In a decisive step aimed at enhancing water security and protecting public health, the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Engineer Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, issued a ministerial decree mandating a comprehensive update of the technical standards and specifications for treated wastewater. This decree aims to ensure the safe use of this water and improve its quality, making it a strategic water resource relied upon by various sectors. The decree also stipulates that facilities violating the regulations by using untreated wastewater will face hefty fines of up to 600,000 riyals.
Details of the decision and immediate compliance
The Director General of the Ministry's branch in the Makkah region, Engineer Waleed Al-Daghis, affirmed that the new decision is non-negotiable, requiring all entities and establishments to immediately comply with the updated regulations and requirements. He emphasized that the Ministry will not hesitate to enforce the regulations to ensure full environmental compliance, warning of the dangers of using untreated wastewater in any activity. He described this act as a serious violation that threatens public safety and warrants the imposition of the maximum legal penalties to deter those who disregard the regulations.
The context of water security and Vision 2030
This step is of paramount strategic importance within the context of Saudi Arabia's efforts to achieve environmental and water sustainability as part of its Vision 2030 goals. The Kingdom, facing natural challenges related to limited freshwater resources, has placed water recycling and treatment at the forefront of its priorities. Updating the standards aims to maximize the use of reclaimed (treated) water for agricultural, industrial, and district cooling purposes, thereby reducing pressure on groundwater and desalinated water sources and enhancing the efficiency of the circular economy.
Environmental and health risks
From an environmental and health perspective, using untreated water is a ticking time bomb, leading to soil and crop contamination, and potentially causing the spread of diseases and epidemics, as well as groundwater pollution. Therefore, the hefty fine (600,000 riyals) reflects the scale of the potential damage and underscores the state's commitment to protecting the ecosystem from any reckless practices that could harm natural resources or human health.
Call for investors and ongoing monitoring
In closing, the Ministry urged all stakeholders and investors to review the new regulations and standards published on the "Survey" platform and to fully comply with them to avoid violations. The Ministry emphasized that its inspection teams will continue to conduct intensive and unannounced inspections to monitor any violations and strictly enforce the decision, ensuring a healthy, safe, and sustainable environment for current and future generations.
