Article 55 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 55 من نظام المياه · الفصل الحادي عشر: البنى الأساسية للمياه وكشف التسربات
Article 55 requires the licensee, except in special zones, to prepare water infrastructure plans for the Ministry's approval, and requires government and private bodies to coordinate with the Ministry to avoid threatening the infrastructure's safety.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- فيما عدا المناطق الخاصة، يقوم المرخَّص له بإعداد مخططات للبنى الأساسية للمياه، وتعتمدها الوزارة.
2- على الجهات الحكومية والخاصة التنسيق مع الوزارة؛ لتفادي القيام بأي عمل من شأنه تهديد سلامة البنى الأساسية للمياه، أو التسبب في إتلافها، أو تلوثها.
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 55 explained in plain English
This article contains two provisions to protect water infrastructure, which under Article 1 means facilities used to produce, harvest, transport, distribute, store or monitor water, and does not include desalination, treatment and purification plants.
Paragraph (1): plans. The licensee prepares plans for water infrastructure, and the Ministry approves them. Special zones are excluded, so under the article this provision does not apply in them. Having approved plans helps in knowing where networks and facilities are located.
Paragraph (2): coordination to prevent harm. Government and private bodies must coordinate with the Ministry to avoid doing any work that would:
- Threaten the safety of water infrastructure.
- Cause it to be damaged.
- Cause it to be contaminated.
The obligation here is preventive: coordination is to avoid harm before it occurs. The article does not specify the procedures for coordination or its duration.
The article is linked to Article 56, which prohibits any work or digging within the boundaries or protective zones of infrastructure and of desalination, purification and treatment plants except after coordinating with the licensee or their owners, and prohibits work or digging within the boundaries or protective zones of wells and dams except after coordinating with the Ministry.
In practice, any body carrying out a project that may come close to water networks should coordinate with the Ministry first. If damage or a dispute arises, a lawyer specializing in water law and administrative matters can be consulted.
Practical example
A contracting company in Riyadh is carrying out a road project that may pass near water transmission lines. Under this article it must coordinate with the Ministry in advance to avoid any work that could threaten the safety of this infrastructure or cause it to be damaged or contaminated.
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 55 of the Saudi Water Law
Who prepares water infrastructure plans?
The licensee prepares them and the Ministry approves them, except in special zones, under paragraph (1) of Article 55.
Must the Ministry of Water be consulted before carrying out a project near the networks?
Paragraph (2) requires government and private bodies to coordinate with the Ministry to avoid any work that would threaten the safety of water infrastructure or cause it to be damaged or contaminated.
More articles on Water Service Licenses and Infrastructure
- Article 17
The article bars the relevant bodies from issuing licenses or approvals for any facility that may obstruct the use of surface water except with the Ministry's prior approval.
على الجهات المعنية عدم إصدار رخص أو موافقات على إقامة أيّ منشأة قد تعوق استخدام المياه السطحية إلا بموافقة مسبقة من الوزارة.
- Article 47
The article makes issuing, renewing and amending licenses, exemptions and permits for service provision activities the Authority's responsibility, and bans carrying out any of these activities without a license except those exempted by the Authority's regulations.
1- تتولى الهيئة إصدار الرخص، والإعفاءات، والتصاريح اللازمة لمزاولة أي نشاط من أنشطة تقديم الخدمة، أو الإعداد لمزاولته، وتجديدها، وتعديلها. 2- فيما عدا الأنشطة ا
- Article 48
The article prohibits a licensee for a service provision activity from assigning its license or disposing of the licensed assets in any way before obtaining the Authority's written permission, without affecting the performance of the activity.
لا يجوز للمرخَّص له بنشاط تقديم الخدمة -قبل الحصول على إذن مكتوب من الهيئة- التنازل عن رخصته، أو التصرف في الأصول المرخَّص لها، سواءً بالنقل، أو البيع، أو الرهن
- Article 49
Article 49 requires a service-activity licensee to get the Authority's approval before merging with others or acquiring most of their shares or assets, and to notify the Authority of any preliminary agreement.
يجب على المرخَّص له بنشاط تقديم الخدمة الحصول على موافقة الهيئة قبل الاندماج مع أشخاص آخرين، أو امتلاك معظم حصصهم، أو موجوداتهم، ويجب عليه إشعار الهيئة بأي اتفا
- Article 50
Article 50 requires the Authority, in coordination with the Ministry, to make the necessary arrangements to ensure service continues if a service-activity licensee is unable to carry out its activity for any reason.
إذا تعذر على المرخَّص له بنشاط تقديم الخدمة القيام بنشاطه المرخَّص له به لأي سبب، فعلى الهيئة -وبالتنسيق مع الوزارة- اتخاذ الترتيبات اللازمة؛ لضمان استمرار تقدي
- Article 51
Article 51 gives the Authority's inspectors the right to enter sites and facilities licensed by the Authority to check compliance with the Law, and allows the Authority to coordinate with the competent bodies if they are prevented or obstructed.
1- لمفتشي الهيئة الحق في دخول المواقع والمنشآت المرخَّص لها من قبل الهيئة؛ للتأكد من مدى الالتزام بتطبيق أحكام النظام. 2- في حال منع أو إعاقة مفتشي الهيئة عن تأ
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.