Article 11 of the Saudi Environment Law
المادة 11 من نظام البيئة · الفصل الثاني: الأوساط البيئية والموارد المائية وحمايتها
The article prohibits dumping, discharging or injecting wastewater or treated liquid components into underground wells or any environmental medium without a permit, as the regulations set out.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يُحظر إلقاء مياه الصرف أو أي من المكونات السائلة -المعالجة- أو تصريفها أو حقنها؛ في الآبار الجوفية أو أي وسط بيئي، دون الحصول على تصريح، وذلك وفقاً لما تبينه اللوائح.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 11 explained in plain English
This article governs the disposal of wastewater and treated liquid components, one of the most sensitive issues because of its direct effect on groundwater and soil.
There are three acts prohibited without a permit:
- Dumping.
- Discharging.
- Injecting.
Places covered: underground wells or any other environmental medium. The environmental media under Article 1 include water, air, land, soil, bodies of water and others, so the prohibition is not limited to wells.
Materials covered: wastewater, or any treated liquid components.
The document required here is specifically a permit, and the details and conditions are referred to the Implementing Regulations. It is not enough for the water to be treated for it to be discharged; a permit must be obtained.
This article applies the general prohibition in Article 6 on anything that would pollute or harm the environmental media and water resources. Facility owners and contractors who deal with wastewater can consult a lawyer specialized in environmental laws.
Practical example
A contracting company in Al-Ahsa has wastewater from a work site and is considering discharging it into an old well on the site. Article 11 prohibits that without obtaining a permit, so it must review the regulations and obtain the permit first.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 11 of the Saudi Environment Law
May treated wastewater be discharged without a permit?
No. The article prohibits dumping, discharging or injecting any treated liquid components into underground wells or any environmental medium without a permit.
Is the prohibition limited to underground wells?
No. It covers underground wells or any environmental medium, and under Article 1 the environmental media include water, air, land, soil and others.
Where do I find the conditions for a wastewater discharge permit?
The article refers to what the Implementing Regulations set out.
More articles on Wastewater Discharge
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.