The Environment, Water and Agriculture Branch in the Makkah Region recorded 20 violations over six months, which included the use of water sources without official licenses and previously drilled wells without a permit.

The branch called on farmers and well owners to quickly rectify their status before the deadline for obtaining 'use' licenses.

Eng. Waleed Aal Dughaysh, Director General of the branch, stated that the violations were distributed among the Holy Capital (Makkah), Al-Jumum, and Jeddah, emphasizing that oversight aims to regulate groundwater use and protect water resources for sustainability. He noted that the most prominent violations include operating wells without a license, operating after the license has expired, changing the use activity, or exceeding permitted pumping quantities, and that penalties range from a warning to a fine of up to 150,000 riyals.