Article 65 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 65 من نظام المياه · الفصل الخامس عشر: المخالفات والعقوبات
Article 65 makes detecting violations of the Water Law and its regulations, and investigating them, the tasks of the Ministry and the Authority, each within its competence, and allows them to qualify specialized companies or offices for monitoring and detecting violations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تتولى الوزارة والهيئة -كلٌّ فيما يخصه- ضبط مخالفات أحكام النظام، ولوائح الوزارة، ولوائح الهيئة، والتحقيق فيها، واتخاذ الإجراءات النظامية حيالها، وفقًا لما تحدده لوائح الوزارة، ولوائح الهيئة، بحسب الاختصاص.
2- للوزارة والهيئة -كلٌ فيما يخصه- تأهيلُ شركات أو مكاتب متخصصة؛ للقيام بمهمات المراقبة، وضبط المخالفات، وفق ضوابط ومعايير تحددهما لوائح الوزارة، ولوائح 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 65 explained in plain English
This article shows who detects violations under the Water Law, and divides the task between two bodies:
- The Ministry (the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture).
- The Authority (the Electricity and Co-Generation Regulatory Authority, under the Law's definitions).
Each acts within its competence, that is, within the limits of its jurisdiction.
Paragraph 1: The Ministry and the Authority handle detecting violations of the provisions of the Law, the Ministry's regulations and the Authority's regulations, investigating them and taking the legal measures regarding them, as the Ministry's regulations and the Authority's regulations specify, according to jurisdiction. The article does not state the steps of detection and investigation, but refers them to the regulations.
Paragraph 2: The Ministry and the Authority, each within its competence, may qualify specialized companies or offices to carry out the tasks of monitoring and detecting violations, according to controls and criteria specified by the Ministry's regulations and the Authority's regulations. This means that whoever monitors and detects a violation may be a private body qualified for that.
Article 66 complements this provision: the Minister and the Board of Directors approve the controls for detecting, proving and investigating violations, and the Minister and the Governor specify who handles detection and investigation, with the capacity of law enforcement officers. Someone accused of a violation who needs to know their position can consult a lawyer specializing in water, environmental and administrative law.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Al-Safwa Law Office and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 65 of the Saudi Water Law
Who detects violations of the Water Law?
The Ministry and the Authority, each within its competence, handle detecting violations of the Law, the Ministry's regulations and the Authority's regulations and investigating them.
Can a private company detect water violations?
Yes. The article allows the Ministry and the Authority to qualify specialized companies or offices to carry out monitoring and detecting violations, according to controls specified by the regulations.
Where do I find the procedures for detecting and investigating a violation?
The article refers this to the Ministry's regulations and the Authority's regulations, according to jurisdiction.
More articles on Water Violations and Penalties
- 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
- Article 66
Article 66 specifies who approves the controls for detecting violations of the Water Law, who appoints those assigned to detection and investigation as law enforcement officers, and their powers of inspection and access to records.
1- يعتمد الوزير ومجلس الإدارة -كل فيما يخصه- الضوابط الخاصة بضبط مخالفات النظام، وإثباتها، والتحقيق فيها. 2- يُحدّد الوزير، والمحافظ -كل فيما يخصه- من منسوبي ال
- Article 67
The article lists seventeen acts that count as violations of the Water Law, including operating without a license, giving misleading information, causing water scarcity or pollution, and unlawful connection to networks.
دون إخلال بالأنظمة الأخرى، يُعدّ القيام بأي من الأفعال الآتية مخالفة للنظام: 1- مزاولة أي نشاط أو عمل من الأنشطة الخاضعة للنظام دون الحصول على رخصة. 2- الإدلاء
- Article 68
The article sets the penalties for violating the Water Law: suspension of the activity for up to one year, cancellation of the license, and a fine of up to twenty million riyals, with a daily fine, doubling on repetition, and publication.
1- دون إخلال بأي عقوبة أشد ينص عليها نظام آخر، يُعاقب من يخالف أيًا من أحكام النظام، أو لوائح الوزارة، أو لوائح الهيئة، أو شروط الرخص، أو الإعفاءات الصادرة وفقً
- Article 69
The article punishes anyone who attempts to violate the Water Law or conceals a violator with half the prescribed penalty, and with the full penalty on repetition.
يعاقب من يشرع في مخالفة أي حكم من أحكام النظام أو يتستر على أي مخالف لأحكامه بنصف العقوبة المقررة للمخالفة، وفي حال التكرار يعاقب بالعقوبة ذاتها المقررة للمخالف
- Article 70
Article 70 creates two committees to hear violations of the Water Law, one for the Ministry and one for the Authority, sets their composition and approval of their decisions, and allows objection before the Administrative Court within 60 days.
1- يتولى النظر والفصل في مخالفات أحكام النظام المتعلقة باختصاص الوزارة ولوائحها، وإيقاع العقوبات المنصوص عليها في النظام، وتقدير التعويضات، لجنة -أو أكثر- تكون
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.