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New facilities install at least three permanent groundwater monitoring wells in each hazardous material handling, storage or process area before operation. The Royal Commission approves the number, design and location of the wells under Appendix E of Volume II, and may exempt some First Category facilities. New facilities also complete a baseline groundwater survey before operation. Wells are sampled once a year unless the EPO says otherwise, with results reported within 90 days of sampling and at least 14 working days’ notice before sampling.
Key terms used in this guide 4 terms
- Day
- Refers to a working day. RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page ix
- Environmental Permit to Operate (EPO)
- The Royal Commission permit without which a facility may not operate or carry out process commissioning. It is valid for five years from the date of issue. RCER-2025 Vol. I, 1.3.1 and 1.3.6, pages 5 and 6
- First Category facility
- A facility with negligible or no impact on public health or the environment during construction or operation. Typically support industries and commercial establishments. RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xii
- Sanitary wastewater
- Water from urban use, defined as the effluent from using potable water for normal domestic purposes such as washing, cooking, cleaning, personal hygiene, sanitation and preparing food. RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xi
On this page
Who needs wells, and how many?
The operator of a new facility installs at least three permanent groundwater monitoring wells in each hazardous material handling, storage or process area before the facility operates. The Royal Commission reviews and approves the number, design and installation of the wells.RCER-2025 Vol. I, 3.11.4, page 61
Appendix E says the Royal Commission determines the number of wells according to the facility type.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-1
Can a First Category facility be exempt?
The Royal Commission may exempt First Category facilities that have negligible or no impact on the environment, in line with the criteria in Appendix E.RCER-2025 Vol. I, 3.11.4, page 61
Appendix E says a First Category facility may not need wells, subject to these conditions:RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-1
- The allotted site has no history of groundwater contamination.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-1
- No on-site storage, at any time, of more than 50 kg of toxic materials or more than 5 metric tons of hazardous materials, including oil and industrial or sanitary wastewater.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-1
- The number and type of potential contamination sources.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-1
- The site area.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-1
- Previously determined groundwater contamination.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-1
The Royal Commission may still ask for wells where smaller quantities are stored, based on its impact evaluation.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-1
Where do the wells go?
- The Royal Commission approves the locations before installation.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-1
- Locations follow the potential contamination sources, the direction of groundwater flow, the number and position of storage tanks, and obstructions such as buildings and buried services.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-1
- Wells go down gradient of the sources, with a small number up gradient to confirm where any contamination comes from.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-1
- Appendix E recommends places unlikely to be affected by future development, excavation or vehicle movement.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-1
How are the wells built?
- Borehole diameter at least 100 mm larger than the well pipe, so 200 mm for a 100 mm pipe.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-2
- New Schedule 40 PVC to ASTM F-480 with flush threaded joints. 100 mm internal diameter is recommended and 50 mm is acceptable. No solvents, glues or rubber sealants.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-2
- The screen straddles the water table so floating fuel products can be detected. Slot size 0.25 mm is recommended and 0.50 mm is acceptable.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-2
- Depth at least 3 to 4 m below the water table with 100 mm casing, or 4 to 5 m with 50 mm casing. Add 0.5 to 1.0 m when building in winter.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-2
- A silica sand filter to at least two feet above the screen, a bentonite seal at least 600 mm thick, then cement bentonite grout. Native material may not be used to backfill.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, pages E-2 and E-3
- Develop each new well by removing at least three well volumes, survey the ground and standpipe levels, and submit the installation record (Annexure 2) with the borehole logs.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-3
Form PA-W9 covers the construction of permanent monitoring wells. It asks for the baseline groundwater quality (new facilities only), the well locations with RC and UTM coordinates for each hazardous material area, and the well design.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Form PA-W9, page W9-1
What is monitored, and how often?
- New facilities carry out baseline groundwater monitoring before operation and submit a comprehensive baseline report in soft and hard copy.RCER-2025 Vol. I, 3.11.6, page 61
- Wells are sampled once a year unless the EPO says otherwise, and results go to the Royal Commission within 90 days of sampling.RCER-2025 Vol. I, 3.11.5, page 61
- Give at least 14 working days’ notice before sampling. The Royal Commission may witness it, and samples may be shared with it.RCER-2025 Vol. I, 3.11.5, page 61
- The Royal Commission approves the parameters, and the EPO sets which apply. Appendix E lists those regulated, including pH, salinity, suspended solids, total organic carbon, metals, BTEX and petroleum hydrocarbons.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, pages E-8 and E-9
- Purge at least three well volumes before sampling. If a well takes more than two hours to recharge, close it and sample the next day.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, pages E-4 and E-5
- Each batch of up to 20 samples needs a blind duplicate, and VOC samples need a trip blank in each cooler.RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-7
What other groundwater rules apply?
- Contaminating groundwater is prohibited, and groundwater may not be used for any industrial purpose.RCER-2025 Vol. I, 3.11.1 and 3.11.2, page 61
- Extracted groundwater may not be discharged to the sea, the cooling water canal, drainage channels or open ground without RC authorisation, which is granted only in exceptional circumstances and only if the extracted groundwater meets the limits in Table 3C.RCER-2025 Vol. I, 3.11.3, page 61
What are the fines?
| Clause 3.11.1, groundwater contamination | 200,000 to 500,000 riyals |
|---|---|
| Clause 3.11.2, industrial use of groundwater | 120,000 to 180,000 riyals |
| Clause 3.11.3, discharging extracted groundwater without authorisation | 200,000 to 500,000 riyals |
| Clause 3.11.4, monitoring wells | 120,000 to 180,000 riyals |
| Clause 3.11.5, annual monitoring and reporting | 120,000 to 180,000 riyals |
| Clause 3.11.6, baseline monitoring | 120,000 to 180,000 riyals |
Table sourceRCER-2025 Vol. III, Table 3.1, page 7
We are approved by the Royal Commission for groundwater studies, and design, install and sample monitoring wells to Appendix E.
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 3 regulation texts
- RCER-2025 Vol. I, 3.11.4, page 61
- RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-1
- RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-2
- RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, pages E-2 and E-3
- RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-3
- RCER-2025 Vol. II, Form PA-W9, page W9-1
- RCER-2025 Vol. I, 3.11.6, page 61
- RCER-2025 Vol. I, 3.11.5, page 61
- RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, pages E-8 and E-9
- RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, pages E-4 and E-5
- RCER-2025 Vol. II, Appendix E, page E-7
- RCER-2025 Vol. I, 3.11.1 and 3.11.2, page 61
- RCER-2025 Vol. I, 3.11.3, page 61
- RCER-2025 Vol. III, Table 3.1, page 7
How to read these references 3 texts cited
- RCER-2025 Vol. I
- Royal Commission Environmental Regulations 2025, Volume I, Regulations and Standards
- RCER-2025 Vol. I, 1.3.6, page 6 means Volume I, clause 1.3.6, on printed page 6. All three volumes define a day as a working day.
The three RCER-2025 volumes are listed in the Royal Commission library.
Regulation texts this guide is written from
- Royal Commission Environmental Regulations 2025, Volume I, Regulations and Standards
- Royal Commission Environmental Regulations 2025, Volume II, Environmental Permits and Licenses Program
- Royal Commission Environmental Regulations 2025, Volume III, Penalty System and Service Charges
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.