Court orders water firm to pay groundwater bill

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A desalination company has been ordered by the High Administrative Court to pay its groundwater consumption bill for 2024, following a legal challenge brought by the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture.

The ruling is based on Decree-Law No. 12 of 1980, which sets out the rules for groundwater use.

The court backed the ministry’s demand for payment, reinforcing its authority to recover dues from companies extracting groundwater for commercial purposes.

In the wake of the decision, the ministry drew attention to the importance of keeping groundwater use in check.

Outstanding bills

It urged all consumers to settle their outstanding bills, saying that managing Bahrain’s underground reserves is a shared task, grounded in existing law.

Well owners have already been told to update their records. That includes individuals, businesses and public bodies.

They have three months to do so from the date of Circular No. 1 of 2025, either through the ministry’s website or by visiting the Local Agricultural Production Directorate in Hoorat A’ali.

The same circular gives six months to replace existing water meters.

All wells must now be fitted with smart electromagnetic meters, equipped with radio transmission (GPRS) and approved by the directorate.