The Saudi Water Authority has issued rules governing how water and sewage services are delivered to approved land plans and development projects. The rules, which take effect from their date of issue, aim to speed up connections, clarify each party's responsibilities and offer solutions for sites that cannot be linked directly to the public networks.

They set a unified framework for the relationship between service providers and applicants, spelling out regulatory, technical and financial obligations, promoting transparency and fairness in the connection process and protecting beneficiaries' interests.

The rules cover plans that are linked to the public networks and those that are not. Where a direct connection is not possible, water options include a network link or operational storage tanks, while sewage options include a link to the public network or centralised or decentralised treatment systems, depending on the plan's nature, location and development stages and in line with the authority's standards. The authority urged providers of decentralised wastewater treatment to meet its qualification requirements and obtain the necessary licences.

The rules also set procedures for design approval, construction, connection, handover and warranty, and regulate development projects with exceptional demand by assessing their needs and the volumes available and specifying any new or reinforced infrastructure required.

The authority said the rules should curb temporary fixes and unregulated practices, reduce environmental and visual impacts and make plans and projects readier for services, supporting the goals of the National Water Strategy. The full text is available on the Saudi Water Authority's website.