'File 61/11 V (D 95) Hejaz - Nejd, Miscellaneous' [‎211r] (438/530)

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
September 27, 1933.
!< y\ itf n , S ection 2.
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[E 5726/1494/25] ' ' j ST o. 1.
Mr. Calvert to Sir John Simon.—{Received September 27.)
(No. 285.)
Sir, Jedda, September 9, 1933.
WITH reference to Mr. Hope GilFs despatch No. 160 of the 31st March,
1932, paragraph 4, relative to the activ ities of Mr. K. S. Twitchell in regard to
the Jedda water supply, I have the honour to report that water has again been
brongfrT^ the wells at Waziriya, and the event was ceremonially
inaugurated on the 26th August in the presence of the Minister of Finance, local
notables, and a large gathering of townspeople. As the result of the discovery
of a fresh spring, to the south-east of the wells themselves, work has been in
progress for some months past, under the direction of Sheikh Muhammad Dehlavi
and experts of the Mecca water supply of Ain Zubeyda. The water has been
led through the old pipes, put down in Turkish times, and now falls into the
Idarus reservoir, situated on the outskirts of one of the poorer quarters of the
town. The present rate of flow, according to Mr. Twitchell, who still shows
active interest in this undertaking, is 40 gallons per minute, and this, he says,
it will shortly be possible to increase to as much as three times that amount on
the completion of work on a second conduit which runs alongside the first, but
which is not yet connected over its entire length.
2. Mr. Twitchell points out that here there is an ample and cheap water
supply sufficient for the needs of the town, whose present rate of consumption
he places at 38 gallons per minute. Although other local experts would
estimate the local rate of consumption at probably not more than 24
gallons per minute, it may be conceded that the new source of supply is more
than sufficient, is cheap (for it costs nothing at the Idarus reservoir), and at
present is reasonably safe at source. The Indian Medical Officer attached to
this Legation recently conducted an analysis of the water, chemically and
bacteriologically, and pronounced it to be fit for consumption. The total water
consumption of Jedda, therefore, may be expected to increase, particularly as the
poorer classes are able to draw as much as they require for the mere trouble of
carrying it away.
3. From past experience, however, considerable doubt is expressed as to the
prospects of Waziriya water becoming a permanent factor in the town s water
supply. The doubt is not diminished by reports that, although from Waziriya
to Eas Qaim (a place 5 kilom. from Jedda) the conduit has been cemented and
is at present fairly sound, over the remaining distance the pipes are old and
rotten and require constant care to prevent leakage. Sheikh Muhammad Dehlavi
has unsuccessfully approached the Jedda municipality in an endeavour to get
the pipe-line thoroughly repaired, and has now placed the matter before Ibn baud,
stating his preference for a cement conduit oyer iron piping.
4. In the meantime, the sea-water distillery, or condenser plant, continues
to supply the town with drinking water of a kind at the rate of about 8^ gallons
per minute, and the English engineer in charge anticipates no great reduction
in demand for his product, in spite of its greater cost, on account ot the lack oi
confidence in Waziriya water on the part of those who are able to attord the
5. A copy of this despatch is being sent to the Principal Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs and to the Department of Overseas Trade.
I have, &c.
A. S. CALVERT.
[907 dd—2]