Muscat – All independent water and wastewater tanker operators in Oman must instal tracking devices under new regulations aimed at improving service monitoring and operational compliance.

The decision, issued by H E Salim bin Nasser bin Saeed al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals and Chairman of Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR), forms part of Decision No 31/2025 which took effect on April 23. It covers tanker operations involved in the transport of potable water, non-potable water and sewage.

Operators are required to obtain permits from licensing authorities and adhere to specific geo- graphic and service agreements, including technical standards, complaint handling procedures, inspection protocols and emergency response guidelines.

An electronic record system will also be established to track compliance, registering operator and subscriber information, tanker plates, discharge points and wastewater sources.

The new regulations introduce a standard colour code for tankers – potable water tankers must be painted blue and marked ‘potable water’, non-potable tankers green with ‘non-potable water’, and sewage tankers yellow with ‘sewage’.

Operators have one year to regularise their status. Those who fail to comply face fines ranging from RO50 to RO50,000, with daily penalties for repeated violations.