KSA Presidency of Meteorology and Environment PME Reference

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia National Environmental Standard

Industrial and Municipal Wastewater Discharges

Article I - Preliminary
‘industrial wastewater’ Industrial waste water refers
1) Definitions to any liquid wastes discharged from an industrial
facility or produced through any industrial activity.
‘aesthetic’ refers to those characteristics of water ‘KSA’ shall refer to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
which exhibit themselves physically, including but not
limited to, the odor, taste and color. ‘mixing zone’ shall refer to a defined area of water
directly adjacent to an area for discharging wastewater
‘blending’ shall refer to the merging of wastewater where the receiving water quality standards may be
flows or samples from one or more sources. exceeded.
‘Central Treatment Works’ means a facility that ’municipal wastewater’ Domestic wastewater refers
receives wastewater or water runoffs from domestic or to sanitary waste normally discharged from residential
industrial sources, and by combinations of different properties largely consisting of human and food waste
processes treats Domestic or Industrial wastewater and excluding any process waters or trade effluents.
(Hazardous or non hazardous) to a less harmful Commercial facilities may contribute to municipal
effluent. These facilities are also known as Waste wastewater.
Water Treatment Plants (WWTP) or as Sewage
Treatment Plants (STP). ‘operator’ The owner or manager of a project,
business, industrial enterprise or wastewater treatment
‘composite sample’ shall refer to a sample which is works.
taken continuously over a time period, or a sample
consisting of several samples taken either continuously ‘parameter’ shall refer to a chemical, physical or
or discontinuously over a given period and blended. biological measurement factor as listed.

‘Concerned Agency’ the government agency in- ‘point of reference’ refers to the point in a wastewater
charge of environment-related projects. process where samples must be taken to monitor for
compliance with the requirements of this standard.
‘contravention’ refers to an actual breach in a
regulatory requirement meaning the failure to comply ‘PME’ shall refer to the Presidency of Meteorology and
with the terms set out in this document. Environment.

‘degraded water body’ shall refer to any water body ‘stormwater’ shall refer to precipitation that runs off
that does not comply with the conditions set out in the land or structures on land.
Ambient Water Quality Standard.
‘wastewater’ shall refer to any contaminated water
‘discharges’ include, but is not limited to, any spilling, resulting from industrial or agricultural operations or
leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, or any other activities which are of equivalent
dumping of effluents. environmental impact, including sanitary wastewater.

’Competent Agency’ where referenced, refers to the ‘water body’ shall refer to bodies of water as defined
Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) with Appendix A.

‘emergency situation’ refers to any abnormal Aquifer:

situation that may cause any environmental risks
including but limited to discharge of untreated An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing
wastewater, deficiency of the central treatment works permeable rock or unconsolidated materials (gravel,
due to organic overloaded and overflow or due to
mechanical failure.
sand, silt, or clay) from which groundwater can be
usefully extracted using a water well. The surface of
‘facility’ shall refer to saturated material in an aquifer is known as the water
table.

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Saturated Aquifer means the pressure head of the attributed to the minimization of impacts upon
water is greater than atmospheric pressure (it has a economic development.
gauge pressure > 0). The definition of the water table is
surface where the pressure head is equal to c) The standards shall, where attainable:
atmospheric pressure (where gauge pressure =0). i) Ensure the maintenance or improvement of
water quality in KSA for the protection and
Unsaturated Aquifer Unsaturated conditions in an propagation of aquatic life, wildlife and
aquifer occur above the water table where the pressure recreation in and on the water; and;
head is negative (absolute pressure can never be
negative, but gauge pressure can) and the water which ii) take into consideration aesthetic values, use
for public water supplies, agricultural,
incompletely fills the pores of the aquifer material is
industrial and other purposes including
under suction. navigation.

Unconfined Aquifers
4) Timescales for implementation
In unconfined aquifers, the ground water only partially .
fills the aquifer and the upper surface of the ground a) The effective date of this standard is 01/05/1433H
water (the water table) is free to rise and decline. The corresponds to 24/03/2012G.
ground water is at atmospheric pressure.

Confined Aquifers 5) Scope

Confined aquifers may also be referred to as artesian a) Discharges shall include any liquid effluents or
process water which is not classified as clean
aquifers.
unpolluted surface runoff including storm water. This
may include but is not restricted to:
A confined aquifer is sandwiched between confining
beds (layers of impermeable materials such as clay - waste chemicals, including oils;
which impede the movement of water into and out of the - liquid process wastes;
aquifer). Because of the confining beds, ground water in - detergents;
these aquifers is under high pressure. - condensate water;
- cooling water;
- biodegradable substances;
- wash water;
- ballast water;
2) Citation - liquid wastes or wash waters, domestic
sewage, wastewater discharged using sinks,
a) This document will be cited as the Wastewater basins or toilets;
Discharge Standards for KSA. This standard revises - contaminated mine or quarry water;
the current General Standards for the Environment - all sanitary wastewaters; and
(specifically document number 1409-01) issued by the - treated effluents from CTW (municipal and
Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME). industrial),
- Desalination reject water.

