As this chart sharply illustrates, Jordan is one of the ten most water-deprived countries in the world. Whereas the average U.S. citizen has more than 9,000 cubic meters of fresh water available per year, the average Jordanian has less than 200 - a 45-fold difference. Lack of water will be one of the most serious challenges to Jordan’s future economic growth. With population expected to double by 2029, the already low availability will be halved.

Challenges

Jordan’s political stability and economic prospects depend heavily on Jordan’s ability to manage its scarce water resources. The problem has two dimensions. The first, and most obvious, is total supply. However, there is an equally important dimension, that of management of the resources available in an integrated manner.

Scarce water has been treated in some cases as if it were abundant. Hence, water prices have been minimal and demand excessive. Two-thirds of the Kingdom’s water goes to low-value agricultural crops, while higher value demands for urban consumers, industry and tourism go unmet. Furthermore, half of Amman’s water supply is “lost” or unaccounted for somewhere in the nation’s distribution network.

Response

Reusing treated wastewater for agriculture could effectively double Greater Ammans’s water supply at affordable costs (where nearly half the country’s population resides). However, a supply-only response without accompanying demand management and conservation is likely to result in simply wasting even larger quantities. For these reasons, USAID/Jordan in close cooperation with the Jordanian Ministry of Water and Irrigation and the Water Authority of Jordan pursues a two-track approach to the water sector that not only generates supply but also encourages more cost effective water use in all sectors and includes both construction activities and the transfer of technical skills.

Highlights

USAID's water portfolio activities are designed to enhance Jordan’s ability to manage its water resources wisely as well as in a more integrated and efficient manner. This helps support regional stability by preventing conflict, provides quality water for the population and improves the overall economic prospects for the country. Specific activities are initiated in partnership with the Government of Jordan and focus on: improving environmental protection; optimizing the availability and use of water resources; strengthening water policies and systems; and improving resource allocation.

Construction activities are making good progress. In Aqaba, a $31 million contract was awarded by USAID in February 2003 to rehabilitate and expand wastewater treatment for the city. Contracting is also underway with an expected award in October 2004 for rehabilitation of Aqaba’s water distribution system.

In Amman, the construction of the $125 million Zara Ma’in Water Supply project is underway, with USAID funding $104 million of the cost. This project will increase potable supplies by 40 percent in the capital. Construction at the As Samra $167 million build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract for wastewater treatment of 60 million cubic meters per year started in January 2004. This is Jordan’s first private sector BOT with 50 percent private sector financing and operation for a 25-year period. Approximately 46 percent of the cost is being provided by USAID in the form of a grant. USAID also is implementing a $72 million component of the multi-donor rehabilitation of Amman’s potable water distribution system.

On other fronts, the USAID-funded Watershed Management project strengthened the relationship between the Ministries of Health and Water with agreement on the following: acceptance of key water standards and regulations, Quality Assurance/Quality Control program for ministries laboratories, drinking water guidelines, and new procedures that will result in reduced water treatment plant shutdowns. On another environmental front, groundwater protection has been advanced through twinning the Amman municipality and Northern Governorate hospitals with U.S. partners for the hazardous/medical waste disposal.

Regarding water reclamation, USAID funded the establishment of three demonstration farms were established for reclaimed water in Irbid, Wadi Mousa and Aqaba. Moreover, with technical assistance from USAID, Jordan now has a strategy for pricing and marketing reclaimed water and the resulting crops produced. Revised industrial reuse standards received Jordanian Government approval. To support this progress, new water entities were created including the Reuse and Environment Unit and a Reuse Coordination Committee. Other activities in reuse include public/farmer education, training, study tours and workshops.

In the area of Water Demand Management, a Water Demand Management (WDM) Unit was established at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation with assistance from USAID. The Water Efficiency and Public Information for Action Program (WEPIA), funded by USAID, supported a new WDM curriculum that has been inserted into Jordanian classroom textbooks from grades 1 through 11. The WEPIA program also helped establish a Masters Degree program at Jordan University for Science and Technology. The revision of sanitary and beautification codes is in final stages. Public education on water issues is ongoing along with journalist training sessions. Sales training and the actual sales of water-saving devices continues to expand. Auditing and retrofitting of public and private buildings (hotels, schools, hospitals, government and commercial) indicated that 40 to 60 percent are now using water-saving devices. A “model” community was rehabilitated to demonstrate water and associated energy conservation. Twenty-seven grants have been awarded to poor communities to alleviate water shortages and inefficient water usage. Also, a new USAID program (KAFA’A) initiating agricultural demand management in Jordan has begun. KAFA’A addresses efficient irrigation in the Jordan Valley and selected highland areas. This initiative aims to improve the economic return of water used in agriculture and will support: improved on-farm water management, agriculture extension, irrigation, better crop selection, marketing and export potential.

USAID provided technical assistance to the water authorities of Jordan to improve and standardize accounting systems, improve efficiency, and strengthen these institutions. For example, training courses under a program with Washington State University have been completed for more than 800 employees from the Jordan Valley Authority, Water Authority of Jordan and Ministry of Water and Irrigation. Furthermore, Washington State and the University of Jordan are engaged in curriculum development for proposed, new water studies to be added to courses at the University of Jordan.