Article 44 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 44 من نظام المياه · الفصل التاسع: الخزن الاستراتيجي للمياه
The article tasks the Ministry with approving strategic water storage and strategic reservoirs distributed across all regions of the Kingdom, taking into account consumers' expected needs in emergencies.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تقوم الوزارة باعتماد الخزن الاستراتيجي للمياه، واعتماد خزانات استراتيجية موزعة في جميع مناطق المملكة، على أن تراعي عند إنشائها الاحتياجات المتوقعة للمستهلكين في حالة الطوارئ.
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 44 explained in plain English
This article aims to ensure water is available in crises, and gives the Ministry two things to do:
- Approve strategic water storage.
- Approve strategic reservoirs distributed across all regions of the Kingdom; it is not enough for reservoirs to be concentrated in one region and not another.
The article sets a consideration the Ministry must take into account when building these reservoirs, which is consumers' expected needs in an emergency. The size and distribution of the reservoirs are tied to what people are expected to need if the usual supplies are cut or an emergency arises.
The article does not specify the capacity of the reservoirs, their number or locations, or how long they should last; these details do not appear in the text.
It is worth noting that the definition of "service provision activity" in Article 1 includes strategic storage of water, and the definition of the water supply activity for agricultural purposes also includes strategic storage. This article is preceded by Article 43, which tasks the Ministry with periodically estimating available water quantities and depletion rates, and followed by Article 45 on injection, then Article 46, which allows the use of sources in specified areas to be banned to secure water reserves and strategic storage.
The article addresses the Ministry mainly. Anyone who needs a legal opinion about a project connected with storage can consult a lawyer who specializes in water regulations and administrative cases.
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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Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
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Frequently asked questions about Article 44 of the Saudi Water Law
Who is responsible for strategic water storage in Saudi Arabia?
The Ministry. Article 44 provides that it approves strategic water storage and strategic reservoirs.
Are strategic reservoirs spread across all regions?
Yes. The article provides for approving strategic reservoirs distributed across all regions of the Kingdom.
What is taken into account when building strategic reservoirs?
The expected needs of consumers in an emergency.
More articles on Strategic Water Storage
- Article 4
The article sets out the tasks of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in water plans, strategic storage, emergencies and monitoring sources, and gives the Minister the power to declare a water emergency.
1- تتولى الوزارة القيام بالآتي: أ- إعداد واعتماد الخطط والبرامج التطويرية لمصادر المياه، وإمداداتها، واستخداماتها، ومعالجتها (على المدى القصير والمتوسط والبعيد)
- Article 43
The article tasks the Ministry with periodically estimating available water quantities and measuring withdrawals, storage and its quality, depletion rates and treatment, and requires the relevant bodies to enable and cooperate with it.
تتولى الوزارة -بشكل دوري- تقدير كميات المياه المتوافرة في مصادر المياه، وقياس حجم السحب منها، والمياه المخزنة، وجودتها، ومعدلات استنزافها، ومعالجتها، وعلى الجها
- Article 45
The article allows the Ministry, or whoever it licenses, to carry out injection when it is safe from the health, environmental and technical standpoints, as determined by the Ministry's regulations.
يجوز للوزارة أو من ترخص له الحقن كلما كان ذلك آمنًا من الناحية الصحية، والبيئية، والتقنية؛ وفقًا لما تحدده لوائح الوزارة.
- Article 46
The article allows the Ministerial Committee, on the Ministry's proposal, to ban the use of water sources in specified areas to secure reserves and strategic storage, and to lift the ban, with licensees compensated under the Ministry's regulations.
يتم بقرار من اللجنة الوزارية -بناءً على اقتراح الوزارة- حظر استخدام مصدر أو أكثر من مصادر المياه في مناطق محددة لأغراض ضمان توافر الاحتياطات المائية، والخزن الا
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.