3) Purpose b) These standards shall apply to any installation, site

or premises that produce discharges as defined in (5-
a) above. These standards control discharges into
a) Wastewater discharge standards are developed to Central Treatment Works (CTW), unplanned
control the quality of direct discharges from facilities emergency events (overflows) and discharges to
and persons operating in KSA. These standards will coastal waters, surface water, land and wadis.
contribute towards meeting KSA’s ambient water
quality objectives. These standards utilize use-related c) It is the responsibility of the CTW to ensure that the
criteria and specify limits on individual discharges final discharge from their facility does not exceed any
designed to protect those uses. of the prescribed concentrations and values in
Appendix B when processing domestic, commercial
b) PME is charged with protecting the natural and / or industrial wastewater.
environment and under its mandate, must issue
controls over effluent discharges. While these
standards aim to control environmental pollution and
protect public health welfare, appropriate attention is

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d) Sanitary Wastewater discharges from off-shore facilities discharging into their collection system. It is
facilities shall be governed by the relevant regional the responsibility of the operator of the CTW to enforce
marine discharge requirements any revised conditions.

(delete)
8) Enforcement procedures
6) Exemptions
a) Failure to comply with the requirements of these
a) The following exemptions will apply for industrial standards may lead to prosecution by the relevant
wastewater discharges: Agency as laid out in the General Environmental
Regulations and those convicted of such failure may be
i) Any liquid discharge from national state subject to fines or periods of imprisonment as laid out in
defense activities providing there is agreement the General Environmental Regulations.
with the Competent Agency.
b) It is anticipated that the requirements of this standard
ii) Any liquid discharge following an emergency will be enforced nationally with inspections taking place
fire fighting event (not to include fire fighting to verify their implementation at a regional and local
training exercises). However best practices level.
must be used to contain pollutants under these
circumstances.
9) Penalty fines
7) Powers of authority
a) Maximum fines that may be imposed for exceeding
a) The General Environmental Regulations give a the applicable standard, breach of permit and failure to
mandate to PME to enforce standards in the field of comply with an abatement notice are set out in the
wastewater discharges. These standards are intended General Environmental Regulations.
to provide the basis for such regulation.

b) These standards permit the issuing of further 10) Appeals

technical memoranda which are subject to enforcement
by PME. These memoranda may be issued at a date
a) A right of appeal exists for any organization or
following the implementation date.
individual who is required to take action as a
consequence of the implementation of the revised
c) The Competent Agency or Concerned Agency for
standard.
the purposes of these standards may appoint persons
to act on their behalf as technical assessors and
b) The right of appeal against conviction or sentence is
monitors in relation to the powers and duties conferred
available through the appropriate judicial system as set
by these standards and / or subsequent amendments.
out in the General Environmental Regulations.
d) The Competent Agency, Concerned Agency or
c) All appeals should be fully supported with a
appointed person for the purpose of monitoring and
documented case containing as a minimum, the
enforcing these standards may:
information required under the appeals process of the
General Environmental Regulations.
i) enter any premises for the purpose of
carrying out any such investigations.

ii) carry out such inspections and tests on such 11) Periodic review
samples of water or land or articles, as that
person considers appropriate for the a) There may be some requirement at a future date to
purpose of enabling him to carry out any adjust the standards included to recognize specific local
such investigations; or conditions and or an improved understanding of the
effects of non point-source wastewater discharges .
iii) at any reasonable time require any relevant
party to supply him with copies of, or b) As a minimum, the Competent Agency will
extracts from, the contents of any records undertake a periodic review of this standard every 5
kept for the purpose of complying with the years.
regulations.
c) Where new information suggests that adjustments
e) In order to protect the quality of the final effluent, the are required to this standard, all changes will be
operator of a central treatment works is empowered to subject to the appropriate consultation and will be
prescribe revised or additional discharge limits to notified to facilities by the Competent Competent

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Agency. Appropriate implementation time will be Agency. within 90 days of the date of implementation of
allowed. this standard.

c) The Concerned Agency may seek to externally verify

any evidence provided within the application form.

Article II – General Provisions d) The Concerned Agency in consultation with the

Competent Agency will assess each application and use
a risk based approach to determine their response. This
risk based approach will consider the impact the
1) Units of measurement and reference points for
discharge will have on the environment (based on the
discharges
characteristics of the discharge and the sensitivity of the
receiving environment).
a) Units of concentration for the stipulated quality
parameters of wastewater will be included in the e) If rejected by the Concerned Agency, the facility must
summary Tables containing the numerical standards. meet the requirements of this standard or risk penalties
These may vary for different constituents and are as detailed in Article I.
displayed in Appendix B.
f) Where acceptable, a permit will be issued that may
b) Where effluent is discharged to a CTW, the point of impose operating conditions, revised emission limits
reference for the industrial site’s outlet is immediately and/or a timetable for bringing the discharge into
upstream of the connection to the main sewerage compliance.
system leading to the CTW.

