Article 40 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 40 من نظام المياه · الفصل الثامن: ترشيد الاستخدام
The article requires water-saving irrigation systems when irrigating in urban or agricultural activities, as determined by the Ministry's regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
عند استخدام المياه لأغراض الري في الأنشطة الحضرية أو الزراعية، يجب استخدام أنظمة مرشدة لاستهلاك المياه، وفقًا لما تحدده 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 40 explained in plain English
Irrigation is one of the largest uses of water, so this article gives it an explicit rule: when water is used for irrigation, water-saving systems must be used.
The rule covers two kinds of activity:
- Agricultural activities, such as irrigating farms.
- Urban activities. According to Article 1, urban use means using water for household and commercial purposes, public facilities, tree planting, public gardens and the like, so it includes, for example, irrigating gardens and planted areas.
The article does not name a particular irrigation system and does not set specifications or deadlines, but refers for these to what the Ministry's regulations determine. What the text requires is that the irrigation system be "water-saving"; which systems are acceptable, and their details, are for the regulations.
The article is part of the rationing provisions that begin with Article 37, and it connects with Article 41, which requires water users to avoid waste and to use water-saving systems that conform to the approved Saudi standard specifications recommended by the Ministry.
A farmer or facility owner planning a new irrigation system should check the Ministry's regulations before installing it. Anyone who faces a difficulty applying this provision to his activity can consult a lawyer who specializes in water regulations and administrative cases.
Practical example
Abdullah is setting up a date palm farm in Al-Ahsa. Under this article he must use a water-saving system for irrigation, and should check what the Ministry's regulations determine for these systems before choosing and installing one.
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 40 of the Saudi Water Law
Must a farm use a water-saving irrigation system?
Yes. Article 40 requires water-saving systems when water is used for irrigation in agricultural or urban activities.
Does the rule cover irrigating gardens?
The rule covers irrigation in urban activities, and urban use under Article 1 includes tree planting, public gardens and the like.
Which irrigation systems are acceptable?
The article does not specify them but refers to what the Ministry's regulations determine.
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 37
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.
تتولى الوزارة أو من تفوضه تنظيم عملية ترشيد استخدام المياه، وإدارتها. وعلى جميع المرخّص لهم والمستهلكين والمستفيدين الالتزام بعمليات الترشيد، واستخدام أدوات ترش
- 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 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.