Details of the decision to ban seasonal water service interruptions in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Water Authority announced significant updates to its new Water and Wastewater Services Guide, including a firm decision prohibiting water service disconnections for consumers during specific periods: the holy month of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, as well as Saudi National Day and Founder's Day. The Authority also confirmed that service interruptions are prohibited in the cities of Mecca and Medina during the Hajj season, from the 1st to the 20th of Dhul-Hijjah, for all categories of customers, and in cases where outstanding billing complaints remain unresolved.
The development of the public utilities sector and the Kingdom's vision
This step comes within the context of the radical transformations taking place in the public utilities sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030. Historically, the Kingdom has always sought to develop its water infrastructure to ensure its sustainability and meet the increasing demand driven by population growth and urban expansion. Regulating the relationship between service providers and consumers is an extension of the state's ongoing efforts to improve quality of life, protect subscribers' rights, and provide a transparent regulatory environment that guarantees the uninterrupted flow of vital resources, especially during periods of exceptionally high consumption.
Strategic dimensions and impact of service stability
This new regulation is of paramount importance and will have a wide-ranging positive impact. Domestically, the decision enhances the social and psychological well-being of Saudi families and residents during religious and national events that require increased water consumption. Regionally and internationally, ensuring the continuity of services in Mecca and Medina during the Hajj season reflects the Kingdom's high level of efficiency in crowd management and providing comfort to millions of pilgrims from around the world, thus solidifying Saudi Arabia's leading position in organizing and managing the world's largest human gatherings with efficiency and competence.
Regulations and procedures for prohibiting and restoring water service disconnection
Despite the prohibition on disconnecting water service during specific seasons, the guidelines establish clear procedures for handling outstanding debts during normal periods. The service provider is entitled to initiate disconnection procedures if the outstanding balance exceeds 1,000 riyals or if three consecutive bills remain unpaid. The regulations stipulate that the customer must be notified and given a 15-day grace period for payment from the due date. This period is followed by a final notice, issued no more than five working days before disconnection is enforced. Conversely, entities with a critical nature are granted an additional grace period of up to 30 days. Upon payment, the service provider is obligated to restore water service to the subscriber within 24 hours to ensure that customers are not negatively impacted by prolonged outages.
Compensation mechanisms in case of service interruption
The guide stipulates that subscribers are entitled to request a water tanker at a reduced rate of 4 riyals per cubic meter if the regular service is delayed or interrupted for more than 72 hours due to reasons beyond their control. The tanker must be provided within 12 hours of the request, and deliveries at this rate will continue every 15 days until the regular service is fully restored. The guide also specifies a 10-business-day period for reviewing new connection requests, with on-site implementation to be completed within a maximum of 25 business days after payment of fees, thus ensuring a clear service delivery schedule.
Updated costs for meter installation and relocation
The regulatory guide revealed the fees for relocating water meters up to a distance of 2 meters, amounting to 2,500 riyals for smaller diameters and 3,500 riyals for larger diameters. An additional 1,000 riyals is charged for each additional building unit when connecting water and sewage services. For the non-residential sector, connection fees start at 3,000 riyals for water and 5,000 riyals for sewage, with variable charges added for areas exceeding 3,000 square meters and actual implementation costs. These updated pricing structures aim to regulate urban expansion and ensure coverage of infrastructure costs while maintaining quality standards and timely completion in both residential and commercial projects.
