Qatar Doubles Fines for Water Wastage

Qatar’s Emir has approved legislation that makes wasting water and electricity punishable by fines of up to QR20,000

The new law, which got the Cabinet’s stamp of approval a year ago, comes just a few months after state utility provider Kahramaa increased tariffs for energy and water usage, apparently without notice. Qatar is one of the world’s biggest consumers of water per capita – four times as much as many European countries, and 10 times more than many others. Under its conservation program Tarsheed, Kahramaa has been urging residents to decrease their usage for years, but so far has seen little success.

Penalties

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. But the new legislation, which amends Law No. 26 of 2008, would double the maximum penalty that the current conservation law allows for violators.

Residents and owners of buildings who use drinking water to wash cars or equipment or clean courtyards can now be fined up to QR20,000 for the offense. It is also against the law to neglect damaged pipes that cause water leakage.

And those who leave their outside lights on during the day could be fined up to QR10,000. It is not illegal, however, for buildings to leave their lights on at night.

Previously, state utility provider Kahramaa could impose fines from QR1,000 to QR10,000 on violators. That penalty could be doubled if the violation was repeated within three years of the first penalty.

However, enforcement of the law remains a tricky issue.

Last year, the Kahramaa said that inspectors could not carry out their role properly because of legal issues – namely, they required a judge’s permission to enter people’s homes to check their usage.

Source: Doha News

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