oil sands operations: Directive 74 for surface mining and Directive 81 for in-situ recovery.
Directive 74, in effect since February 3, 2009, specifies performance criteria for the reduction of fluid tailings and
the formation of trafficable deposits associated with mineable oil sands. In essence, Directive 74 prevents existing
58
tailings ponds from growing in size; requires accelerated reclamation; and severely limits the building of new
ponds. The main impetus for this Directive came from increasing environmental awareness among the public.
59, 60 61
The specific technology to be employed is at the discretion of the companies.

Alberta in-situ oil sands water use and recycling has been regulated since 1989. Directive 81, in effect since
62
November 21, 2012, sets water disposal limits and includes detailed requirements for reporting injection facility
water streams to PETRINEX (Canada’s Petroleum Information Network.) This ensures that AER facility water
63
balance requirements are met. In addition to limiting disposal, the directive provides formulas that are used for
monitoring and comparing thermal operations. In essence, the Directive’s water disposal limits drive constant
improvement in water recycling technologies. For example, the Directive incentivizes new technologies by removing
water disposal limits for small thermal pilot or experimental systems. It also acknowledges that as technologies
and the industry evolve, the Directive will adjust its requirements. 64,65
Directive 81 illustrates a cooperative relationship between regulators, industry, technology providers, and other
stakeholders. For instance, as a technology provider, SUEZ spent almost four years working with industry to
develop a new SAGD evaporator that was more economical, environmentally sound, and aligned to regulations. Or 66
take Alberta Innovates, which, as a government-funded research center, collaborates with industry to find
innovative ways to meet water recycling goals and requirements. 67
case study #2: successful MBR implementation promotes reuse in an oil refinery
The Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) Sitra refinery, located near Bahrain’s capital, Manama, is among the
largest refineries in the Middle East, processing in excess of 250,000 barrels per day. Following its commitment to
environmental protection, BAPCO decided to upgrade its existing wastewater treatment plant to improve the quality
of its effluent and comply with stricter requirements using the best available technology. Membrane bioreactor
(MBR) was the technology chosen for this project that treats 24,000 cubic meters per day of the refinery wastewater.
Prior to deciding on the technology, BAPCO conducted bench scale testing that gave a positive indication that the
wastewater was biologically treatable. With this affirmation, pilot scale testing was conducted on site in order to
increase the level of confidence and provide further insight into the solution. It showed that MBR was the ideal
technology for BAP- CO’s highly saline wastewater that exhibited poor biomass flocculation and low filterability.
The installed full size MBR consists of a four-stage biological treatment system followed by four membrane
ultrafiltration (UF) trains, each with ten ZeeWeed* ZW 500d cassettes supplied by SUEZ. During the performance
test, results showed that the UF system was able not only to consistently meet the required treatment capacities,
but also the required effluent parameters at all times. In fact, the effluent quality was significantly better than the
guaranteed values.
Following the successful completion of the performance test, the UF system was put in operation and continued to
consistently meet the treatment capacity on a daily basis as well as all effluent quality parameters including total
suspended solids and turbidity, thus setting the stage for water reuse and increased sustainability in the refinery.
The treatment goals at the Sitra refinery are driven by strict discharge regulations set by the Bahrain Supreme
Council for the Environment. The aim of the Council, established in late 2012, is to protect and develop the
sustainability of Bahrain’s environmental resources through practical implementation of Bahrain’s environmental
laws. It extends coverage to the water and wastewater sector through its Water Resources Council arm.
In the case of the BAPCO refinery, meeting the very stringent nitrogen and phosphorous wastewater discharge
limits was especially challenging, along with addressing organic carbon and the biological treatment complications
resulting from elevated temperatures. The latter was addressed by means of introducing a double stage cooling
system to bring down the wastewater temperature from 48°C to 35°C. There was also the issue of spent caustic
that was successfully addressed to promote reuse as a source of nutrients for the biomass. In recognition of the
treatment put in place by the BAPCO refinery and its commitment to water sustainability in industry, the project
was awarded a Distinction Award at the GWI Global Water Awards event in Paris, France in 2014.
a set of Zeeweed 500d modules being installed at the Bahrain Petroleum Company Sitra Refinery

