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How is a dewatering discharge permit issued?

When you need NCEC's permit to discharge dewatering water, what the technical study covers and how long the permit lasts.

NCEC rules. 3 min read.

Short answer

Discharging water into the environment, including the sea, land or ground wells, needs an NCEC permit under the Executive Regulations for the Protection of Aqueous Media from Pollution. The application includes a technical study on the need, quantity, quality, location, sensitive receptors and impacts. NCEC decides within 30 working days of a complete application, and the permit is valid for up to 6 months.

Key terms used in this guide 8 terms
Dewatering
Lowering groundwater to a safe level to allow excavation below natural groundwater level in dry and stable conditions, and drawing collected water from the surface layer of the soil when this water appears as a result of digging and establishing development projects in coastal cities. Arabic: نزح المياه (meaning “drawing off (pumping out) water”) Aqueous reg. Art. 1
Environmentally sensitive areas
Areas with environmental significance whose degradation has negative repercussions for the environment. They include protected areas, parks, forests, wetlands, significant bird habitat, mangroves, landscaped sites, watersheds, water catchment and run-off areas, beaches, waterways, aquifers or any other area identified or declared as environmentally sensitive by the State, the Ministry or the national environmental centers. Arabic: المناطق الحساسة بيئياً (meaning “areas sensitive environmentally”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Licence
A document issued by the Center authorizing a person to undertake an environmental activity. Arabic: الترخيص (meaning “the licence”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Mixing zone
The area where the treated wastewater effluent is mixed with the receiving water. Arabic: منطقة الخلط (meaning “the zone of mixing”) Aqueous reg. Art. 1
Sensitive receptors
Receptors that are likely to be severely affected by activity or project due to their geographical proximity or sensitive nature. They include environmental elements, living species, archeological, cultural and religious sites, and community groups (such as endangered species, hospitals, elder care centers, schools, residential complexes, and others). Arabic: المستقبلات الحساسة (meaning “the sensitive receivers”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Service provider
A person licensed by the competent authority to provide environmental services. The Audit regulation uses the singular مقدم الخدمة (meaning the service provider) for a person licensed by the Center. Arabic: مقدمو الخدمات (meaning “the service providers (those who provide the services)”) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 1 and Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 1
Treated wastewater
Wastewater emerging from a treatment plant or a treatment process, which was treated to reduce the adverse environmental impact in compliance with specific environmental standards and requirements. Arabic: مياه الصرف المعالجة (meaning “treated drainage water”) Aqueous reg. Art. 1
Wastewater
Water whose use has changed its color, taste, odor, or level of health or environmental security. This includes water used for health, industrial or agricultural purposes, including cooling water and water from desalination plants (brine). Arabic: مياه الصرف (meaning “drainage water”) Aqueous reg. Art. 1

All 49 terms in the NCEC glossary

On this page
  1. What is dewatering?
  2. When do you need a permit?
  3. What does the technical study include?
  4. How long does NCEC take and how long is the permit valid?
  5. What are the monitoring duties?
  6. What if the water cannot meet the standards?
  7. What is the penalty for discharging without a permit?

What is dewatering?

Dewatering means lowering groundwater to a safe level so excavation below the natural groundwater level can be done in dry, stable conditions. It also covers drawing water that appears in excavations for development projects in coastal cities.Aqueous reg. Art. 1

When do you need a permit?

Two rules apply to any water pumped out of an excavation:

  • Discharging treated wastewater into the environmental media is not allowed without an NCEC licence or permit.Aqueous reg. Art. 8, First (1)
  • Discharging untreated wastewater or any untreated liquid into the environment or ground wells is prohibited.Aqueous reg. Art. 5(1)

So the water must be fit to discharge, and the discharge itself must be permitted.

What does the technical study include?

The application to NCEC includes a technical study that covers:Aqueous reg. Art. 8, Fourth (1)

  • why the water needs to be discharged
  • the quantities, source and properties of the water
  • a map of the discharge site and its surroundings, including water bodies
  • the environmental properties of the discharge site
  • sensitive areas and receptors that could be affected
  • the environmental impact of the discharge
  • how the discharge will comply with NCEC's controls.

