 Great is the desert, the land of the Red Dahana, the land of the Shmal, and dry is the wind that causes the hot sands to tremble, endlessly changing the face of the land, and the hills become a heap of running sand, and strange are the rocks shaped by countless generations of wind and heat, but Allah sendeth the winds as tidings heralding His mercy, and over the land a heavy cloud descends, the people gaze skyward for this brief spate of rain, and low after ten long months Allah speaks. The heaven opened and become as gates, and a quick torrential outburst revives the land. Only year after year this rainwater seeps into the ground, ever penetrating. It brings the water supply for the people of this land. Kame Karavan, and the Bedouin sent his water drawer to the pit, and he let down his bail into the pit. The Bedouin says, we have made every living thing from water, eat and drink, but waste not to excess, for God loveth not the wasters. From whence does this water come? How is this water from the sky stored beneath the hot parched land, split the earth open? And there beneath the hot sands we come upon layers of rock and clay. Now mark the Bedouin's well. It passes through a layer of sand. It passes through a layer of loose porous rock, down to a layer of hard clay and shales. Allah sendeth down the rain, and therewith reviveeth the earth after her death. And the life-giving water seeps through the porous rock. But the layer of clay is impervious, like unto a barrier, and the water seeps no more. For lo is not this impervious layer the bottom of a great bowl, collecting the rainwater and slowly yielding this cool water into a reservoir. Now this supply of water that comes from the local rainfall is known as free ground water. But when Allah sendeth not the saving rain, and the people have long dispeared of waiting, this well may run dry. It is the life of the Bedouin, but burst is he in the ways of the desert. In his quest for water, the Bedouin moves on, and drums of the household of the king sound a welcome to this Bedouin tribe, for they speak of a country united, the end of tribal warfare as strong Saudi Arabia, freedom to roam the land without fear. For the Bedouin, the earth is indeed a pearl in the desert, a garden of abundance, a haven of warmth and hospitality. Here the Bedouin can see respite from the rigors of the desert, food, shelter, and water. Yay, we have made every living thing from water. Water from troughs in the public square, water for all, for city dwellers and Bedouin alike. Water to be had for the taking, for in truth, does not Allah bless this city with an abundance of water? But of late the people have trebled in number, and their needs have swelled accordingly, and the demands for water have grown heavy. In the city the Bedouin relaxes, for but a few days he forgets his home in the desert, under the hot sky, where but few city dwellers dare venture. Here the Bedouin renews old friendships, until the hot sky and the great realm of the desert call him back to his truth. The soup is crowded, and the Bedouin wonders about, with an abundance of fruits and vegetables. All kinds of produce, produce from outlying farms, from the gardens of Riyadh. The water wells in these gardens bring life to the city, for the wine of the great wooden pulleys is like music to the ears of the people. In truth it is said, when the pulleys grown, the people live, for then there is water. Who does man himself? The wells of Riyadh have brought forth water from the earth. Ample for all the needs of the people. Yay for thousands of years, from the days of our ancestors, Allah has caused the harmony to exist between the land and the people. A delicate balance that take us into account the harshness of the land and the needs of the people, down through the ditches, far into the gardens, enriching the soil and bringing forth the date farm and the green blade. The goods of drawing water from the land have been sufficient. The age has come to Riyadh, the age of the machine from the earth in great and endless quantities, by pumps, diesel and electric. A withdrawal rate brought about by this modernization that in truth has provided many blessings for the people. Indeed, a new era of the machine created also a new thirst in the earth. In this instrument for progress, there is also a threat to the harmony that has existed for countless generations between the people and the land. And some have asked, from whence comes the water supply of the city of Riyadh? Far to the north and far to the west, for many miles into the desert lies the Wadi Hanifa, a galley carved into the earth, a dry water course for most of the year. But Allah in His mercy sendeth the winds and the rain to revive this dead land. And far out in the desert, the rainwater collects and flows toward Riyadh, down to and around the city, bringing its treasure the annual supply of water. Format near to Riyadh, the walls of the Wadi are formed as a spun and into these fractured cliffs and forest rock, the water seeps slowly downward, settling then under the city to form a great storehouse of water. Split this earth open and deep below the surface, we come upon a layer of porous water bearing rock. Beneath an impervious layer that holds back the flow of water. As from the Wadi, it seeps underground. But the impervious layer enables this water to be stored above. Therefore from this annual rainfall comes the water supply of the city. And the amount of water stored thereby is limited by the extent of this rainfall. And there is the problem. For with the new means of growing water in great and endless quantities from the earth, seemingly without surface, the supply in time may soon be exhausted. But the wells do not speak. Indeed one and all must guard this precious gift, lest in place of flourishing gardens, there may come instead a barren wasteland. Yea, we have made all living things from water. We have made all living things from water. Water, man has built his cities. In our time and in the time of our forefathers, water deep in the belly of the earth has enabled cities to grow and prosper. In the Hijaz, in the Najd, in Al-Hasa, Persian Gulf, the people are enjoying the fruits of an increasing prosperity. Here as in Riyadh, the age of the machine has built a new life for the people. Here there is an abundance of water. Water for a multitude of purposes. Water for the many ditches that enrich the fields. Water for flourishing gardens where fruits and vegetables abound. Water for the date farm, symbol of growth. But here there are no pumps. For merely by the turn of a valve, the sparkling water gushes forth into a rich cascade that means life to the land. In the city of Qatif, in Sayhat, Taroot, Safwa, Al-Khubar, Al-Dammam, a great abundance of water. In truth, enough water for every conceivable purpose. Water to revel in, to enjoy. But no ye Ali ibn Hussain. His is an artesian well like many of the wells in Diritu. By the sweat of his brow, Ali has worked his fields from early life and knows full well the value of water. Often has Ali