Article 61 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 61 من نظام المياه · الفصل الثالث عشر: الحماية الصحية والبيئية للمياه
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تقوم الوزارة بإصدار مقاييس حماية مصادر المياه والبيئة من التلوث ومعاييرها ومتطلباتها، وتحديثها.
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 61 explained in plain English
This article identifies the body responsible for setting the technical rules for protecting water from pollution, which is the Ministry, meaning the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture according to the Law's definitions in Article 1.
The article gives it two tasks:
- Issuing: issuing the measures, standards and requirements for protecting water sources and the environment from pollution.
- Updating: updating these measures, standards and requirements, so they are not fixed.
The article itself does not state the details of these measures or their values, but leaves that to what the Ministry issues. Anyone who wants to know the actual requirements therefore refers to what the Ministry issues on this subject.
This article is linked to what comes before and after it. Article 60 makes the Ministry monitor compliance with the standards for the quality of water used for agricultural purposes, and makes the Authority monitor water quality in the activities of the service provision licensee and verify that it conforms to the standards and specifications approved by the Ministry, with bottled drinking water excluded. Article 62 prohibits any act that would harm water sources or their basic infrastructure, as set out in the Ministry's regulations.
In short, the Ministry is the reference for the environmental and health standards for protecting water, and the monitoring bodies measure compliance by referring to what the Ministry approves. Anyone with a facility or activity that may affect water and who needs to assess their position would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in water, environmental and administrative regulation.
Practical example
A factory in the Eastern Province wants to make sure its activity does not pollute nearby groundwater. According to this article, the reference for the pollution-protection measures and their requirements is what the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture issues and updates, so the factory refers to the latest issue of these measures.
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 61 of the Saudi Water Law
Who issues the standards for protecting water from pollution in Saudi Arabia?
Under Article 61 of the Water Law, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture issues the measures, standards and requirements for protecting water sources and the environment from pollution.
Are the standards for protecting water from pollution fixed?
No. The article requires the Ministry to update these measures, standards and requirements as well as issue them.
Does the article state the values of the standards in detail?
No. The article only identifies the body competent to issue the standards, and their details are in what the Ministry issues.
More articles on Protecting Water Sources from Pollution
- Article 14
The article requires public and private bodies to inform the Ministry of any indicator or change they detect in the water sources belonging to them, and requires the Ministry to follow it up.
على جميع الجهات العامة والخاصة موافاة الوزارة بأي مؤشر أو تغير ترصده في أي مصدر من مصادر المياه التابعة لها، وعلى الوزارة متابعة ذلك.
- Article 19
The article requires the Ministry to take the necessary measures to prevent the use of water sources that have become unsuitable for use, including stopping the issuance of the source license or cancelling it.
تتخذ الوزارة الإجراءات والتدابير اللازمة لمنع استخدام مصادر المياه التي أصبحت غير صالحة للاستخدام، بما في ذلك إيقاف إصدار رخصة استخدام المصدر، أو إلغائها.
- Article 24
The article requires an agricultural irrigation system to include an integrated drainage system that collects excess irrigation water and disposes of it safely, to protect water sources from pollution.
يجب أن تشتمل منظومة الري الزراعي على نظام صرف متكامل لتجميع مياه الري الزائدة، والتخلص منها بطريقة آمنة؛ للمحافظة على مصادر المياه من التلوث، وفقًا لما تحدده لو
- Article 31
The article requires oil factories, car wash stations, restaurants, kitchens and similar facilities to provide grease or oil traps, and requires the owner to maintain them and monitor their operation.
يجب أن توفر مصانع الزيوت، ومحطات غسيل السيارات، والمطاعم والمطابخ، وما في حكمها؛ مصايد الدهون أو الزيوت، وعلى المالك صيانتها ومتابعة عملها بما يحقق الغرض منها؛
- 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 55
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.
1- فيما عدا المناطق الخاصة، يقوم المرخَّص له بإعداد مخططات للبنى الأساسية للمياه، وتعتمدها الوزارة. 2- على الجهات الحكومية والخاصة التنسيق مع الوزارة؛ لتفادي ال
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.