**2.4.1 Surface water resources**

Surface water resources in Jordan vary considerably from year to year. The long-term average surface water flow is estimated at 706.91 MCM/year, comprising of 451.40MCM/year base flow, and 255.51 MCM/year flood flow. Of these only an estimated 473MCM/year is usable or can be economically developed.

Surface water resources are unevenly distributed among 15 basins. The largest source of external surface water is the Yarmouk river, at the border with Syria. The Yarmouk river accounts for 40% of the surface water resources of Jordan, including water contributed from the Syrian part of the Yarmouk basin. It is the main source of water for the King Abdullah canal and is thus considered to be the backbone of development in the Jordan valley. Other major basins include Zarqa, Jordan river side wadis, Mujib, the Dead Sea, Hasa and Wadi Araba. Internally generated surface water resources are estimated at 400 million m /year (FAO, 1997). Figure 4 presents the main surface water basins in Jordan.

## **2.4.2 Groundwater resources**

Groundwater is a major water resource in Jordan and the only water resource in many regions of the Kingdom. Twelve groundwater basins have been identified in Jordan, these include two fossil aquifers: Al-Disi and Al-Jafar. Some of these basins have more than one aquifer. The annual safe yield of the renewable groundwater supply is estimated to be 277MCM. An additional 143 MCM per year are considered available from non-renewable fossil aquifers that are sustainable for between 40 and 100 years. In 2005, the over-draft was about 144 MCM, consequently, the water level in several basins are declining and some aquifers are showing some deterioration of their water quality due to increased salinity. Figure 5 presents groundwater basins and sustainable abstraction per groundwater basin.

resource base. Although a limited amount of reuse of water was occurring in Jordan, the explanation of this fact is that large quantities of water were being withdrawn from groundwater reserves at a rate faster than that of natural recharge. Jordan is, therefore, a country which will soon experience serious water shortages. Indeed, it is the **only** country in

Later, Beautmont (2002) suggests that the only long-term solution would be for Jordan to embark on a policy of desalinated water supply for at least some of its major urban centers. However, it could be carried out from Aqaba. The great problem, though, with Aqaba is that the desalinated water would have to be transported over distances of at least 250 km, and pumped 1000 metres in height to reach the urban centres of Amman and Zerqa. In summary, there are no easy solutions to the water problem for Jordan. In the short term the reallocation of at least some of the irrigation water will buy time, but in itself it will not

Water resources consist primarily of surface and ground water sources. In recent years

Surface water resources in Jordan vary considerably from year to year. The long-term average surface water flow is estimated at 706.91 MCM/year, comprising of 451.40MCM/year base flow, and 255.51 MCM/year flood flow. Of these only an estimated

Surface water resources are unevenly distributed among 15 basins. The largest source of external surface water is the Yarmouk river, at the border with Syria. The Yarmouk river accounts for 40% of the surface water resources of Jordan, including water contributed from the Syrian part of the Yarmouk basin. It is the main source of water for the King Abdullah canal and is thus considered to be the backbone of development in the Jordan valley. Other major basins include Zarqa, Jordan river side wadis, Mujib, the Dead Sea, Hasa and Wadi Araba. Internally generated surface water resources are estimated at 400 million m /year

Groundwater is a major water resource in Jordan and the only water resource in many regions of the Kingdom. Twelve groundwater basins have been identified in Jordan, these include two fossil aquifers: Al-Disi and Al-Jafar. Some of these basins have more than one aquifer. The annual safe yield of the renewable groundwater supply is estimated to be 277MCM. An additional 143 MCM per year are considered available from non-renewable fossil aquifers that are sustainable for between 40 and 100 years. In 2005, the over-draft was about 144 MCM, consequently, the water level in several basins are declining and some aquifers are showing some deterioration of their water quality due to increased salinity. Figure 5 presents groundwater basins and sustainable abstraction per groundwater basin.

the Middle East which faces such a serious situation.

The following sections describes the situation in more details.

wastewater has increasingly been used for irrigation.

473MCM/year is usable or can be economically developed.

(FAO, 1997). Figure 4 presents the main surface water basins in Jordan.

solve the water scarcity issue.

**2.4.1 Surface water resources** 

**2.4.2 Groundwater resources** 

**2.4 Water resources** 

Fig. 4. Main surface water basins in Jordan. (National water Master Plan)
