Saudi to award water management contracts

Contracts to manage the water networks in Mecca and neighbouring Taif will be awarded by Saudi state-owned National Water Co to improve the management of utility services in the kingdom, Bloomberg has reported. Potential bidders have already been qualified including groups led by France's Veolia Environnement, Acciona of Spain and UK companies United Utilities Group and Severn Trent. Tender documents for the water production, distribution and wastewater management of the two cities will be provided on March 1 and the bidding procedures will be processed by the end of the first quarter, the utility company said in a statement.