Article 63 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 63 من نظام المياه · الفصل الرابع عشر: تدابير أساسية لحماية مصادر المياه
Article 63 requires the Ministries of Energy, of Industry and Mineral Resources, and of Municipal and Rural Affairs, each within its competence, to prevent hydrocarbon and toxic materials from leaking into aquifers, and to notify the Ministry of leaks and deal with them.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على وزارة الطـــاقــــــة، ووزارة الصـــــنــاعة والثروة المعدنية، ووزارة الشؤون البلدية والقروية -وفقًا لاختصاصاتها المقررة نظامًا- اتخاذ ما يلزم؛ لمنع تسرب المواد الهيدروكربونية والسامة الناتجة من آبار البترول والغاز، ومحطات التكرير والتوزيع والمصانع ومحطات البنزين، ومراكز صيانة السيارات والمعدات إلى الطبقات المائية، وإشعار الوزارة في حال تسربها، ومعالجتها، وإيقاف آثارها البيئية والصحية.
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 63 explained in plain English
This article addresses a specific danger: the leakage of hydrocarbon materials (such as petroleum products) and toxic materials into underground aquifers.
The bodies required to act: the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, each according to its competences established by law.
The sources the article mentions:
- Oil and gas wells.
- Refining and distribution plants.
- Factories.
- Gas stations.
- Vehicle and equipment maintenance centers.
What these ministries must do:
- Take what is necessary to prevent leakage.
- Notify the Ministry (the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture) if a leak occurs.
- Deal with the leak.
- Stop its environmental and health effects.
The article is directed to the government bodies named. It does not specify the detailed procedures each ministry takes, but leaves that to each one's competence.
This article complements Article 62, which prohibits any act likely to harm water sources or their infrastructure as the Ministry's regulations specify, and Article 64, which requires the licensee to set a safe separation distance between wastewater collection networks and water sources and systems. Anyone affected by a leak of this kind who needs an assessment of their position may consult a lawyer specializing in water, environmental and administrative law.
Practical example
A fuel leak from the tanks of a gas station in one of the governorates is discovered flowing toward an aquifer. Under this article, the ministry competent for this activity must notify the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the leak, deal with it and stop its environmental and health effects.
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 63 of the Saudi Water Law
Who is responsible for preventing petroleum from leaking into groundwater?
Article 63 requires the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, each according to its competence, to take what is necessary to prevent leakage.
Does the article cover gas stations and car workshops?
Yes. The article lists gas stations and vehicle and equipment maintenance centers among the sources of leakage that must be prevented.
What must be done when a leak into aquifers occurs?
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture must be notified, the leak dealt with, and its environmental and health effects stopped.
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.