c) The point of reference for the site’s Wastewater 4) Wastewater reuse and conservation
Treatment Plant is prior to it being mixed with any
streams that would serve to dilute the treatment plant
discharge. a) Where available, the preferable form of wastewater
disposal is to a CTW which supports wastewater reuse.
d) The point of discharge for all wastewater streams is b) Wastewater destined for regulated or unregulated
a sample point prior to mixing with any other waste reuse must meet the criteria specified by the relevant
stream. Designated Agency to ensure that it is wholesome and
fit for the intended purpose.
2) Pollution transfer
c) In all circumstances, facilities and operators must
consider the full range of options available for
a) The requirements of this standard must not be met wastewater recycling within processes and activities at
by procedures whereby environmental pollution is the site.
transferred to other environmental media such as air or
soil. d) In all circumstances facilities and operators must
apply all means and technologies that support water
b) Requirements specified in the form of concentration conservation. This will include the installation of water
levels must not be achieved via dilution. efficient devices, metering and process auditing.

c) Blending shall be permissible for the purpose of joint e) All discharge streams from a facility must be
treatment. This is provided that the blending enhances metered and the records of the discharge quantities
the treatment efficiency or provides for a more maintained with the compliance records (as required in
economical treatment system and that effluent from the Article III Section 3, a iv)
combined system meets all discharge standards.

3) Permits
Article III – Discharges to Central Treatment Works
a) In circumstances where a facility can provide
substantive evidence that the prescribed emission limits
are not practicable, a permit may be issued that allows 1) Discharge limits
parameters in Appendix B to be temporarily exceeded.
a) The quality standards set out in Appendix B for
b) The permit application form in Appendix E must be
discharges to the CTW or shared sewerage system
completed in full and submitted to the Competent
shall not be exceeded without specific authorization
agency either directly or through the Concerned
from the operator of the CTW. This authorization must
be documented in full and include as a minimum:

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ii) any highly volatile substance or material

i) details of the parameters that shall be with toxic vapors; and
allowed to exceed the requirements of this
standard, including revised limit values iii) any other substance in quantities or of a
and/or maximum allowable quantities to be quality that is likely to endanger human
discharged; and health, compromise safety, or negatively
impact CTW, or the environment. (TD)
ii) the allowable time duration (TD) of the
authorization.
3) Sampling and monitoring
b) If necessary, the operator of an industrial site shall
install and operate a pre-treatment system in
a) Each industrial operator shall:
accordance with Article III (2) at the facility to ensure
that the wastewater meets the discharge standards set
out in Appendix B.
i) for all facilities, determine compliance with
discharge standards using sampling and
c) Where practicable, wastewater shall be reused in
analytical methods that are in accordance with
accordance with national standards applicable to this
the most recent edition of the Standard
activity. The preferred option for waste water disposal
Methods for the Examination of Water and
is through treatment and reuse.
Wastewater published by the American Public
Health Association (APHA) or any other
d) Water shall be considered a non-renewable
methods approved by the Competent Agency;
resource and all wastewater shall be reused if reuse
can be accomplished economically (i.e. treated
ii) maintain an auto-sampling system or manual
sufficiently for reuse for less than the cost of providing
system to allow collection of 24-hour composite
the same quality water from desalinated sea water
samples - if required the Competent Agency.
transported to the site – using current construction
costs).
iii) Sample on a monthly sampling frequency (as a
minimum) for all discharges of treated or
untreated industrial wastewater at the point of
2) Pre- treatment requirements discharge from the facility. The sampling
frequency may be increased at any time at the
a) Industrial wastewater entering collecting systems request of the Competent Agency;
and CTWs shall be subject to such pre-treatment as is
required in order to: iv) hold sampling and monitoring data for a
minimum period of 5 years, which may be
i) protect the health of staff working in collecting extended at any time by the Competent
systems and treatment plants; Agency;

ii) ensure that collecting systems, wastewater v) maintain the facility, monitoring and sampling
treatment plants, processes and associated equipment at all times in a safe and proper
equipment are not damaged; operating condition at the expense of the
operator;
iii) ensure that the operation of the wastewater
treatment plant and the treatment of sludge are vi) receive the written approval of the Competent
not impeded; Agency before changing the sampling point
and/or monitoring facilities to be used in all
iv) ensure that discharges from the treatment required sampling;
plants do not adversely affect the environment,
or prevent receiving water from complying with vii) ensure that all monitoring and sampling data is
other legislation; and readily accessible to the Competent Agency on
request at any time; and
v) ensure that sludge can be disposed of safely in
an environmentally acceptable manner. viii) allow the Competent Agency to enter the
premises of the operator at all reasonable
b) The following substances are banned from hours, for purposes of, inspection, sampling
discharge into public or private sewer systems unless and records examination.
agreed otherwise with the CTW operator:

i) Diesel or petrol fuels and other flammable

or explosive liquids;

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Article IV – Discharges to the Environment 2) Assigning usage zone categories