conclusion
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia clearly has a promising future in water reuse. This paper has reviewed current reuse
policies and practices in the Kingdom, and highlighted two recent examples of other governments that have
successfully promoted reuse via policy. SUEZ would welcome the opportunity to share further insights on global
water reuse policies.
notes
1. Sakhel, S. R. et al. “Virtual industrial water usage and wastewater generation in the Middle East/North African
region.” Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., 10, 999–1039, 2013. Link here, last accessed December 2013.
2. A country’s rank in terms of water reuse depends on the metric being used, e.g., reuse of treated wastewater,
reuse of treated wastewater per capita, etc. This paper uses 2008 and 2011 data from the following sources:
Jiménez, B. and Asano, T., eds. Water Reuse: An International Survey of Current Practice, Issues and Needs.
IWA Publishing, 2008. Abdel-Dayem, S. et al. (2008). Water reuse in the Arab World: from Principle to Practice:
Voices from the Field. Summary of Proceedings- Expert Consultation: Wastewater Management in the Arab
World, Dubai, UAE. May 2011. Link here, last accessed December 2013.
3. Chowdhury, S. and l-Zahrani, M. “Characterizing water resources and trends of sector wise water
consumptions in Saudi Arabia.” Journal of King Saud University - Engineering Sciences. In Press, Corrected
Proof, Available online 15 November 2013.
4. “Saudi Arabia Water Report Q4 2013.” Business Monitor International. August 2013.
5. Scotney, T. Global Water Market 2014 (Saudi Arabia). Global Water Intelligence (GWI), Media Analytics Ltd.,
April 2013. Also see: KAUST, 2010-11, cited below.
6. Al-Saud, M. B. I. “National Water Strategy: The Roadmap for Sustainability, Efficiency, and Security of Water
Future [sic] in the K. S. A.” Water Arabia 2013, February 4-6, 2013. Link here, last accessed December 2013.
7. See endnote 5.
8. Saudi Arabia Water Report Q4 2013. Abstract. Business Monitor International, MarketResearch.com.
September 18, 2013. Link here, last accessed December 2013.
9. Ballantyne, B. “Wastewater to enjoy continued investment.” Middle East Economic Digest (MEED). Vol. 56, Issue
47, November 23, 2012. Link here, last accessed December 2013.
10. “Construction begins on solar desal pilot.” Water Desalination Report. GWI. Vol. 49, Issue 41, Oct. 24, 2013. Link
here, last accessed December 2013.
11. See endnote 9.
12. King Abdullah University for Science & Technology (KAUST), Industry Collaboration Program (KICP). Promoting
Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Technology Trends, Innovation Needs, and
Business Opportunities. 2010-2011. Link here, last accessed December 2013.
13. Estimated from: Abdel-Dayem, S. et al. (2011), see endnote 2. See also rough average from Global Water
Intelligence’s (GWI’s) Global Water Market 2014 (Saudi Arabia), cited in endnote 5. Reference to five projects
from SUEZ commercial team active in Saudi Arabia.
14. See endnote 12.
15. See endnote 3.
16. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. AQUASTAT global water information system.
Link here, last accessed December 2013. Currently, surface water and groundwater withdrawal are 943
percent of its total renewable water resources.
17. Non-renewable groundwater aquifers supply over 80% of Saudi Arabia’s water supply, which, given current
abstraction rates, could go dry within 15-25 years. (See: Kajenthira, A. et al. “The Case for Cross-Sectoral Water
Reuse in Saudi Arabia: Bringing Energy into the Water Equation.” Dubai Initiative Policy Brief. Cambridge,
Mass.: Energy Technology Innovation Program, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard
Kennedy School, Harvard University, June 2011. Link here, last accessed December 2013.)

18. Dziuban, M. “Scarcity and strategy in the GCC.” Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), Middle East
Program, February 2011. Link here, last accessed December 2013.
19. Historical water tariffs in Saudi Arabia tend to be low, therefore economic incentives have limited impact. To
this point, Saudi Arabia’s water subsidies as a percentage of oil export revenue are the highest in the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) at seven percent. However, there are reports that the government is studying
options around increasing water tariffs for conservation purposes. See “Saudi Arabia Water Report Q4 2013”
(endnote 8) and: Gavin, J. “The Gulf’s Unquenchable Thirst.” Middle East Economic Digest (MEED). Vol. 56, Issue
2, January 13, 2012. The GCC includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab
Emirates.
20. Saudi Arabia consumes 91 percent more water per capita than the global average. See: Booz & Co. “Fresh
Water in the GCC: Addressing the Scarcity Problem.” Press Release, January 23, 2012. Link here, last accessed
December 2013.
21. Almashabi, D. “Saudi Arabia Approves $1.6 Billion for Water Projects.” Bloomberg News, May 21, 2013. Link
here, last accessed December 2013.
22. In fact, on December 31, 2013, the NWC and the Saudi Electricity Company signed an agreement for the SEC to
buy treated water (reuse water) for its power stations over 25 years, starting in 2018. See: “Saudi Electricity
Company: Saudi Arabia: NWC and Electricity Company signed on selling Treated Water.” 4-Traders.com, Al
Bawaba Ltd., Acquiremedia 2014, January 2, 2014. Link here, last accessed January 2014.
23. See endnote 5.
24. See endnote 6.
25. Global Water Intelligence (GWI). Global Water and Wastewater Quality Regulations 2012. Media Analytics Ltd.
2012.
26. Outside of the recreation sector. See explanation in endnote 29.
27. See endnote 5.
28. “% of total (’35)” and “CAGR ’12-‘35” are calculations by SUEZ authors.
29. SUEZ authors assume non-zero volume of 100 m /day (0.1 M m /day) for 2012 recreation reuse in order to
3 3
estimate CAGR value. Adjusting this value up or down impacts CAGR.

