IDWS Roundtable Discussions Highlight Advanced Water Governance Models

As part of the first day of the Innovation Driven Water Sustainability Conference (IDWS), currently taking place in Jeddah through 10 December, the roundtable session chaired by H.E. Eng. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim emerged as one of the most prominent international forums for dialogue on the future of water governance and water economics between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States.

The session witnessed high-level participation from senior leaders of the water sector in the Kingdom, alongside top officials from the United States.

Discussions focused on showcasing advanced global models of water governance, institutional management, and the development of supply and service systems, while also exploring opportunities for partnership and joint operation that enable regional entities to manage infrastructure, transmission, and treatment services more efficiently.

The session also reviewed the leading experience of the Orange County Water District in managing groundwater resources through a comprehensive institutional integration among local authorities, ensuring sustainable resource management and the delivery of reliable water supplies to communities and vital sectors.

The discussions contributed to deepening the understanding of the value of integrated governance, regulatory alignment, and risk management, supporting the continued development of the Kingdom’s water sector toward a more efficient, sustainable, and globally competitive system.