Article 23 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 23 من نظام المياه · الفصل الخامس: استخدام المياه
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
ما عدا الشرب والاستخدامات المنزلية والصناعات الغذائية، يُسمح باستخدام المياه المعالجة ثلاثيًا بعد التأكد من سلامتها، وخلوها من الملوثات، ومواءمتها، وفق الضوابط والاشتراطات التي تحددها لوائح الوزارة.
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 23 explained in plain English
This article sets the limits on using tertiary-treated water:
The exceptions (what is not allowed):
- Drinking.
- Household uses.
- Food industries.
Anything else is allowed, on conditions:
- confirming its safety.
- that it is free of pollutants.
- that it is suitable for the use.
- that the use is in accordance with the controls and requirements set by the Ministry's regulations.
The article is built on a rule of conditional permission with specific exceptions. Drinking, household uses and food industries are barred for tertiary-treated water even if its safety is established. This article does not set out the permitted uses in detail, but refers their controls to the Ministry's regulations.
Under Article 1, treated water comes from sewage, industrial or agricultural wastewater. It is preceded by Article 22, which gives the Ministry's inspector the right to enter farms that use treated water and take samples. It is followed by Article 24, which requires an agricultural irrigation system to include an integrated drainage system to collect excess irrigation water.
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
A juice factory in Jeddah wants to use tertiary-treated water in its manufacturing processes to cut costs. It may not, because food industries are excepted from the use of tertiary-treated water.
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 23 of the Saudi Water Law
Is tertiary-treated water fit for drinking?
The text excepts drinking from the permitted uses of tertiary-treated water.
Can treated water be used in food industries?
No. Food industries are excepted from the permitted uses.
What are the conditions for using tertiary-treated water?
Confirming its safety, that it is free of pollutants and suitable, in accordance with the controls and requirements set by the Ministry's regulations.
More articles on Wastewater and Treated Water
- Article 21
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.
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 ا
- 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 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.