30. The MOWE regulates wastewater discharges to the environment and to the public sewage network, while the
PME regulates direct discharges to water bodies and sets pre- treatment standards for industrial discharges.
Additional key agencies which regulate and manage water reuse in Saudi Arabia include the Ministry of
Commerce & Industry (MCI) and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs (MOMRA), among others. This and
much of the following information is from footnote 19 (GWI, 2012).
31. Treated Wastewater and Reuse Bylaw No. 42, 2000 1421 H, 2000.
32. See endnote 12.
33. See endnote 25.
34. See endnote 12.
35. See endnote 25.
36. Using Treated Water for Irrigation: Controls, Conditions, Offences and Penalties. Saudi Arabia requirements
for restricted and unrestricted irrigation meet World Health Organization (WHO) and strict California Title 22
standards, respectively. California’s water recycling/reuse regulations can be found here (last accessed in
December 2013).
37. See endnote 12.

38. See endnote 25.
39. Modified graphic and information from KAUST (2010-11), se endnote 12.
40. For example, there are no specific Kingdom-wide requirements for reuse involving groundwater recharge or
recreational uses. However, the MOWE must issue a permit. In food industries, on the other hand, the use of
treated wastewater is not allowed. Source: endnote 25.
41. No compliance data was found by these authors.
42. SAR 5,000-10,000, or ~$1,300-$2,666 in 2012 US dollars (GWI, 2012).
43. Already in 1975, the two cities had established an environmental regulatory body, the Royal Commission for
Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY), which owns and operates all utilities that provide services to industry and the
community. Marafiq, a joint stock company between RCJY, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, ARAMCO, and
the Public Investment Fund, is the utility company for Jubail and Yanbu, and provides power and water for the
industrial base. Information from GWI (2012), cited in endnote 25 above.
44. Fines can be significant, with fixed penalty fines up to SAR 250,000 ($65,000 in 2010 USD). See Environmental
Regulations: RCER-2010 Volume III, link here, last accessed December 2013.
45. See endnote 12.
46. See endnote 36 regarding California Title 22 standards.
47. See endnote 30.
48. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 9th Development Plan 2010-2014, Chapter 25, Water and Sanitation. 2010. Link here,
last accessed December 2013.
49. The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. Water Resources. 2013. Link here, last accessed March 2013.
50. See endnote 48.
51. See endnote 6.
52. Lynch, D. “’Greening’ the oil sands? Challenging the myths and confronting the realities.” 88th Annual GETCA,
March 1, 2013. Link here, last accessed January 2014. Dr. Lynch notes that “8.5 million bbls/day could be
produced for greater than 50 years,” with the understanding that not all of these resources will necessarily be
exploited.
53. See endnote 52.
54. There are many in-situ techniques available, and many use large volumes of water and/ or steam, including
cyclic steam stimulation (CSS), steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), vapor extraction (VAPEX), and toe-to-
heel-air-injection (THAI). For a good primer on the oil sands and extraction technologies, see Reuter, Y. et al.
Canada’s Oil Sands: Shrinking Window of Opportunity. RiskMetrics Group and Ceres, May 2010. For report, go
here. (Registration required.)
55. AER Canada. Thermal In Situ Water Publication, developed in support of D081 (Thermal In Situ Recycling
Directive). Data reflects SUEZ analysis. Link here, last accessed January 2014.
56. Formerly known as the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB).
57. AER Canada. Link here, last accessed January 2014.
58. AER Canada. Tailings Performance Criteria and Requirements for Oil Sands Mining Schemes. February 3, 2009.
Link here, last accessed January 2014.
59. See endnote 52.