How long does NCEC take and how long is the permit valid?

Once the application is complete:

  • NCEC decides within 30 working days, and may extend this by 10 working days.Aqueous reg. Art. 8, First (2)
  • The decision is issued after the fee is paid.Aqueous reg. Art. 8, First (3)
  • The permit states the discharge controls, requirements and standards, and its validity, which cannot exceed 6 months.Aqueous reg. Art. 8, Fourth (3)
  • NCEC may extend the permit by up to 4 months if the extension causes no severe harm to the receiving environment. The English edition misprints this as "six (4)", and the Arabic text says 4 months.Aqueous reg. Art. 8, Fourth (3)
Plan for the expiry date

If dewatering will run longer than the permit, track the expiry date and request the extension in good time.

What are the monitoring duties?

After the permit is issued, the permit holder must make sure that:

  • discharged water meets the standards in Appendices 2 and 3 of the regulationAqueous reg. Art. 6, First (1)
  • monitoring and measurements before discharge are done by a service provider approved by NCECAqueous reg. Art. 6, Fourth (3)
  • any exceedance is reported to NCEC immediately, the source is stopped and a treatment plan is preparedAqueous reg. Art. 6, Fourth (4)
  • monitoring data is kept for at least 5 years.Aqueous reg. Art. 6, Fourth (5)

What if the water cannot meet the standards?

You can apply for a separate permit to temporarily exceed the standards. Its technical study must show the exceedance will cause no severe or permanent harm, and include:Aqueous reg. Art. 8, Third (1)

  • an assessment of the water at the discharge site and mixing zones
  • the sensitive areas and receptors that could be harmed
  • technical evidence that meeting the standards is not practically feasible, with the parameters, quantity, duration and impacts of the exceedance
  • a cost-benefit analysis
  • an action plan to reach compliance, with its timing and cost.

This permit is valid for up to 6 months, and NCEC may extend it by 4 months. The permit holder sends periodic progress reports on the action plan.Aqueous reg. Art. 8, Third (3) and (4)

What is the penalty for discharging without a permit?

Discharging treated wastewater to environmental media without a permit is fined 50,000 to 20,000,000 riyals.Aqueous reg. Art. 9, Table 2 (2024), row 8

Need a dewatering or discharge permit?

We prepare the technical study, test the water and manage the NCEC application until the permit is issued.

Our service: Dewatering discharge permits

Talk to our team

References

Each small number in this guide shows the article or section that point comes from. Hover over or tap a number to see it, or open the full list below.

Show all 14 references and the 1 regulation texts
  1. Aqueous reg. Art. 1
  2. Aqueous reg. Art. 8, First (1)
  3. Aqueous reg. Art. 5(1)
  4. Aqueous reg. Art. 8, Fourth (1)
  5. Aqueous reg. Art. 8, First (2)
  6. Aqueous reg. Art. 8, First (3)
  7. Aqueous reg. Art. 8, Fourth (3)
  8. Aqueous reg. Art. 6, First (1)
  9. Aqueous reg. Art. 6, Fourth (3)
  10. Aqueous reg. Art. 6, Fourth (4)
  11. Aqueous reg. Art. 6, Fourth (5)
  12. Aqueous reg. Art. 8, Third (1)
  13. Aqueous reg. Art. 8, Third (3) and (4)
  14. Aqueous reg. Art. 9, Table 2 (2024), row 8
How to read these references 1 text cited
  • Art. 7(4)(b) means Article 7, paragraph 4, item (b).
  • First, Second and Third are the numbered parts some articles are divided into. The Arabic texts write them أولاً، ثانياً، ثالثاً (meaning first, second, third).

Every text we cite is listed on our regulations page.

Regulation texts this guide is written from

  • Executive Regulations for the Protection of Aqueous Media from Pollution, English edition. An amended Arabic edition exists and prevails.

This guide is general information written from the regulation texts listed above. It is not legal advice. Regulations change, and the official text always prevails. Spotted something out of date? Request a change.