Article 70 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 70 من نظام المياه · الفصل السادس عشر: لجنة النظر في المخالفات
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يتولى النظر والفصل في مخالفات أحكام النظام المتعلقة باختصاص الوزارة ولوائحها، وإيقاع العقوبات المنصوص عليها في النظام، وتقدير التعويضات، لجنة -أو أكثر- تكون بقرار من الوزير لمدة ثلاث سنوات قابلة للتجديد، وتكون من خمسة أعضاء، على أن يكون من بينهم اثنان من المختصين في الشريعة أو الأنظمة، وخبير في مصادر المياه، ويحدد القرار من يتولى رئاستها على أن يكون من المختصين في الشريعة أو الأنظمة. وتصدر قراراتها بالأغلبية على الأقل، وتكون مسبّبة، ويعتمد الوزير قراراتها الصادرة بالغرامة التي تتجاوز خمسة ملايين ريـالاً، أو بإلغاء الترخيص، أو بكليهما. وتحدد قواعد عمل اللجنة وإجراءاتها بقرار من الوزير.
2- يتولى النظر والفصل في مخالفات أحكام النظام المتعلقة باختصاص الهيئة ولوائحها، وإيقاع العقوبات المنصوص عليها في النظام، لجنة أو أكثر، تكون بقرار من رئيس مجلس الإدارة، لمدة ثلاث سنوات، قابلة للتجديد، وتكون من خمسة أعضاء على أن يكون من بينهم اثنان من المختصين في الشريعة أو الأنظمة، وخبير في خدمات المياه، ويحدد القرار من يتولى رئاستها على أن يكون من المختصين في الشريعة أو الأنظمة، وتصدر قراراتها بالأغلبية على الأقل، وتكون مسبَّبة، وتعتمد من المحافظ، وتحدد قواعد عمل اللجنة وإجراءاتها بقرار من مجلس الإدارة.
3- يجوز الاعتراض على قرارات اللجنتين المنصوص عليهما في هذه المادة أمام المحكمة الإدارية خلال (ستين) يومًا من تاريخ الإبلاغ بالقرار.
4- تحدد لوائح الوزارة ولوائح الهيئة -بحسب الحال- ما تختص به كل لجنة من النظر في المخالفات المنصوص عليها في المادة (السابعة والستين) من النظام.
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 70 explained in plain English
This article shows who decides on violations of the Water Law and imposes their penalties, and how its decisions are objected to.
1- The Ministry's committee: one or more committees formed by decision of the Minister for 3 years, renewable, which hear violations relating to the Ministry's competence and regulations, impose penalties, and assess compensation.
- It consists of 5 members, including two specialists in Sharia or law, and an expert in water resources.
- Its chair is one of the specialists in Sharia or law, specified in the decision forming it.
- It issues its decisions by at least a majority, and they must be reasoned.
- The Minister approves its decisions imposing a fine exceeding SAR 5,000,000, or revoking the license, or both.
- Its working rules and procedures are set by decision of the Minister.
2- The Authority's committee: one or more committees by decision of the Chairman of the Board of Directors for 3 years, renewable, which hear violations relating to the Authority's competence and regulations and impose penalties. It consists of 5 members, including two specialists in Sharia or law and an expert in water services, and its chair is one of the specialists in Sharia or law. It issues its decisions by at least a majority, reasoned, and the Governor approves them; its working rules are set by decision of the Board of Directors.
3- Objection: The decisions of both committees may be objected to before the Administrative Court within 60 days of the date of notification of the decision.
4- Distribution of competence: The Ministry's regulations and the Authority's regulations specify which of the violations stated in Article 67 each committee has competence over.
The two committees impose the penalties stated in the Law, including the penalty for attempt and concealment in Article 69. Because the objection period is fixed, a person against whom a decision has been issued would do well to consult promptly a lawyer specializing in water, environmental and administrative law.
Practical example
The Ministry's committee issues a decision fining a farmer in Tabuk, and he is notified of it on a particular day. If he wants to object, he must file his objection before the Administrative Court within 60 days of the date he was notified of the decision.
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 70 of the Saudi Water Law
How do I object to a Water Law violation?
The decisions of the Ministry's and the Authority's committees may be objected to before the Administrative Court within 60 days of the date of notification of the decision.
Who forms the committee to hear water violations?
The Ministry's committee is formed by decision of the Minister, and the Authority's committee by decision of the Chairman of the Board of Directors; each has five members for a renewable three-year term.
When does the Minister need to approve a committee decision?
The Minister approves the Ministry committee's decisions imposing a fine exceeding SAR 5,000,000, or revoking the license, or both.
Must the committee's decisions be reasoned?
Yes. The article provides that both committees' decisions are issued by at least a majority and must be reasoned.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Committees for Water Violations
- Article 71
The article allows the Ministry and the Authority, in urgent cases, to order a violator to stop and remove the violation, suspend their activity or manage the source for up to six months, and requires the committee to decide within 20 working days.
1- كل من يخالف أي حكم من أحكام النظام، أو لوائح الوزارة، أو لوائح الهيئة، أو شروط الرخصة، أو الإعفاء، أو شرع في ذلك، فإنه يحق للوزارة أو للهيئة -كل فيما يخصه- ف
- Article 72
The article makes whoever commits a violation of the Water Law liable for all damage to the licensee's facility or to third parties, including repair costs and compensation for the benefit lost.
1- يكون مرتكب المخالفة مسؤولاً عن جميع الأضرار التي لحقت بمرفق المرخَّص له، أو الغير، بما في ذلك تكاليف إصلاح التلف الذي تسبب في حدوثه، والتعويض عن المنفعة التي
- Article 75
The article repeals three earlier laws and their regulations: the Law of Water and Sewerage Authorities, the Law on Conservation of Water Resources, and the Law on Treated Sewage Water and Its Reuse.
يُلغي النظام الآتي: 1- نظام مصالح المياه والصرف الصحي، الصادر بالمرسوم الملكي ذي الرقم (م / 22) والتاريخ 23 / 6 / 1391هـ، ولوائحه. 2- نظام المحافظة على مصادر ال
- Article 77
The article provides that the Water Law comes into force 90 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.
يُعمل بالنظام بعد (تسعين) يومًا من تاريخ نشره في الجريدة الرسمية.
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.