HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday issued a law that seeks to rationalise the use of water and electricity and imposes stringent penalties on those found wasting these precious resources.
Law No 20 for 2015, issued by the Emir yesterday, amends some provisions of Law No 26 for 2008. The Cabinet had issued a draft law in this regard last month after reviewing the Advisory Council’s recommendations.
The new law imposes a maximum fine of QR20,000 on those who use or authorise the use of drinking water to wash vehicles or equipment or clean the yards of buildings and facilities with water hoses or other means of direct flow.
Outlets that have the necessary authorisation and licence to wash vehicles are exempted from this provision, according to the standards and conditions laid down by the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa).
Meanwhile, a fine not exceeding QR10,000 will be imposed on those who leave lights on in places such as the walls and exteriors of buildings, both public and private, from 7am to 4.30pm. The same penalty will also apply to those who neglect damaged or broken parts in the internal water network, which may cause leakage, and do not carry out necessary repairs even after being notified by the corporation to fix the same.
Further, the law stipulates that the maximum fine for such offences will be doubled in case the same violation is repeated within three years of enforcing the penalty.
However, the Kahramaa president or his assignee may work out a reconciliation regarding the violations stipulated in the law before starting a criminal case, or during its hearing in a court before a final verdict is delivered, on the condition that the violator pays half the maximum fine amount for such offences.   
The law is effective from the date of its issue and is to be published in the Official Gazette.
Kahramaa has been running the Tarsheed campaign for the conservation and efficient use of water and electricity in the country. The initiative aims to reduce the daily consumption of water and power and meet the targeted levels of reduction within a five-year timeline.
Qatar has one of the highest rates of water and electricity consumption in the world.