Water Fines Doubled

Oct 14 2015

A new legislation, which amends Law No. 26 of 2008, doubles the maximum penalty that the current conservation law allows for violators. It is already against the law in Qatar to keep external lights on between 7am and 4pm and to use running water from a hose on gardens or to wash cars.

Residents and owners of buildings who use drinking water to wash cars or equipment or clean courtyards can now be fined up to QAR 20,000 for the offense. It is also against the law to neglect damaged pipes that cause water leakage.

Previously, state utility provider KAHRAMAA could impose fines from QAR 1,000 to QAR 10,000 on violators. That penalty could be doubled if the violation was repeated within three years of the first penalty.

Qatar is one of the world’s largest consumers of water and electricity per capita, in large part because the government heavily subsidizes the cost of both. As the country’s population continues to grow, local power and desalination plants sometimes struggle to meet the rising demand.