"Don't Walk It" Campaign: Water Authority Pursues Tanker Violations to Ensure Quality

The Saudi Water Authority announced the launch of a new and crucial phase in its oversight efforts: an awareness and monitoring campaign under the slogan “Don’t Let It Go.” This campaign primarily aims to detect violations by water tankers across the Kingdom. This step complements the Authority’s strategy to improve the quality of services provided to beneficiaries and ensure that all operators adhere to approved regulatory and technical standards.

Campaign details and monitoring mechanisms

The current phase of the campaign focuses on activating the community's role in oversight. The authority urged consumers not to overlook violations and to immediately report any water tanker that does not comply with regulations. The authority explained that the most important element for distinguishing between a compliant and a non-compliant tanker is its "approved identification." Tankers must display clear information, specific colors, and serial numbers that enable regulatory bodies and consumers to verify their legitimacy. These measures aim to eliminate the haphazard nature of the off-grid water transport sector.

Strategic context and the importance of sector regulation

This campaign cannot be separated from the broader context of the major transformations underway in Saudi Arabia's water sector, in line with the goals of Vision 2030. The sector has recently witnessed structural and organizational changes, most notably the transformation of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation into the Saudi Water Authority, to strengthen its regulatory and oversight role. Regulating the water tanker sector is an integral part of the national water strategy, given the widespread reliance of new and remote areas and developments on tanker transport as an alternative or supplement to the main water networks.

Expected impact: health and economic

The “Don’t Walk It” campaign has dimensions that go beyond simply issuing fines, as it is expected to have multiple positive effects:

• On the health and environmental front: Adherence to the approved identity ensures that the tanker is designated for transporting potable water, and that it has undergone tests that confirm its tank is free of pollutants or rust, thus protecting the public health of citizens and residents.
• On the economic and regulatory level: Eliminating non-compliant carriers contributes to promoting fair competition among licensed operators, controlling service prices, and preventing commercial concealment in this vital sector.

In conclusion, the Authority stressed that compliance with the requirements is not an option but a binding necessity, confirming the continuation of its monitoring tours and its interaction with public reports to ensure access to clean, safe and reliable water for all beneficiaries in the Kingdom.