wandered. From whence comes this abundance of water? What makes it flow? From a great many miles away, from far across the desert comes Ali's supply of water. Far out to the Samman, where several layers of rock rise to the earth's surface at an elevation higher than along the sea. Observe these layers, for two are impervious through which water cannot pass. But between them is a porous layer of water bearing rock. And over the years, as Allah sendeth down the rain from the sky, slowly seeps the water into this porous layer and pressure is built up in its downward flow. As this water seeks mightily to rise to its own level, this pressure is held as in a prison by the impervious layer above. And this water supply accumulating over the centuries is known as confined ground water. Now mark the artesian well that is drilled through the impervious layer nearest the earth's surface. And the pressure forces the water upward in a mighty gush. And the height to which this confined ground water will rise is known as the gradient line. And this line is governed by the level of the water from the source from which it springs, all the way from the Samman, all the way to the sea extends these layers, affecting as all artesian wells, just so the well of Ali ibn Hussain. There came a day when Ali set out to find the highest point at which his well would flow. And he made himself a method for finding this gradient line. A pipe of great length he connected to the well, despite to be raised alongside a measuring stick. Thus was Ali able to establish the greatest height at which his well would flow. And this was Ali's gradient line, 34 feet above the level of the sea. And in the region were other wells, still making use of the Shadoop. As in most ancient times, Ilias means known to man for irrigating his fields. Also in the region a great host of other wells were being drilled. A great din on the ears of the populace, a huge gush of water was brought forth from more and more wells, a seemingly endless, unlimited flow of water over the land. Rakh was Ali with despair. This great number of wells in the region, there was a danger of withdrawing from the earth more water than is replenished from rain over the years. For throughout the region could not the gradient line fall? The pressure of the water for all these wells could be reduced, far across from the Samman, far across to the sea. And there came a day when two years had passed that Ali again set out to find the gradient line of his well. The pipe was raised to its former mark, 34 feet, but no longer did water flow at this elevation. Alas, at 32 feet, did water from Ali's well begin to flow? A fall of 2 feet within these 2 years. In deep concern, Ali went forth into the region and came upon a flooded garden. He reasoned is not an overabundance of water on the land, like unto an overabundance of water in the stomach, producing butter, bellyache. Thus did Ali continue his walk, and soon he came upon more water on the land. But here, along with this great waste, was a new danger, stagnant pools of water, ever a breeding place for the dreaded malaria mosquito. And there came a day when Ali found himself in the garden of his friend Yusuf, who, as Ali, enjoyed the fruits of an abundant supply of water. Welcome, say the trainer, but Yusuf marks the demeanor of Ali. Distressed is he by the condition of Yusuf's well. The text is Yusuf by his friend's concern. Has he not plenty of water? Plenty, says Ali. Plenty, did you say? But most of it runs out to sea. Is it the Persian Gulf you are trying to irrigate? You have no valve, says Ali. But Yusuf indeed has a valve. Mark it. This valve he had planned to use in time. A great good to you, but also a great good to your neighbors is this need to use the valve at once. Or is it not so that when your neighbor has no need of water, he closes his valve? While you are well, O Yusuf, continues its flow of water to the sea. Unfair and senseless is this practice. If water is to be had for all time, its use must be guarded lest the gradient line for the region fall lower and lower. Thus did Ali speak. But low in his wanderings, Ali did find that often, even with the use of valves, came other problems of waste. Leaking valves, rusted pipes, and further wastage by the movement of water to the surface from deep underground. And Ali asked, what causes this upward movement? Now observe the construction of many artesian wells in this region. The hood is the hole through the layers of loose sand and rock, down through the impervious layer to the supply of water below. And Marquis, down into the loose sand and rock the casing is driven but halfway or so. Near the surface is cement used to surround the casing. Thus even where the valve is used to control the flow of water from the punctured impervious layer above, this water may still escape its prison and burst above. Verily, but a few artesian wells, poorly drilled, can cause to be reduced the pressure of the water for all the wells in the region. But observe now the good constructed well. Deep into the impervious layer the casing is driven and the cement extends from the bottom of the casing to the surface. Thus sealing off the porous top layer. And above the ground the casing is extended for several feet from the head of this well. And so all connections will remain unharmed by rust. Thus confined within its prison inside the casing is the upward movement of water. And there is no wastage on the surface from deep within the belly of the earth. After the well is built still must care be given to prevent the valve from leaking, to prevent the harmful rust. Today the withdrawal rate of water in this small region by the sea is 3 million barrels a day and more. And heavy on the minds of some are these conditions of waste. For it is plain that unless they are halted the pressure of the water will continue to pour. And so deep. Saifat. Parout. There may come a day when these wells may see. Allah provided the rain for the needs of the people. There really the age of the machine has come to this country. Like unto all countries of the world the people will learn of the need for the conservation of water. This life-giving element has brought the ability to depart land penetrating conveying its life-giving force to the earth able to transform huge tracts of unused land into lush fields of green an agriculture that has brought an era of plenty to the people. In this wise use of water lies the power to help build a new nation. A new way of life for all of the people for in an ample supply of water is stimulation for a great era of construction, home public building schools and hospitals for all. In this wise use of water lies the power to build roads fitting the centers of habitation. Indeed a new era of transportation For though God has provided water for all, he did not intend this precious gift from the sky be wasted for God loveth not the wasters Ali says, that's for you my son Yay, water for you when you are a grown man water for your sons and your sons son water for the future of our land