Saudi Arabia: Fines of 600,000 riyals for violating wastewater regulations

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has announced a comprehensive set of new regulations and requirements governing the reuse of treated wastewater. This crucial step aims to protect public health, maintain ecological balance, and ensure the sustainability of the Kingdom's water resources, and is supported by a deterrent penalty system with fines reaching up to 600,000 riyals for violators.

Strategic context: Water security and Vision 2030

These measures are of paramount strategic importance given the Kingdom's geographical nature and scarcity of natural water resources. These initiatives align with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Water Strategy, which aim to maximize the use of treated wastewater as a strategic and sustainable alternative for agricultural and industrial purposes, thereby reducing pressure on non-renewable groundwater sources and the economically and environmentally costly process of desalination.

Regulating this sector is a key pillar of the "Green Saudi Arabia" initiative, as treated water provides a primary source for afforestation and irrigation projects, provided that health standards are adhered to in order to ensure that pollutants or diseases are not transferred to the soil and humans.

A strict ban on untreated water

The new regulations, in their third article, strictly prohibit the use of untreated sewage in any activity whatsoever, or its indiscriminate discharge into the environment. The Ministry classified this practice as one of the most serious violations due to its direct threat to public health, imposing hefty fines ranging from 400,000 to 600,000 riyals.

The ministry also assigned the task of closely monitoring the uses of treated water to the General Irrigation Corporation, to ensure that it conforms to standard specifications before being directed for any purpose, with the obligation to report any violations immediately.

Classification of uses: Permitted and prohibited

The regulations set red lines that cannot be crossed even for (tertiary) treated water, categorically prohibiting its use in:

• Drinking water or water for direct human use.
• Food industries and water bottling plants.
• Growing leafy and root crops that are eaten raw (such as lettuce and carrots) and come into direct contact with water.

In contrast, the regulation allowed the use of tertiary-treated water for other agricultural purposes, industry, mining, and construction, provided that it is subject to periodic tests that prove its safety and compliance with approved environmental standards.

Protecting wells and groundwater

Regarding wells located near treated wastewater discharge points, the ministry imposed strict restrictions to prevent groundwater contamination. It mandated that laboratory analyses (chemical and microbiological) be conducted every three months in accredited laboratories. If the results do not meet the required standards, use of the wells will be immediately suspended.

The regulations also prohibit the injection of treated wastewater into groundwater layers except with special licenses and very strict controls, to prevent any potential contamination of the strategic water reserve.

List of penalties and fines

To ensure compliance, the ministry adopted a detailed schedule of violations and penalties, which included the following:

• 600,000 riyals: The maximum fine for using untreated wastewater.
• 200,000 – 300,000 Riyals: Fine for using treated water for drinking or domestic use.
• 100,000 – 200,000 Riyals: Fine for using well water near the outlets for drinking or food industries.
• 50,000 – 70,000 Riyals: Fine for using treated water in the cultivation of leafy greens and crops that are eaten raw.
• 10,000 – 30,000 Riyals: Fine for negligence in conducting periodic water analyses.