by Hana Namrouqa | Aug 10, 2014

AMMAN — Work is under way to rehabilitate three deep wells in Karak Governorate to meet the increasing demand for water in the southern region, a government official said on Sunday.

The wells are located in the Lajjoun area in Karak, the official added, and a local company will rehabilitate and clean them.

“Submersible electronic pumps, pipes and cables in the three wells will be salvaged under the project. The 450-metre-deep wells will be renovated, cleaned up and tested before pumping water to Karak commences,” the Water Ministry official told The Jordan Times over the phone.

“The wells will be operational before the end of this year. The rehabilitation project will raise the water per capita of Karak’s residents and ease the water shortage,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Once renovated, the three wells will be linked via a network of pipelines to the Lajjoun water pumping station, Karak’s main water supplier, the official added.

Situated 140km south of Amman, Karak has a population of 170,000, according to the Department of Statistics. The governorate is home to several of the country’s main wells, streams and dams.

Water per capita in the governorate stands at 165 litres per day, according to the Water Ministry, which describes the amount as above average.

However, 60 per cent of the supplied water is lost through leakage due to violations and deteriorated water networks, pipes and pumping stations.

Several water infrastructure projects are currently under way to extend new water and wastewater networks in Karak, where two main water pumping stations are also being renovated to reduce loss and improve water supply.

The official said the rehabilitation of the three deep wells in Lajjoun is funded by the Gulf grant.

In 2011, the Gulf Cooperation Council allocated $5 billion to finance development projects in Jordan during the 2012-2016 period. The grant is divided between Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, with each country paying $1.25 billion.
Some $425.4 million are allocated for water and sanitation projects.

http://jordantimes.com/authorities-revamping-lajjoun-wells-to-increase-karak-water-supply