60. See endnote 54.
61. See endnote 54.
62. AER Canada. “Directive 081: Water Disposal Limits and Reporting Requirements for Thermal In Situ Oil Sands
Schemes: Frequently Asked Questions.” Link here, last accessed January 2014.
63. AER Canada. “Directive 081: Water Disposal Limits and Reporting Requirements for Thermal In Situ Oil Sands
Schemes.” Link here, last accessed January 2014.
64. See endnote 63.
65. Cleland, J. “Oil sands operators target smartest use, reuse of water resources.” E&P Magazine. August 3, 2012.
Link here, last accessed January 2014.
66. For the full SUEZ Report, see: “Gathering Steam: High-Tech Evaporators Help Oil Sands Operators Recycle
Liquid Waste.” November 3, 2013. Link here, last accessed January 2014.
67. See endnote 65.
author biographies
Colin Enssle is a Senior Manager at SUEZ, Jon Freedman is the global government affairs
responsible for global regulatory analysis and leader for SUEZ. In this role, he monitors and
product marketing. In this role, Colin analyzes how shapes domestic and international water policies
regulations affect water treatment product and helps SUEZ develop technology collaborations
markets and create new market opportunities. In with government entities.
addition, he runs global product management and
Prior to assuming his current role in February
marketing efforts. He joined SUEZ in 2009 to work
2005, Jon served as a director for SUEZ’s
on cross-business government sales for SUEZ
Corporate Marketing Initiatives Group. While in
Corporate, and moved to SUEZ in 2010.
this role he was the project leader responsible for
Colin has over 13 years of experience in the water developing SUEZ’s global environmental
and environmental fields. Prior to SUEZ, Colin held sustainability initiative. He also served as general
various roles in project management, consulting, manager, contractual services for SUEZ, with
and research for ARCADIS U.S., Glacier Water responsibility for developing and executing
Services, Inc., the Leibnitz Institute, and Solectron business plans to drive global expansion into a
GmbH. He also was a Fulbright Scholar at the range of water service segments.
Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany and a
Jon joined SUEZ in 2001 as business development
Fulbright Intern at Siemens AG in Munich,
leader for SUEZ Energy. During his tenure in that
Germany.
position, Jon led the acquisition of an NYSE-listed
Colin earned a BA from Gustavus Adolphus global water company and initiated the
College, two Master’s degrees in Environmental acquisitions of two other NYSE-listed companies.
and Earth & Planetary Sciences from Washington
Jon holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University
University in St. Louis, and an MBA from Columbia
of Virginia, a law degree from William & Mary, and
Business School.
an MBA in finance from The Wharton School of the
University of Pennsylvania.

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addressing water scarcity in Saudi Arabia:

policy options for continued success

water reuse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 4

water reuse policy and regulations in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia 7

a range of technology options 10

water reuse policy case studies

case study #1: water reuse in the Canadian oil sands 13

water reuse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

rocketed from 22 percent municipal sewerage coverage in 2009 to 72 percent today. 11

Indicator Unit 2010 2015 2020 2030 2040

Yearly use of non-renewable water sources km

Implementation of regional water plans % n/a 50 100 100 100

Use of renewable water resources % n/a 60 70 80 90

Sectoral metering coverage % n/a 40 60 80 95

Reuse of treated municipal wastewater % 30 60 80 100 100

Reuse of industrial wastewater % 10 40 65 80 90

Municipal water supply losses % 30 20 12 5 5

Urban households connected to sewer network % 48 50 65 80 95

Muni water treated to tertiary standards or + % 35 50 60 70 100

table 2. Saudi Arabia water reuse by sector, 2012–35 27,28

Sector (1,000 m³/d) 2012 2035 % of total (‘35) CAGR* ‘12–’35

Industry 233 767 13.1% 5.3%

Landscaping 650 1,533 26.3% 3.8%

Recreation 0 167 2.9% 38.1%

Agriculture 1,467 3,350 57.4% 3.7%

Aquifer recharge 17 17 0.3% 0.0%

TOTAL 2,367 5,834 100.0% 4.0%

1,000 m /d = thousands of cubic meters per day

Thorton ZeeWeed system

targets 90 percent reuse of its sanitary wastewater. 47

education and outreach incentives

• Information dissemination and educational • Reductions in payments to the government

removing barriers mandates and regulation

a range of technology options

case study #1: water reuse in the Canadian oil sands

The specific technology to be employed is at the discretion of the companies.

estimate CAGR value. Adjusting this value up or down impacts CAGR.

37. See endnote 12.

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