Article 64 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 64 من نظام المياه · الفصل الرابع عشر: تدابير أساسية لحماية مصادر المياه
Article 64 requires the licensee to set a safe separation distance, specified by the Authority's regulations, between wastewater collection networks and water sources and systems, and to take the necessary measures to prevent wastewater from leaking into them.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على المرخص له وضعُ مسافة فاصلة وآمنة -تحددها لوائح الهيئة- بين شبكات تجميع مياه الصرف وبين مصادر المياه، وأنظمة نقلها، وتوزيعها، وخزاناتها، ويجب عليه اتخاذ جميع التدابير اللازمة؛ لتفادي تسرب مياه الصرف إلى تلك المصادر، أو أنظمة نقلها، أو توزيعها، أو خزاناتها.
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 64 explained in plain English
This article aims to prevent wastewater from mixing with water that people use, and imposes two obligations on the licensee:
- The safe separation distance: setting a safe separation distance between wastewater collection networks on one side, and water sources and their transport, distribution and storage systems on the other. The article does not state the size of this distance, but refers it to the Authority's regulations.
- Preventive measures: taking all necessary measures to avoid wastewater leaking into those sources or their transport systems, distribution systems or tanks.
Note that the second obligation is independent of the first; complying with the distance alone does not remove the need to take all necessary measures to avoid leakage.
In the Law's definitions, the Authority is the Electricity and Co-Generation Regulatory Authority, and the Authority's regulations are the regulations needed for it to carry out its tasks under the provisions of the Law.
This article comes after Article 63, which deals with hydrocarbon and toxic materials leaking into aquifers, and before Article 65, which makes detecting violations of the Law, the Ministry's regulations and the Authority's regulations, and investigating them, the tasks of the Ministry and the Authority, each within its competence. Anyone who needs to assess their facility's obligations in this regard would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in water, environmental and administrative law.
Practical example
A licensed company is building a wastewater collection network in a new neighborhood of Jeddah, near which a water distribution line passes. It must comply with the separation distance specified by the Authority's regulations, and must also take all necessary measures to prevent wastewater from leaking into the distribution line.
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 64 of the Saudi Water Law
What distance is required between a sewage network and water sources?
Article 64 does not state a figure; it provides that the safe separation distance is specified by the Authority's regulations.
Who bears the obligation to prevent sewage from leaking into water?
The licensee, who must set the separation distance and take all necessary measures to avoid leakage.
Is complying with the separation distance enough?
The article adds a separate obligation to take all necessary measures to avoid wastewater leaking into the sources and the transport and distribution systems and tanks.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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يجوز للوزارة أو من ترخص له الحقن كلما كان ذلك آمنًا من الناحية الصحية، والبيئية، والتقنية؛ وفقًا لما تحدده لوائح الوزارة.
- Article 55
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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.