Jordan – Environmental Technologies Jordan – Environmental Technologies
The water scarcity in Jordan increases demand for water conservation technology and management at all levels of use. Given Jordan’s high population growth, limited renewable water resources, and deteriorating water quality, the effective management and efficient use of water resources is critical both at the household and country-wide levels. With population growth continuing, improving the water supply and infrastructure through non-traditional water resources and reclaimed water measures will be essential to guarantee the long-term water security of this country. The government is aware of this risk, however, and improving water security is included in the Vision 2025 program.
Jordan is considering new projects designed to replenish and receive new water supplies. Jordan consumes more water than is available from renewable sources. Renewable water supply currently only meets about half of total water consumption. Shortages are caused by unsustainable groundwater extraction, including thousands of illegal private wells. As a result, many communities in Jordan have long experienced tensions over water scarcity even before the arrival of nearly 700,000 registered Syrian refugees in the last five years. With this rapid influx in population, the gap between available water and demand, has widened significantly, particularly in the north. Managing water scarcity is Jordan Water Company’s (Miyahuna) top priority. Most of the water losses occur in the network closest to the households. Miyahuna will replace this segment of the network in the next five years as part of its water losses control program.
Water and Environment challenges:
- Population growth - doubling by 2024
- Economic development increasing demand
- New water sources are expensive
- Excessive extraction of ground water
- Heavily subsidized water, especially for low-value agriculture
- Increasing pollution of water sources
- Lack of operations and maintenance
- Refugee influx (Syria and Iraq)
- Increased Irrigation, industrial use, commercial and tourism use
- Climate Change
Solid Waste Management
Sub-Sector Best Prospects
Treated wastewater is an important component of the Kingdom’s water resources. Currently, sewage services are available to around 70 percent of Jordan’s urban population; therefore, increasing sewage coverage and ancillary water treatment capabilities will help Jordan conserve its scarce water resources.
In Jordan there are 27 wastewater treatment works operating to international standards. They treat around 122 billion liters (122 million cubic meters) of water, providing more than 115 billion liters (115 million cubic meters) for different purposes in industry and agriculture involving crops and fodder, especially in alfalfa and corn fodder, which generate a large economic reward for farmers and livestock breeders.
Opportunities
In response to these water issues, Jordan is developing more immediate water sources and rehabilitating inefficient water networks. Still, more action is needed on the demand side to conserve and allocate water resources efficiently. Solutions must link awareness, incentives, behavior change, and conservation to more sustainable strategies for economic development.
Steps are also being taken in the public and private sectors to reduce, prevent and mitigate pollution; increase private sector participation and commercial practices; improve management of water resources; promote cost-effective, innovative technology; improve regulatory reforms, tariffs, water allocations, watershed protection, and groundwater over drafting; continue investment in infrastructure-focus on reducing water system losses and wastewater treatment and reuse; and promote cost-effective, innovative technology and much more. The government has also launched a water use plan spanning 2013 – 2020, aimed at improving the water sector to levels that will realize the Kingdom’s vision to become sustainable by 2020.
Energy efficiency is an important part of the New Energy Strategy to reduce energy’s overall budget impact, including in the water sector. There are also other projects underway to develop pumping stations in various regions and to make use of renewable energy for the water sector through the use of bio, solar and hydro energies, as well as organic waste. These projects should help reduce the financial pressure on the water sector due to huge energy costs, currently accounting for 60 percent of the water sector’s total running costs.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is active in the water sector in Jordan. USAID partners with the Government of Jordan and private sector to address Jordan’s water management challenges by (1) developing Jordan’s water and wastewater infrastructure, (2) implementing policy reform and strengthening governing institutions, and (3) increasing water conservation, especially in the agriculture sector, which consumes 50% of Jordan’s precious water. Some of USAID’s large infrastructure projects include: the Red-Sea to Dead-Sea Project, Zara Ma’in Pumping and Treatment Station, Jerash and Tafileh Wastewater Treatment plants.
Learn more about partnering with USAID at: https://www.usaid.gov/partnerships
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