1) General provisions a) The discharge limits are determined by the use-

a) The operator of a facility shall ensure that related designation of the receiving environment and
discharges made directly to the environment or to an the intended utilization of that environment or resource.
identifiable direct pathway to the environment such as
a storm water drain, meets the discharge standards as b) The responsibility for determining the use and
set out in Appendix B. classification of the receiving environment falls on the
operator making the discharge. Criteria for
b) Allowable discharge limits will meet the specific classification of usage zones are set out within
standard from Appendix B relating to the Appendix A.
characteristics of the receiving environment.
Classifications of receiving environments are set out in c) The Competent Agency is empowered to make a
Appendix A. A receiving environment may be classified final determination in circumstances that are not clear.
as Marine, High Value or Degraded. Any disputes will be referred to the Grievance Board if
a resolution cannot be found.
c) The discharges limits set out in Appendix B are
established at levels which are achievable using Best d) If a person is unable to clearly identify their usage
Available Techniques (BAT) and: classification, they may request guidance from the
Competent Agency pertaining to the classification of
i) do not harm public health; the water usage designation and applicable standards.

ii) do not impair the visual or aesthetic e) Following a request for usage designation and any
appearance of the water; necessary payment has been received the Competent
Agency has an obligation to reply within a period of 30
iii) do not result in adverse impact on the adjacent days.
waters;
f) Failure by any person/facility to correctly classify the
iv) maintain marine life (coastal waters); usage zone designated for their discharge location will
be classified as a breach of the General Regulations.
v) protect fisheries (coastal waters);

vi) maintain the aesthetic/recreational value of the 3) Provisions for degraded water bodies
waters;
a) Whenever monitoring of ambient conditions by the
vii) are suitable for use as industrial cooling water Competent Agency has defined a water body as
(coastal waters); and degraded, it is empowered to revise discharge limits for
all contributing facilities irrespective of whether they
viii) do not interfere with the use as a source for meet the conditions set out within Appendix B.
desalination feed-water.
b) Alterations made (as per Article IV (3a)) to the
d) In addition, each facility will have the ability to divert prescribed discharge limits will consider pollutant
the effluent stream of the CTW, to offline storage or loading from all contributing facilities in conjunction with
tankers for treatment offsite during system failure. the assimilative capacity of the receiving environment.

e) The area of influence from a discharge or Mixing

Zone will be defined using the methodology in 4) Groundwater quality protection
Appendix D.
a) Discharge of any sanitary, industrial, or municipal
f) Where studies show that a facility’s discharge from a
wastewater directly to groundwater is prohibited.
specific facility is determined to be toxic to fish eggs
and fish larvae, the Competent Agency may impose
b) Where the underlying aquifer is considered to be of
specific controls on the affected facility regarding the
moderate, high or extreme vulnerability (as determined
composition and location of its discharge. (TD)
by the methodology in Appendix C) any discharge
made to land will be considered a direct discharge to
g) Discharges to areas classified as C2 in Appendix A
groundwater and will therefore be prohibited by Article
must undergo tertiary treatment prior to discharge.
IV (4a). (complete methodology should be referenced
for APX C) For complete methodology, please refer to
Aller et al., 1987.
c) Where the underlying aquifer is considered to be of
negligible or low vulnerability (as determined by the

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methodology in Appendix C) the Competent Agency represent the key pollutants known to be in
may on a case by case basis allow surface or the effluent discharge.
subsurface disposal subject to authorization from the
Competent Agency. iii) All sampling for demonstration of
compliance must be according to Standard
d) The decision to provide authorization referred to in Methods sampling and analytical
(c) will be based on an analysis of the risk posed by the procedures. Any analysis that does not
individual discharge. This risk analysis shall be carried conform to these requirements must be
out by the operator of the discharge and audited by the repeated such that it conforms to the
Competent Agency. Conditions specified alongside the required protocols. Chain of custody and
authorization shall include as minimum: records of QA/QC testing must be
maintained by the laboratory performing the
i) the required level of treatment prior to analysis in order to demonstrate the
discharge; and accuracy of the data.

ii) a limit on the total volume of effluent to be iv) Facility laboratories may institute more
discharged. frequent sampling events utilizing short-cut
analytical methods in order to provide for
e) A mandatory source protection zone with a 50m process control parameters. However,
radius exists surrounding a point of groundwater these results will not be acceptable for
abstraction used for potable purposes. Within this compliance reporting. (TD) (ADKD)
source protection zone the following activities are
prohibited: Article V – Emergency Situations

