Abstract
During the last three decades, major parts of arid regions of the world, such as Saudi Arabia, have witnessed rapid urban growth. This growth is associated with urban issues that reflect the imbalanced distribution of public utilities in cities. The problems that have resulted have been in cities of megaurban scale; about one-third of each is serviced by public utilities. This shortage in infrastructure has intensified since the early 1990s. As a consequence, one of the greatest concerns that touches the daily life of inhabitants is the shortage of water. In the following discussion, the nature and reasons for the shortage of water in major Saudi cities of the Mecca region, such as Mecca and Jeddah, are investigated. Some insights into the magnitude of the problem may provide a solution. Measures that have been taken by local authorities to deal with water shortages are also explored. Finally, water recycling is seen as a solution to the water crisis without considering the sociocultural and psychological issues that may arise as a result.