Riyadh Water System Brief: Governance, Infrastructure, and Resilience Challenges
Riyadh’s Water Future Under the Spotlight: New City Water System Brief from Our Future Water Intelligence Unpacks Governance, Infrastructure, and Strategic Risks
Our Future Water Intelligence has released the Riyadh Water System Brief: Comprehensive Profile of Riyadh’s Water Systems, Governance, and Infrastructure. Authored by Robert C. Brears, Founder of Our Future Water and a leading authority on global water security with publications from Oxford University Press, Palgrave, and Springer Nature, this City Water System Brief provides an authoritative, data-driven overview of Riyadh’s water sector at a critical juncture .
Key Findings
• Riyadh’s water supply is dominated by desalination, which now provides 62% of national output, while non-renewable groundwater is being preserved as a strategic reserve.
• Non-revenue water remains high, with leakage rates estimated between 25–40%, despite the rollout of over two million smart meters.
• Per capita household use has dropped to 102 liters/day, but rapid population growth is projected to push national demand from 15.47 million m³/day in 2024 to 17.08 million m³/day by 2030.
• Wastewater treatment capacity is expanding, yet forecasts indicate a potential shortfall of 1.84 million m³/day in the Riyadh region by 2030.
• More than US$533 million in new investments, including nearly 2,000 km of pipelines and expanded storage, are reinforcing resilience in the capital.
Expert Insight
“Riyadh exemplifies both the progress and pressures facing water-stressed cities worldwide,” said Robert C. Brears, Founder of Our Future Water Intelligence. “This Brief equips decision-makers with the intelligence needed to address subsidy burdens, climate risks, and infrastructure demands in one of the fastest-growing urban centers of the Middle East.”
What’s Inside the Report
• Detailed profile of Riyadh’s water resources, consumption patterns, and reuse trends.
• Governance assessment covering Vision 2030, the National Water Strategy, and institutional reforms.
• Infrastructure review of desalination plants, pipelines, reservoirs, wastewater treatment, and stormwater systems.
• Strategic outlook on future risks, policy reforms, and investment pathways.
• Priority recommendations on tariff restructuring, demand-side efficiency, digitalization, and resilience-building.
Why This Report Matters
As Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh is both a testing ground for reform and a focal point of national investment. With heavy reliance on desalination, escalating subsidies, and mounting climate risks, the city faces significant sustainability and fiscal challenges. This Brief delivers the insights needed to support effective policy, investment, and governance decisions that safeguard Riyadh’s water future.
Read the report here Riyadh Water System Brief: Comprehensive Profile of Riyadh’s Water Systems, Governance, and Infrastructure
