By JT – Feb 10,2022
AMMAN — Minister of Water and Irrigation Mohammad Al Najjar and Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Jordan Lee Jae-wan on Thursday inaugurated the construction works of the “Rehabilitation of Water Networks in Faqou’h District of Karak Governorate/2020-2024” project.
The project is funded with $9.27m from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in cooperation with the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ), according to a KOICA statement.
The project aims to secure a stable and abundant water supply for approximately 30,000 residents in the Karak Governorate (Amra’a, Serfa, Faquo’h, Zahra and Shahtoor) and reduce non-revenue water (NRW) from 60 to 20 per cent by improving the water networks and implementing better management programmes for maintenance and operations.
Project activities consist of design and construction of the water supply networks, including the rehabilitation of existing facilities and installation of required instruments, the establishment of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, and provision of training programmes in Korea and Jordan.
During the ceremony, the ambassador expressed his delight in the initiation of such an important project and said: “I am confident to mention that the ceremony is significant and timely, considering the meaning of the project. It is expected to improve the quality of life for Karak residents and stimulate further cooperation in the water sector between our countries.”
The minister expressed his gratitude towards the generous grant from the Republic of Korea and stated: “The event was honoured with the presence of the Karak Governorate’s high-profile personnel including the Governor of Karak, director of the Karak police, Karak general intelligence director, and a considerable number of Parliament members.”
Jordan’s water share capita less than internationally recognised level — ministry
By JT – Feb 09,2022
AMMAN — The water share per capita in Jordan is less than 100 cubic metres per year, which is 10 per cent of the internationally recognised water scarcity level, Secretary General of Water Ministry Jihad Mahameed said on Wednesday.
Delivering a lecture at the Jordanian National Defence College, Mahameed said that water is seen as a “key element for economic, social and political development”, as well as for enhancing national security.
He highlighted the ministry’s efforts to maintain the appropriate water supply rates, according to a ministry statement.
The ministry has taken several measures to increase revenues and cut losses in the water sector, including improving billing and collection systems, increasing the number of sewage systems, as well as restructuring tariffs for services and offering a special tariff for economic activities, notably potash, shale, nuclear energy and phosphates related activities.
Jordan, Netherlands hold workshop to enhance cooperation in water field
By JT – Feb 07,2022
AMMAN — Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) Secretary General Bashar Batayneh and Dutch Ambassador to Jordan Harry Verweij on Monday inaugurated a “Sponge City Workshop”.
Batayneh said that the workshop aims to explore ideas relating to the concept of “Amsterdam Sponge City”, which displays innovative methods to confront the challenges of sanitation networks, rainwater flows and water administration under climate change, according to a WAJ statement.
Batayneh said that this partnership has a strategic importance for the Water Ministry/WAJ and the Yarmouk Water Company due to “the dire need” to improve the efficiency of water administration and water and sanitation services for citizens.
In this regard, he said that population increase and refugee hosting resulted in big challenges for water supplies in the Kingdom, mainly in the north.
Verweij said that improving the international water administration is a priority for the Dutch Foreign Affairs Ministry in cooperation with other stakeholders, especially as Jordan is the second poorest country in the world in terms of water resources.
The ambassador added that the Netherlands in 2020 supported water operators partnership between World Waternet and Yarmouk Water Company based on the existing and close cooperation with the Water Ministry and WAJ.
Yarmouk Water Company Chairman Hussein Soub said that Jordan’s water security is a critical issue in the region. The government has made several important steps to address all water security issues and embarked on important and leading schemes to achieve water security, according to Soub.