Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — A maximum fine of SR200000 will be imposed for violations related to misuse of water and water distribution and storage facilities. Penalties for various types of violations are spelled out in the executive regulations for monitoring and compliance with water efficiency and rationalization standards, issued by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. These violations fall under five main sectors: urban, agricultural, industrial, service, and general violations.
Fines for violations in the urban sector include using non-efficient plumbing fixtures such as mixers, faucets, showers, bidets, and flushing boxes SR10,000; tampering with or removing the efficient part of the fixture SR2,000; wasting drinking water from underground or overhead tanks due to cracks in the tank body, insulation, malfunctions, or the absence of a float up to SR50,000; and using the tank for purposes other than its intended purpose when alternative sources are available such as treated wastewater, a treated water network, or a licensed well, up to SR200,000.
The fine also includes failing to operate a grey water station for buildings and complexes that meet the requirements for installing such stations a fine of up to SR100,000; using a non-efficient irrigation system up to SR100,000; finding a leak in the irrigation network or internal water network up to SR10,000; and failing to place water conservation awareness materials in public facilities in languages appropriate for each building's users up to SR10,000.
Penalties for violations in the agricultural and industrial sectors, include failure to comply with water licensing requirements related to water conservation and efficiency in the agricultural sector up to SR100,000, failure to use efficient irrigation systems, tools, and techniques up to SR20,000, and failure to adhere to the allocated water footprint in the industrial sector up to SR200,000, in accordance with the decisions issued regarding the allocation of water footprints to industrial products.
General violations include failure to provide the National Center for Water Efficiency and Conservation with information and documents related to water efficiency and conservation from any water user up to SR5,000, violation of the technical regulations, standards, and procedures issued by the center up to SR50,000, and preventing or obstructing inspectors and specialists in inspection, control, and investigation from performing their work up to SR100,000.
Service providers’ violations also include failure to comply with the application of models, methods, and requirements for reviewing the urban sector’s compliance with standard water quantities, the industrial sector’s compliance with the water footprint, and the agricultural sector’s compliance with water quotas up to SR200,000, failure to comply with the application of models, methods, and mechanisms to verify the presence of rational sanitary tools in accordance with the standards issued by the competent authorities up to SR200,000, failure to submit the necessary reports in accordance with the center’s requirements up to SR5,000, and carrying out an activity related to water efficiency and rationalization services without a license from the center up to SR5,000.
