Future Vision for Research Priorities in the Center
Research priorities at the WSC, are motivated by national water needs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Nation water needs are varied across-sectors municipal, industrial and agricultural. The later consumes more than 80% of the available fresh water in the KSA. Research priorities are set to those, which address community water needs and wise public consumption. Therefore, research work are directed to word means, which lead to varied water resources, high water use efficiency and preservative water quality.
Since the establishment of the center on 1982, researchers had the choices to select research subjects. That was phase I, which intended to make excellent research base for the center via preparations and qualified individuals in water studies field.
Phase II at the WSC was resumed on 1418 h. In which, the center coordinated with the governmental bodies and received the recommended subjects. Which, they thought to be priorities for research. Then subjects provided to specialists, so they can present their research proposals. Examples of those projects:
- Water conservation with Hassa Irrigation Drainage Authority (HIDA) cooperation.
- Date palm national fertilization with Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) cooperation.
The potential contribution of the WSC in developing water resources, quantity and quality could be of unlimited boundaries, especially when critical issues of water scarcity were considered. The WSC with its current resources and human force is to set priorities for research and studies of water problems to meet national interests in water industry. Proposed water studies are classified according to their remedies as follow:
- Water resources and its new technology management tools.
- Water quality and means to improve its recyclable techniques.
- Water desalination.
- Efficient water consumption.
- Water informative issues to the public.
These aims and purposes can be achieved by using modern scientific means of modeling, conducting experiments in the laboratories and on fields. However, gaining high quality research work and results rely on the existing material and human resources. Having a look to the WSC experience, aims and goals needed to be accomplished are enormous, add to that challenges of water problems facing the kingdom. Therefore, priority of any research work should be given according to its importance and national interest.
