The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing and the Saudi Water Authority continue their joint efforts to address water overflow and leakage incidents and reduce road flooding, as part of an integrated oversight framework aimed at improving the urban landscape and enhancing field response efficiency in the Kingdom’s cities.
The two entities clarified that Article 57 of the Water Law assigns the Saudi Water Authority responsibility for detecting water overflow and leakage incidents as well as breaks in water and sewage networks. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, on the other hand, is responsible for monitoring cases of road flooding and water pooling that directly affect the urban environment and public safety, ensuring clarity of roles and expediting remediation procedures.
They affirmed that this integration contributes to reducing environmental and urban damage and addressing visual distortions caused by water flowing beyond property boundaries, from internal networks and water tankers, and from breaks in water or sewage networks—all of which are among the primary causes of water pooling and road flooding.
The Ministry and the Authority noted that water flowing beyond property boundaries is classified as a form of visual distortion and a municipal violation requiring immediate remediation. They indicated that the approved regulations stipulate a fine of up to SAR 3,000 when such overflow causes road flooding or water pooling, along with an obligation for the offender to promptly remove the violation and address its causes.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing and the Saudi Water Authority highlighted the implementation of continuous field inspection rounds to detect such cases and address them in accordance with regulations, thereby enhancing compliance and raising the level of public safety and urban environment quality.
The Ministry and the Authority called on community members to engage with the unified reporting channels through the “Baladi+” application via the “Snap and Send” service, as well as through the Saudi Water Authority’s website. They emphasized that early reporting contributes to faster remediation and prevents the escalation of damages, while strengthening the community partnership in maintaining an organized and attractive urban environment.
These efforts are part of the initiatives of the “Ajmal Mudun” Committee, which aims to regulate the urban environment and enhance integration among the relevant authorities in enforcing regulations, in support of urban sustainability and the improvement of quality of life in the Kingdom’s cities.
