Article 5 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 5 من نظام المياه · الفصل الثالث: المهمات والمسؤوليات
The article sets out the Authority's tasks in service provision activities, including approving executive plans, regulating treated water contracts and deciding on complaints, and allows its board to amend the scope of activities and licenses.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تتولى الهيئة فيما يتعلق بأنشطة تقديم الخدمة -بالإضافة إلى المهمات المنصوص عليها في تنظيمها- الآتي:
أ- اعتماد الخطط التنفيذية التي يعدها المرخَّص لهم بتقديم الخدمة؛ وفقاً للخطة الطويلة المدى التي تعتمدها الوزارة.
ب- اتخاذ الإجراءات الضرورية لتوفير كميات إضافية من مياه الاستخدام الحضري في حال توقع حدوث نقص واضح في إمداداتها، وذلك بناءً على ما تقتضيه المصلحة العامة.
ج- تنظيم جميع العقود الخاصة ببيع مياه الصرف المعالجة وذلك بحسب الاستراتيجية الوطنية للمياه.
د- البت في المسائل والأمور والشكاوى المتعلقة بأنشطة تقديم الخدمة التي تثيرها الأطراف المعنية، وبخاصة المستهلكون، أو المرخَّص لهم.
2- يجوز بقرار من مجلس الإدارة -وفقًا لتطور قطاع المياه- تحديد أنشطة معينة لتكون ضمن أنشطة تقديم الخدمة، أو ألا تستمر في بقائها ضمن تلك الأنشطة التي تتطلب رخصة، كما يجوز بقرار من مجلس الإدارة إنشاء أنواع جديدة من رخص تقديم الخدمة، أو تعديلها حسب ما تقرره لوائح الهيئة.
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 5 explained in plain English
This article sets the role of the Authority, which under Article 1 is the Electricity and Co-Generation Regulatory Authority, in relation to service provision activities, in addition to the tasks set out in its own organization.
First: the Authority's tasks:
- Approving the executive plans prepared by licensees for service provision, in accordance with the long-term plan approved by the Ministry.
- Taking the necessary measures to provide additional quantities of urban-use water if a clear shortage in its supplies is expected, as the public interest requires.
- Regulating all contracts for the sale of treated wastewater, according to the national water strategy.
- Deciding on matters and complaints relating to service provision activities that are raised by the parties concerned, especially consumers or licensees.
Second: the powers of the Board of Directors: by its decision, in line with the development of the water sector, it may:
- Bring certain activities within service provision activities, or remove them from the activities that require a license.
- Create new types of service provision licenses or amend them, as the Authority's regulations provide.
It is preceded by Article 4, which sets the tasks of the Ministry, including preparing and approving long-term water plans. It is followed by Article 6, which requires the Ministry and the Authority to provide the private sector with information.
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
Water was repeatedly cut off at Sara's home in Jeddah, and her problem with the licensed service provider was not resolved. One of the Authority's tasks is to decide on complaints relating to service provision activities that are raised by consumers.
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 5 of the Saudi Water Law
Where do I complain about a water service provider?
One of the Authority's tasks is to decide on matters and complaints relating to service provision activities that are raised by the parties concerned, especially consumers.
Who regulates contracts for the sale of treated wastewater?
The Authority, according to the national water strategy.
Can new types of service provision licenses be created?
Yes. This may be done by decision of the Authority's Board of Directors, as its regulations provide.
More articles on Roles of the Ministry and the Water Regulatory Authority
- 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 6
The article requires the Ministry and the Authority to give the private sector the information it needs for water investment, and requires bodies and licensees to give them information, samples and documents.
1- على الوزارة والهيئة -كلٌّ فيما يخصه- تزويد مؤسسات القطاع الخاص بالمعلومات التي تمكنهم من اتخاذ قراراتهم، وإعداد دراسات الجدوى الخاصة بالاستثمار في أنشطة استخ
- 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
- 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 52
Article 52 tasks the Ministry or its delegate with building water harvesting infrastructure and networks outside the jurisdiction of the secretariats, municipalities and special zones when there is no licensee, and treats public water infrastructure as state property.
1- تقوم الوزارة أو من تفوضه في حال عدم وجود مرخَّص له في المناطق الواقعة خارج نطاق اختصاص الأمانات والبلديات والمناطق الخاصة؛ بإنشاء بنى أساسية، وشبكات، وأنظمة
- Article 61
The article tasks the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture with issuing, and updating, the measures, standards and requirements for protecting water sources and the environment from pollution.
تقوم الوزارة بإصدار مقاييس حماية مصادر المياه والبيئة من التلوث ومعاييرها ومتطلباتها، وتحديثها.
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.