Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation "KAHRAMAA" has convened a press conference at KAHRAMAA Ramadan Tent On Tuesday evening (September 25, 2007), wherein Eng. Ali Saif Al-Malki, Director of Water Networks Affairs has dealt with reasons of water quantity shortage for some customers lately along with the procedures which "KAHRAMAA" has launched to avoid such situation.

The press conference has inaugurated by Engineer Nasser Al-Mohannadi Manager Public Relations/KAHRAMAA by a welcome speech addressed to media representatives who participated and attended the press conference.

Al-Mohannadi praised the efforts exerted by the national press, which is considered the natural partner for public utilities as it is concerned to present the community needs with accountability. He also emphasized on the professionalism national press staffs who are dealing objectively and transparently with all issues related to Public services.

The press conference has been attended by KAHRAMAA directors, Managers, senior staff and engineers in addition to the representatives of local media.

At the beginning of the press conference Eng. Ali Saif Al Malki, Director of Water Networks Affairs at KAHRAMAA said: "The main reason of complaints about the unsatisfactory level of service of a small group of customers is mainly caused by the delay in delivering a new additional water quantity from one of the production stations estimated by 29 MGD (at a ratio of 18% of the local gross production estimated by 156 MGD). Such delay in delivering water quantities has led to minimize the quantity of daily distributed water among the country's areas and reduce daily pumping hours at a ratio not exceeding 3 % to maintain the water strategic storage level at "KAHRAMAA" reservoirs.

Eng. Ali Al Malki points out that KAHRAMAA is committed to transmit, store and distributed water to all customers. Also, he emphasizes that KAHRAMAA's water is provided through an official long term contracts signed with the independent production companies operating in the country, who own those production units and stations.

Al Malki continues: "We must refer to the fact that any failure at the production companies' stations which might lead to the non supply or delay in delivery timetable of new water quantities contracted upon, is beyond the control and liability of KAHRAMAA. Consequently, it directly affects quantities of water being daily distributed among customers. It has also got its impact on KAHRAMAA's water strategic storage capacity especially at peak periods during summer season.

Eng. Ali Saif Al Malki, Water Networks Affairs Director at "KAHRAMAA" said: "there is not a water crisis, the only action has been taken by KAHRAMAA is reducing the quantity of water distributed among customers only at a ratio of 3%. This has been necessary and can not be avoided to maintain the level of water strategic storage in the country. It has also considered the exceptional situations by studying several scenarios as temporary, immediate, fast and appropriate solutions to overcome any complaint or water shortage arisen there, by providing the customer with water through tanks emergency service.

He added that before summer season "KAHRAMAA" has set forth a comprehensive prospect to determine water strategic storage level and averages of water quantity being daily distributed among customers, after a detailed study of level of the anticipated demand on water compared with quantities of water produced by production stations during 2007.

He said: "In order to avail immediate fast solutions of some of customers' complaints KAHRAMAA has increased the number of its emergency team and contracted extra water emergency tanks in order to satisfy the exceptional contingency requirements of customers throughout the period till the end of the year, when it will be the expected time to get the delayed additional water quantities into KAHRAMAA reservoirs from the production companies.

Eng. Al Malki appreciates KAHRAMAA's customers for their cooperation and understanding of such contingent situation this year. He highlights on the importance of conservation of water consumption and to avoid any misuse during the announced period which witnesses high consumption averages.

At the end of the press conference, Al Malki recommends the customers to do the followings:
1. Place the ground tank near the main water meter.
2. Make sure that the capacity of ground tank satisfies his/her need for two days.
3. Conservation of water resources permanently.
4. Check frequently the ground tank to detect any leak earlier.
5. Call 991 (Call Centre – Water Emergency), for Emergency cases and reporting any water shortage or interruption of water supplies.