Article 21 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 21 من نظام المياه · الفصل الخامس: استخدام المياه
The article prohibits using wastewater outright, restricts the use and discharge of treated wastewater to the approved standards, and requires a service provision license to transport, collect and dispose of wastewater.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يُحظر استخدام مياه الصرف في جميع الأحوال والأغراض.
2- يُحظر استخدام مياه الصرف المعالجة لأي غرض، أو نشاط، أو تصريفها؛ إلا وفقًا للمعايير المعتمدة، وأولويات الاستخدام التي تقرها الوزارة.
3- يُحظر مزاولة نشاط نقل أو تجميع مياه الصرف (الصحي أو الصناعي) أو التخلص منها وتصريفها باستخدام شبكة الصرف أو الصهاريج أو أي وسيلة أخرى إلا بعد الحصول على رخصة تقديم الخدمة.
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 21 explained in plain English
This article contains three provisions:
1. An absolute prohibition on wastewater: using wastewater is prohibited in all cases and for all purposes. There is no exception to this rule.
2. Controls on treated wastewater: using treated wastewater for any purpose or activity, or discharging it, is prohibited except in accordance with the approved standards and the priorities of use approved by the Ministry. Under Article 1, treated water is water from sewage, industrial or agricultural wastewater that has been treated to remove its pollutants.
3. A license for transporting wastewater: it is prohibited to carry out the activity of transporting wastewater (sanitary or industrial), or collecting it, or disposing of and discharging it, whether using the sewage network, tankers or any other means, except after obtaining a service provision license. The prohibition is general as to the means, so it covers tankers as well as networks.
The difference between the first two provisions is clear: untreated wastewater is always prohibited, while the use of treated water is conditional. This article does not set out the approved standards themselves.
It is followed by Article 22, which gives the Ministry's inspector the right to enter farms that use treated water to monitor and take samples.
To assess the effect of this rule on a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in water and environmental laws.
Practical example
Majed owns a tanker and wants to work pumping sewage from homes and transporting it in Dammam. He may not carry on this activity except after obtaining a service provision license.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 21 of the Saudi Water Law
Can wastewater be used for irrigation?
Using untreated wastewater is prohibited in all cases and for all purposes, while treated wastewater may be used only in accordance with the approved standards and the priorities of use approved by the Ministry.
Do I need a license to transport wastewater by tanker?
Yes. Transporting, collecting or disposing of wastewater by tankers or any other means is prohibited except after obtaining a service provision license.
Can treated water be discharged?
Only in accordance with the approved standards and the priorities of use approved by the Ministry.
More articles on Wastewater and Treated Water
- Article 22
The article gives the Ministry's inspector the right to enter farms that use treated water to monitor and take samples, to verify that the water, products and crops are free of pollutants, and addresses the case where he is prevented or obstructed.
1- لمفتش الوزارة حق دخول المزارع التي تستخدم المياه المعالجة؛ لغرض المراقبة والتفتيش، والتحقق من التقيد بشروط الرخصة، وذلك بالتنسيق مع الجهات الحكومية المعنية،
- Article 23
The article permits using tertiary-treated water after confirming it is safe and free of pollutants, except for drinking, household uses and food industries, under the Ministry's regulations.
ما عدا الشرب والاستخدامات المنزلية والصناعات الغذائية، يُسمح باستخدام المياه المعالجة ثلاثيًا بعد التأكد من سلامتها، وخلوها من الملوثات، ومواءمتها، وفق الضوابط
- Article 24
The article requires an agricultural irrigation system to include an integrated drainage system that collects excess irrigation water and disposes of it safely, to protect water sources from pollution.
يجب أن تشتمل منظومة الري الزراعي على نظام صرف متكامل لتجميع مياه الري الزائدة، والتخلص منها بطريقة آمنة؛ للمحافظة على مصادر المياه من التلوث، وفقًا لما تحدده لو
- Article 25
The article permits using secondary-treated water in restricted agricultural irrigation, industry, mining, construction work and the like, after confirming it is safe and under the Ministry's regulations.
يسمح باستخدام المياه المعالجة ثنائيًا في الري الزراعي المقيد، والصناعة، والتعدين، والأعمال الإنشائية، ونحوها من الأنشطة والأعمال؛ بعد التأكد من سلامتها، وخلوِّه
- Article 26
The article requires all government and private bodies to coordinate with the service provision licensee before connecting sewage to the networks or collecting it by tanker and discharging it at the treatment plant.
على جميع الجهات الحكومية والخاصة التنسيق مع المرخّص له بنشاط تقديم الخدمة قبل ربط مياه الصرف الصحي بشبكات الصرف، أو تجميع مياه الصرف الصحي بوساطة الصهاريج، وتفر
- Article 27
The article makes the use of sludge subject to the controls and standards issued by the Ministry to protect public health and the environment.
يخضع استخدام الحمأة للضوابط والمعايير اللازمة لحماية الصحة العامة والبيئة التي تصدرها الوزارة.
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.