DOHA: Punishments for wasting drinking water (tap water) have been made stricter. Wasteful use of drinking water for washing cars or cleaning the courtyard of houses or other buildings will invite fines up to QR20,000, according to a draft law ratified by the State Cabinet yesterday.
A failure to switch off the outside lights of houses and other facilities (private or public) during day — from 7am to 4.30pm — will meet fines up to QR10,000. The draft law amends Law No. 26 of 2008 on rationalisation of electricity and water consumption.
According to the draft law, a fine of not more than QR20,000 is to be handed to those violating Article 4, Item 1 of the law, which prohibits residents of buildings and other facilities, whether owners or tenants, from using drinking water for washing cars and equipment or cleaning courtyards of buildings and other facilities, with water hoses or other wasteful means.
A fine of not more than QR10,000 will be handed to violators of Article 4, Item 2 and 3, which prohibits leaving lights on in some premises such as walls and exteriors of buildings and public and private facilities from 7am to 4.30pm.
To prevent wastage, automatic switches will be set up for external lighting of buildings and facilities according to conditions and specifications set by a decision of the chairman of Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation, according to the draft law.
Neglecting damaged or broken parts in the internal water network that might cause leakage is also an offense. Those in charge of the buildings should report it to the body concerned to fix the leakage.
The proposed amendments compliment a series of measures being taken by Kahramaa to rationalise consumption of water and electricity under its ongoing Tarsheed campaign.
The high consumption of water and electricity in Qatar remains an issue of concern despite several awareness campaigns to reduce wastage.
Per capita consumption of electricity and water in Qatar is among the highest in the world. Its water consumption is more than 500 litres per person per day, more than three times the global average of 160+ litres.
Qatar’s per capita electricity consumption (14,944) is more than five times the world average (2,684), according to data provided by Kahramaa.
Kahramaa launched the Tarsheed campaign in April 2012, aiming at decreasing per capita consumption of electricity and water by 35 percent and 20 percent, respectively, by 2016.
Kahramaa said earlier that the campaign had delivered positive results, with per capita consumption of electricity and water in the country falling by 10 percent and six percent, respectively, in 2013 compared to the previous year.The Peninsula
