Sunday 10 / May / 2026
Salalah: The Directorate General of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources in Dhofar Governorate has completed maintenance and rehabilitation work on the Kiley, Don and Azghot water springs, located deep within valleys and mountain formations under challenging field conditions marked by rugged terrain.
The efforts are part of a drive to preserve natural water sources, enhance their sustainability and ensure they serve communities.
The Kiley spring, a freshwater source north of the A’downib area in the Wilayat of Salalah, is about seven kilometres away on foot. The Don spring, north of the Ain Kor waterfall site in Salalah, requires a four‑kilometre trek through valleys and mountain slopes. The Azghot spring in the Wilayat of Rakhyut lies about ten kilometres away along extremely rugged mountain paths, making rehabilitation and maintenance work particularly difficult.
Eng. Ali bin Bakheet Beit Said, Director of the Water Resources Department, said the Kiley spring is classified as a remote source.
He stressed its importance as it lies within a vital pastoral area, providing water for valley travellers and livestock, as well as supporting wildlife and preserving the region’s ecological balance.
He pointed out that work at the Kiley spring included clearing the site, removing accumulated sediment and debris, constructing a permanent concrete collection basin, and building two livestock watering troughs — one 300 metres from the spring and another two kilometres away — along with water pipeline extensions.
These measures help convey water to less rugged, more accessible locations for livestock, improving water resource efficiency.
He added that the directorate has also completed rehabilitation of the Don spring, located north of the Ain Kor waterfall site in Salalah.
The work included a water collection basin, two animal drinking troughs — one adjacent to the basin and another 1,400 metres away — along with pipeline extensions and a water pump, ensuring sustainable flow and access at less rugged sites. In the Wilayat of Rakhyut, comprehensive cleaning and rehabilitation of the Azghot spring, an important natural spring in a distinctive geological environment, involved tree and rock removal while preserving the site’s features and avoiding any negative impact on the water source.
A retaining wall 15 metres long and one metre wide was built to hold the spring water, along with a livestock watering trough 250 metres from the spring, improving organised use and delivering water to more suitable locations.
The Water Resources Department Director noted that the ministry has, since 2025, rehabilitated 17 water springs in several wilayats of Dhofar as part of its plan to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of natural water resources.
Recent years have seen active community participation in maintaining and preserving the springs, as well as raising awareness of protecting natural water resources.
He said that current rehabilitation plans include a number of springs affected by the low pressure system called “Al Masarrat” in March 2026, among them the Shidham spring in Rakhyut, the Thafnat spring in Taqah, and the Agharnut spring in the Alsan area of Salalah. These efforts are aimed at restoring natural water sources, enhancing their readiness and sustainability, and contributing to the preservation of the governorate’s water and environmental resources. -ONA
