Article 41 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 41 من نظام المياه · الفصل الثامن: ترشيد الاستخدام
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على مستخدمي المياه الالتزام بالآتي:
1- ترشيد استخدام المياه، وعدم هدرها، وعدم الإسراف في استخدامها، واستخدام الأدوات والأجهزة والأنظمة المُرَشِّدة والمطابقة للمواصفات القياسية السعودية المعتمدة التي توصي بها الوزارة.
2- التقيد بأوجه الاستخدام والكميات المرخصة، وتمكين الجهات المعنية من إجراء عمليات القياس، والمراقبة.
3- المحافظة على مصادر المياه.
4- سدادُ ما يُفرض من تعريفة، أو غرامة، أو مقابل مالي.
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 41 explained in plain English
This article brings together the basic obligations on water users, of which there are four:
- Rationing and not wasting: rationing water use and not wasting it or being extravagant with it, and using water-saving tools, devices and systems that conform to the approved Saudi standard specifications recommended by the Ministry.
- Keeping to the license and allowing measurement: complying with the licensed uses and quantities, so that water is not used for an unlicensed purpose or in more than the licensed quantity, while allowing the relevant bodies to carry out measurement and monitoring.
- Preserving water sources.
- Payment: paying any tariff, fine or financial charge that is imposed.
These obligations connect with other articles: Article 42 requires the Ministry and the Authority to subject all water uses to measurement and monitoring, which corresponds to the user's obligation in paragraph (2) to allow the bodies to do so. The tariff is regulated by Articles 32 and 33, and the financial charge for licenses is provided in Article 35.
This article does not itself state the penalty for breaching any of these obligations. Anyone who has received a demand or a fine and wants to know his rights can consult a lawyer who specializes in water regulations and administrative cases.
Practical example
Fahd holds a license to use a specified quantity of water for his business. Under this article he must not exceed the licensed quantity or use the water for any other purpose than licensed, must allow the relevant bodies to carry out measurement and monitoring, and must pay any tariff or financial charge imposed on him.
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 41 of the Saudi Water Law
What are the duties of a water user in Saudi Arabia?
Article 41 sets four: rationing and not wasting and using compliant water-saving tools; keeping to licensed uses and quantities and allowing measurement and monitoring; preserving water sources; and paying any tariff, fine or financial charge imposed.
Must a user allow the authorities to measure water consumption?
Yes. Paragraph (2) requires water users to allow the relevant bodies to carry out measurement and monitoring.
May a user exceed the licensed quantity of water?
No. The article requires the user to keep to the licensed uses and quantities.
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 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 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.