i) direct discharges of wastewater to unlined

ponds;
1) Operational requirements
ii) construction or operation of septic tank
leach field; and/or a) All facility operators shall document a plan to provide
protection for the local environment against accidental
iii) construction or operation of seepage pits. discharges or spills of regulated materials or
iv) any other additional or modified substances covered by this standard. This plan must
conditions deemed necessary by the be made available to the Competent Agency upon their
competent agency to protect the valuable request.
groundwater resources from pollution. b) A facility operator must notify the Competent Agency
immediately of any revisions to wastewater equipment
plans and operating procedures. The review and
5) Sampling and monitoring approval of any such equipment revisions plans and/or
operating procedures shall not relieve the operator
a) For any direct discharge to the environment, the from the responsibility of modifying the facility as
operator must provide and operate a continuous necessary to provide the protection necessary to meet
monitoring system to allow for the inspection, sampling the requirements of these standards; and
and flow measurement of each individual discharge
from the facility. This system; c) All facilities discharging to a CTW shall have storage
capacity to retain 24 hours of wastewater production,
i) should be equipped with an audible excluding unpolluted process or cooling water in a
notification system should the effluent pond that is lined with an impervious liner (30 mil
violate the indicator limits values for HDPE or better). Wastewater retained in such facilities
parameters as specified in the permit. shall be regularly discharged so that the ponds are
normally kept empty to provide containment for
ii) should provide for monthly sampling of all emergencies and to minimize fugitive emissions.
parameters in Appendix B that are
reasonably anticipated to be present in the d) All facilities discharging directly to the environment
discharge. These parameters will be the shall have storage capacity to retain 36 hours of total
parameters by which the facility’s wastewater production, excluding uncontaminated
compliance will be determined. The cooling or process water in a pond that is lined with an
Competent Agency must be notified in impervious liner (30 mil HDPE or better). Wastewater
writing of the indicator parameters to be retained in such facilities shall be regularly discharged
used for compliance determination within 90 so that the ponds are kept empty under normal
days of the date of implementation of these operating conditions to provide containment for
standards and these parameters should emergencies and to minimize fugitive emissions.

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c) Storm water may be discharged directly to the

environment if it meets the discharge criteria in
Appendix B.

2) Emergency response requirements

a) Each facility shall prepare an Emergency Spill

Containment Plan (Article V 1a) to mitigate or minimize
(TD) the environmental risks posed under emergency
conditions. This plan must be documented, evidence of
communicated to staff retained and such records made
available to the Competent Agency when requested.,
through their Licensing Agency .

b) Under emergency situations the effluent shall either

be pre-treated on-site until compliant with the
standards set in Appendix B, or transferred to and
disposed of at an approved wastewater treatment
facility.

c) These arrangements must only be temporary and

shall not continue for a period of longer than 21 days
whilst repair and maintenance works are carried out.
Any extension to this must be agreed with the
Competent Agency.

d) Upon the occurrence of an accidental discharge, the

facility operator shall notify the Competent Agency
immediately and, in every case, no later than 12 hours
from the time the operator becomes aware of the
accidental discharge. The notification shall include but
not be limited to, location of discharge, date and time
thereof, type of discharge, concentration and volume,
and corrective actions.

d) In an event where the accidental discharge:

i) Travels to the CTW and adversely affects the

normal functioning of the treatment works; or

ii) enters the environment in some other manner,

including but not limited to leakage and
overspill,

the facility operator shall be subject to investigation by

the Competent Agency’s enforcement policies and/or
procedures and may be prosecuted under the General
Environmental Regulations.

3) Storm water management

a) The operator should eliminate or minimize the risks

posed to human health and the environment by storm
water run off from their facility.

b) Facilities that cover an area greater than 0.1

hectares must install and maintain an oil/water
interceptor on each individual storm water drain line.

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Appendix A – Classification of water bodies

a) The requirements of Article IV 2 state that all water bodies (receiving environments) must be classified according to the type
of water and use. This appendix sets out the criteria for classifying usage zones.

Classification Sub- Code Definition

division

Groundwater - A Water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore

spaces and in the fractures of geologic formations.

Fresh surface - B This includes all fresh waters on the ground and includes
water water within rivers, canals, streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands,
marshes, wadis and man made reservoirs.

Coastal water Marine C1 Coastal waters are those that are under the jurisdiction of
KSA (the territorial coastal waters being 12 international
nautical miles (22.2 kilometers) of the shoreline. The sub-
division ‘marine’ is the default when the coastal water body
does not meet the criteria for ‘high-value (C2)’ or ‘industrial
(C3)‘ as detailed below.

Coastal water High value C2 Areas of coastal water shall be classified as ‘high value’ if
they are designated as locally, nationally or internationally
protected areas by any Concerned Agency (this includes
but is not limited to the Competent Agency, ROPME,
NCWCD and PERGSA).

Coastal water Industrial C3 Water bodies shall be classified as industrial if they are
adjacent to terrestrial zones or surrounding fixed offshore
platforms that are classified as industrial through local or
national planning regulation. The extent of the aquatic
environment classified as industrial will represent a seaward
extension of the terrestrial boundary provided that it does
not impinge upon high areas classified as C1 or C2.
Furthermore, industrial ambient conditions will extend no
more than a 500 meter radius from the edge of any mixing
zone.

