SASO announced that the  mandatory standard No. (SASO1473 / 2016) on Ceramic Sanitary Appliances -Western Water Closets rationalizing water consumption, will enter into force on Tuesday 27 Sha'ban 1438 AH corresponding to 23 May 2017, stressing that will be allowed only to import and circulate western water closets as stipulated in the standard.

     SASO explained that it was coordinated with the Ministry of Trade and Investment, Saudi Custom, and Ministry of  Environment Water and Agriculture, to ensure that the standard is applied . The Ministry of Trade and Investment will coordinate with SASO to make control rounds to ensure applying the standard on products manufactured locally as well as products offered in the markets, while Saudi Custom will prevent the entry of non-confirming products that violate the standard . 

     In addition, SASO noted that the traders will be allowed to re-export the non-conforming water closets within a period of six months, and if they are present after that date inside the Kingdom, they will be destroyed, noting that this deadline will be granted only to the water closets of capacity of 6 liters. However, closets of more capacities will be confiscated and destroyed immediately. 

     SASO stressed that this standard will contribute to the rationalization of water consumption by at least one-third of  household consumption. The consumption of the water closets flush box ranges from 26% to 35% of total domestic water consumption . SASO pointed out that it is continuing to work on the issuance and application of a number of standards and technical regulations that help to promote practices of rationalization of consumption, whether in water or energy . 

   It is mentioned that importation and circulation will be allowed only to western water closets- single flush system  with an average drainage capacity of (0,5+ 3) liters drainage vertically, and (0,5+4) liters drainage horizontally. In addition, importation and circulation will be allowed only to western water closets - double flush system with an average discharge capacity of (0,5+ 3) liters drainage vertically, and (0,5+4) liters drainage horizontally (by calculating the average daily consumption of double-flush, provided that the large flush should not exceed 4,8 liters) as provided in the standard.