Article 37 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 37 من نظام المياه · الفصل الثامن: ترشيد الاستخدام
The article assigns the regulation and management of water-use rationing to the Ministry or its delegate, and requires licensees, consumers and beneficiaries to comply with rationing and use its tools and equipment.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تتولى الوزارة أو من تفوضه تنظيم عملية ترشيد استخدام المياه، وإدارتها. وعلى جميع المرخّص لهم والمستهلكين والمستفيدين الالتزام بعمليات الترشيد، واستخدام أدوات ترشيد المياه، ومعداته، وتجهيزاته.
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 37 explained in plain English
This article opens the provisions on rationing water use, and contains two provisions:
- The responsible body: the Ministry or its delegate regulates and manages the process of rationing water use. The Ministry may carry out this role itself or delegate it to another body.
- Those required to ration: all licensees, consumers and beneficiaries must comply with rationing measures and use water-saving tools, equipment and fittings.
It is worth noting that the obligation is general: it is not limited to companies or license holders but covers every consumer or beneficiary of water, such as families, shops and facilities. However, the article itself does not state the type of tools or equipment required, or the details of the rationing measures; these are set by the regulation the Ministry handles.
The article works together with the ones that follow: Article 38 requires government and private sectors to use water-saving sanitary ware and plumbing materials and to make use of gray water in accordance with the Ministry's regulations, and Article 41 sets out the obligations of water users, including rationing use and avoiding waste.
Anyone who wants to know the obligations that apply to his own facility specifically can refer to the Ministry or consult a lawyer who specializes in water regulations and administrative cases.
Practical example
Saad owns a residential complex in Jeddah whose residents use water. Under this article, he and the residents are beneficiaries and consumers who are required to follow rationing measures and use water-saving tools and equipment, as regulated by the Ministry or its delegate.
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 37 of the Saudi Water Law
Is water rationing mandatory in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Article 37 requires all licensees, consumers and beneficiaries to comply with rationing measures and to use water-saving tools, equipment and fittings.
Which body is responsible for regulating water rationing?
The Ministry or its delegate, which according to Article 1 is the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
Does the article specify the type of rationing tools required?
No. The article establishes the obligation only and leaves regulation and details to the Ministry or its delegate.
More articles on Water Conservation
- Article 10
The article gives the Ministry the right to impose meters on wells in non-renewable aquifers to monitor consumption under the water allowances, and lets the Ministerial Committee consider imposing a fee when the allowance is exceeded.
للوزارة الحق في فرض تركيب عدادات؛ لقياس تدفق المياه من الآبار الواقعة في الطبقات الحاملة للمياه غير المتجددة؛ لمراقبة وتنظيم كمية استهلاك وترشيد استخدامها؛ وفقً
- Article 38
The article requires government and private sectors to use water-saving sanitary ware and plumbing materials that meet the specifications, and to make use of gray water and recycle it under the Ministry's regulations.
يجب على جميع القطاعات الحكومية والخاصة استخدامُ الأدوات الصحية ومواد السباكة المرشِّدة والمطابقة للوائح الفنية والمواصفات القياسية المعتمدة، والاستفادة من الميا
- Article 39
The article requires government bodies and service provision licensees to adopt the principle of water rationalization as a theme of their awareness, education and marketing programs, as the Ministry's regulations set out.
تقوم الجهات الحكومية والمرخص لهم بتقديم الخدمة باعتماد مبدأ "ترشيد استخدام المياه" من ضمن محاور برامجهم التوعوية، والتثقيفية، والتسويقية، وذلك وفق ما تبينه لوائ
- Article 40
The article requires water-saving irrigation systems when irrigating in urban or agricultural activities, as determined by the Ministry's regulations.
عند استخدام المياه لأغراض الري في الأنشطة الحضرية أو الزراعية، يجب استخدام أنظمة مرشدة لاستهلاك المياه، وفقًا لما تحدده لوائح الوزارة.
- Article 41
The article sets four obligations on water users: rationing and not wasting, keeping to licensed uses and quantities and allowing measurement, preserving sources, and paying what is imposed.
على مستخدمي المياه الالتزام بالآتي: 1- ترشيد استخدام المياه، وعدم هدرها، وعدم الإسراف في استخدامها، واستخدام الأدوات والأجهزة والأنظمة المُرَشِّدة والمطابقة للم
- Article 42
The article requires the Ministry and the Authority, each within its jurisdiction, to subject all water uses to measurement and monitoring and to verify its effectiveness, directly or through licensees.
على الوزارة والهيئة -كلٌ فيما يخصه- إخضاع جميع استخدامات المياه للقياس والمراقبة وفق أحكام النظام، والتأكد من تنفيذ ذلك بفاعلية إما مباشرة، أو عن طريق المرخَّص
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.