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Appendix B – Prescribed concentrations and values

Table B1 – Discharge limits for effluents prior to discharge into water bodies (and municipal collection systems)

Red Sea Gulf

Municipal
collecting Eco- Eco- Surface
Parameter Unit systems Marine sensitive Industrial Marine sensitive Industrial water
Important note*
Physical chemistry
Coarse material Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
∆ °C
Temperature (from ambient) 45 7 5 7 7 5 7 5
pH pH units 5-10 6-9.5 7.5-9 6-10 6-9.5 7.5-9 6-10 6.5-8.5
TDS mg/l 3000*
Turbidity NTU 50 5 75 50 5 75 5
TSS mg/l 600 15 10 15 15 10 15 10
Indicators
BOD5 mg/l 500 25 10 25 25 10 25 10
COD mg/l 1000 150 50 150 150 50 150 50
1
Total Oil & Grease mg/l 100 5 2 7 5 2 7 5
TKN (organic N) mg/l 120 5 5 10 5 5 10 5
TOC mg/l 1000 50 40 50 50 40 50 100
Phosphorus (total) mg/l 50 2 1 5 3 1 5 5
3-
Phosphate (PO4) mg/l n/a 0.8 0.5 1 1 0.5 1 1
Ammonia (as NH3) mg/l 40 1 1 3 1 1 3 0.5
Chloride (as Cl) mg/l 1500
Total inorganic
nitrogen (as N02 and
N03) mg/l n/a 15
Sodium mg/l 1000 800 800 1500 800 800 1500 800
Sulfate mg/l 500 600 600 1000 600 600 1000 600
Sulfide mg/l 10 0.2 0.2 1.0 0.2 0.2 1.0 0.2
Heavy metals

Aluminium mg/l 30 10 5 15 10 5 15 5
Arsenic mg/l 1 0.3 0.05 0.5 0.3 0.05 0.5 0.1
Barium mg/l 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 1
Cadmium mg/l 1.0 0.02 0.005 0.05 0.02 0.005 0.05 0.001
Chromium (total) mg/l 1 0.5 0.01 0.5 0.5 0.01 0.5 .01
Chromium
(Hexavalent) mg/l 0.5 0.1 0.05 0.1 0.1 0.05 0.1 0.05
Cobalt mg/l 2 0.2 0.05 0.2 0.2 0.05 0.2 0.05
Copper mg/l 1 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.2
Iron mg/l 30 5 5 10 5 5 10 2
Lead mg/l 1 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.1
Manganese mg/l 2 0.5 0.2 1 0.5 0.2 1 0.2
Mercury mg/l 0.5 0.005 0.001 0.1 0.005 0.001 0.1 0.001
Nickel mg/l 1.5 0.5 0.2 1 0.5 0.2 1 0.2
Silver mg/l 1 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.3
Zinc mg/l 10 3 2 5 3 2 5 2
Organics and
inorganics
Benzene mg/l 1 0.05 0.05 0.1 0.05 0.05 0.1 0.05
Carbon Tetrachloride mg/l 1 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.02
Chlorine (residual) mg/l 1.0 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3

1
No sheen should be visible within the mixing zone.
* Consideration should be given to areas of natural high TDS

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Chlorinated
Hydrocarbons (total) mg/l 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.1
Chlorobenzene(s) –
total or individual
concentrations
Chloroform mg/l 1
Cyanide (free) mg/l 1 0.05 0.05 0.1 0.05 0.05 0.1 0.05
Fluoride mg/l 15 25 15 25 25 15 25 15

2
Furans mg/l 0.005 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
Hexachlorobenzene mg/l 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
Lindane mg/l 0.1 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
Mirex mg/l 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
MTBE mg/l 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
PAH mg/l 0.002 0.01 0.01 0.05 0.01 0.01 0.05 0.01
PCBs mg/l 0.002 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
Pentachlorophenol mg/l 5
Pesticides and
insecticides (total) mg/l 5 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05
- Aldrin mg/l 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
- Chlordane 0.06 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
- DDT (and metabolites) mg/l 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
- Dieldrin mg/l 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
- Endrin mg/l 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002
- Heptachlor mg/l 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
- Toxaphene mg/l 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
Phenols mg/l 150 0.1 0.1 1 0.1 0.1 1 0.1
3
Dioxins mg/l 0.005 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
Toluene mg/l 2
TPH mg/l 15 5 5 10 5 5 10 5
Vinyl chloride mg/l 0.1 0.02 0.02 0.1 0.02 0.02 0.1 0.02
Xylenes mg/l 2 0.05 0.05 1 0.05 0.05 1 0.05
Microbiological
Total Coliform count/100ml n/a 2500 2000 3000 3000 2000 5000 2000

* Any substance other than those mentioned in the above table may not be discharged at a concentration greater than 0.001mg/l
unless agreed in advance with the Competent Agency or receiving treatment works.

2
Chlorodibenzo-furan cogeners
3
Chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin congeners

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Appendix C – Determining the pollution vulnerability of an aquifer

Methodology for determining the Aquifer Pollution Vulnerability (APV) index score:

1. Identification of the type of groundwater confinement, with consequent indexing parameter (in range 0.0 – 1.0).
2. Specification of the strata overlying the aquifer saturated zone in terms of the grade of consolidation and the type of lithology,
with consequent indexing parameter (in range 0.4 – 1.0).
3. Estimation of the depth to the groundwater table (of unconfined aquifer) or depth of first major strike (for confined aquifers),
with consequent indexing parameter (in range 0.6 – 1.0).

(For more details, refer to the following published articles).

- Adams B and Foster S.S.D. (1992) Land surface zoning for groundwater protection. \j. of the Institute of Water and
Environmental Management, 6, 312-320.
- Foster S.S.D. (1987). Fundamental Concept in Aquifer Vulnerability, Pollution Risk and Protection Strategy. TNO
Committee for Hydrological Research: Proceedings & Information, 38, 69-86

The APV index score is the product of the component indices in 1 to 3 above.
Semi-confined
Overflowing

Unconfined

Unconfined
(covered)
Confined
none

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

Lacustrine/ Alluvial silts, Alluvial and Alluvial-fan

estuarine Residual loess, Aeolian fluvio-glacial Unconsolidated
soils sands gravels
clays glacial till sands

mudstones siltstones sandstones chalky Consolidated

Limestone (porous rock)
shales Volcanic tuffs calcarenite

Igneous/metamorphic Recent Calcretes + Consolidated

Formations and volcanic karst limestones (dense rock)
older volacnics lavas

0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0

5 – 20 m
20 – 50 m

All depths
<5m
> 50

0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0

0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.8 0.9 1.0

Negligible Low Moderate High Extreme

scharge A
scharge B

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Appendix D – Calculation of mixing zones

D1 – Red Sea and Gulf mixing zones

Basic screening model for defining the maximum horizontal extent of a mixing zone:

SDave = Horizontal extent of mixing zone

Where:
Dave = average water depth at outfall location4 5

S = refer to table D1.

Table D1 – Red Sea S values

S Example of habitat/area type

2 High-value area
5 Marine classified area
8 Industrially classified area

Table D2 – Arabian Gulf S Values6

S Example of habitat/area type

4 High-value area
10 Marine classified area
16 Industrially classified area

4
Average depth applies where diffusion technology is utilized for discharge and must be measured at 10m increments along the length of the diffusion
apparatus. Otherwise the depth at the end of the outfall applies.
5
For the gulf a correction factor of +10 is applied to depth to take account of local bathymetry.
6
These values are adjusted to accommodate for the conditions in the Arabian Gulf (i.e. shallow waters)

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Table D3 – A look up table showing the radius of a mixing zone for given values of S and Dave for the Red Sea and
Gulf of Arabia

Red Sea Arabian Gulf

Depth (m) 2 5 8 Depth (m) 4 10 16
Mixing zone radius Mixing zone radius
5 or less 10 25 40 5 or less 20 50 80
6 12 30 48 6 24 55 96
7 14 35 56 7 28 60 100
8 16 40 64 8 32 65
9 18 45 72 9 36 70
10 20 50 80 10 40 75
11 22 55 88 11 44 80
12 24 60 96 12 48 85
13 26 65 100 13 52 90
14 28 70 14 56 95
15 30 75 15 60 100
16 32 80 16 64
17 34 85 17 68
18 36 90 18 72
19 38 95 19 76
20 40 100 20 80
21 42 21 84
22 44 22 88
23 46 23 92
24 48 24 96
25 50 25 100
26 52 26
27 54 27
28 56 28
29 58 29
30 60 30
31 62 31
32 64 32
33 66 33
34 68 34
35 70 35
36 72 36
37 74 37
38 76 38
39 78 39
40 80 40
41 82 41
42 84 42
43 86 43
44 88 44
45 90 45
46 92 46
47 94 47
48 96 48
49 98 49
50 100 50

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ADMINISTRATION FEE (SR)

Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME)

CHECK NO. RECEIVED

APPENDIX E – PERMIT APPLICATION (Page 1) CHECK AMOUNT (SR) DATE

RECEIVED

SECTION A: GENERAL INFORMATION

FACILITY DETAILS
A-1. FACILITY NAME AND SITE REFERENCE A-5 STAMP (OFFICE USE ONLY)

A-2 DATE SUBMITTED A-3 FACILITY TELEPHONE NUMBER A-4 FACILITY FAX

( ) - ( ) -
A-6 FACILITY ADDRESS LINE 1

A-7 ADDRESS LINE 2

A-8 ADDRESS LINE 3

A-9 CITY A-10 REGION A-11 REFERENCE (OFFICE USE ONLY)

A-12 FACILITY CONTACT PERSON

MR. MS.
A-13 FACILITY CONTACT TELEPHONE NO. A-14 FACILITY CONTACT E-MAIL

( ) -
A-15 PLEASE PROVIDE THE NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS OF THE LEGAL PERSON(S) OR ENTITY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATION OF THE SITE.

b) SECTION A-2: TYPE OF PERMIT REQUIRED

A-16 PLEASE SELECT FROM THE FOLLOWING:

NEW APPLICATION PERMIT RENEWAL PERMIT MODIFICATION ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENT

c) SECTION A-3: FACILITY DESCRIPTION

A-17 GENERAL OPERATING ACTIVITIES [INCLUDING INDICATION OF SITE SIZE AND LAYOUT]

SECTION B: COMPLIANCE

d) SECTION B-1: VARIATION FROM CONTROLLED ACTIVITIES

B-1 DOES YOUR FACILITY COMPLY WITH ALL CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULTION STANDARDS?

YES [SKIP TO C-18] NO [PLEASE ANSWER QUESTION B-2]

B-2 FOR WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DOES YOUR FACILITY REQUIRE A PERMIT VARIATION FOR?

Air (complete section C)

Water (complete section D)
Noise (complete section E)

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME)

APPENDIX E – PERMIT APPLICATION (Page 2)

SECTION C: APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT OF VARIATION FOR EMISSIONS TO AIR

RELEVANT ACTIVITIES [MOST INFORMATION REQUIRES ATTACHMENT]

C-1 FOR EACH NON-COMPLIANT EMISSION, PLEASE PROVIDE THE COORDINATES FOR LONGITUDE AND LATITUDE.

C-2 PROVIDE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS INCLUDING AIR QUALITY AND THE PRESENCE OF, AND THE SENSITIVITY OF THOSE
RECEPTORS

C-3 DESCRIBE AND PROVIDE DATA REGARDING THE FLOW RATE OF THE EMISSION, ITS PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ANY POLLUTI0N ABATEMENT
TECHNOLOGIES APPLIED

C-4 PROVIDE A DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT IMPACTS OF THE EMISSION(S) UPON THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE SENSITIVE RECEPTORS IDENTIFIED IN C-2.

C-5 PAYING DUE REGARD TO C-2, 3 AND 4, DOCUMENT A JUSTIFICATION FOR THE AWARD OF A TEMPORARY PERMIT FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COMPETENT
AGENCY.

SECTION D: APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT OF VARIATION FOR DISCHARGES TO WATER

RELEVANT ACTIVITIES [MOST INFORMATION REQUIRES ATTACHMENT]

C-6 FOR EACH NON-COMPLIANT DISCHARGE, PLEASE PROVIDE THE COORDINATES FOR LONGITUDE AND LATITUDE.

C-7 PROVIDE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS INCLUDING WATER QUALITY AND THE PRESENCE OF, AND THE SENSITIVITY OF THOSE
RECEPTORS

C-8 DESCRIBE AND PROVIDE DATA REGARDING THE FLOW RATE OF THE DISCHARGE, ITS PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ANY POLLUTI0N ABATEMENT
TECHNOLOGIES APPLIED

C-9 PROVIDE A DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT IMPACTS OF THE DISCHARGE(S) UPON THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE SENSITIVE RECEPTORS IDENTIFIED IN C-7.

C-10 PAYING DUE REGARD TO C-7, 8 AND 9, DOCUMENT A JUSTIFICATION FOR THE AWARD OF A TEMPORARY PERMIT FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COMPETENT
AGENCY.

SECTION E: APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT OF VARIATION FOR THE EMISSION OF NOISE

RELEVANT ACTIVITIES [MOST INFORMATION REQUIRES ATTACHMENT]

C-11 FOR EACH NON-COMPLIANT EMISSION, PLEASE PROVIDE THE COORDINATES FOR LONGITUDE AND LATITUDE.

C-12 PROVIDE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS INCLUDING THE PRESENCE OF, AND THE SENSITIVITY OF THOSE RECEPTORS

C-13 DESCRIBE AND PROVIDE DATA REGARDING MEASURED OR PREDICTED NOISE LEVELS AND ANY ABATEMENT TECHNOLOGIES APPLIED

C-14 PROVIDE A DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT IMPACTS OF NOISE UPON THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE SENSITIVE RECEPTORS IDENTIFIED IN C-12.

C-15 PAYING DUE REGARD TO C-12, 13 AND 14, DOCUMENT A JUSTIFICATION FOR THE AWARD OF A TEMPORARY PERMIT FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COMPETENT
AGENCY.

SECTION F: COMPLIANCE PLAN

C-16 PLEASE PROVIDE AND ATTACH DETAILS OF A SCHEDULE OF TIME BOUND ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BRING THE FACILITY INTO C-17 EXPECTED DATE OF
COMPLIANCE WITH THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS. COMPLIANCE

I CERTIFY UNDER PENALTY OF LAW THAT I UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING A TEMPORARY PERMIT; THAT THIS DOCUMENT AND ALL ATTACHMENTS
WERE PREPARED UNDER MY DIRECTION OR SUPERVISION AND THAT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, ALL INFORMATION INCLUDED IS TRUE, ACCURATE AND
COMPLETE.
C-18 SIGNATURE OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL OF COMPANY C-19 DATE

C-20 TYPE OR PRINT NAME OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL C-21 TITLE OF RESPONSIBLE

OFFICIAL
TITLE: NAME:

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