**2.4.3 Wastewater**

In a water-short country such as Jordan, wastewater is an important component of the Kingdom's water resources. Generally, fully treated wastewater is suitable for unrestricted use in agriculture and for aquifer recharge. "Jordan's National Water Strategy" (1997), argues that population pressure in Jordan has caused a chronic deficit in available freshwater, which has resulted in over abstraction of groundwater. Furthermore, there are limited opportunities to develop new freshwater sources and these are expensive, with high operating costs. Given this, the strategy states that treated wastewater is to be considered as a resource that, with due care for health and the environment, should be reused for agriculture, industry and other non-domestic purposes, including groundwater recharge.

The reuse of treated wastewater in Jordan reaches one of the highest levels in the world. The treated wastewater flow of the major wastewater treatment plant in the country is discharged to Zarqa River and the King Tall dam, where it is mixed with the surface flow and used in the pressurized irrigation distribution system in the Jordan Valley. Reused wastewater is becoming increasingly an essential element of Jordan's water budget.

Water Soft Path Analysis – Jordan Case 299

MCM, however the presence of groundwater mining and wastewater reuse in 2005 indicates that the demand already exceeds the availability of renewable water during that year. Table 1 shows the most recent statistical data on water use in Jordan by user sector and water

**Source Uses in MCM Total** 

Surface Water 74.7 4.5 265.21 7.0 351.41 Ground Water 216.66 33.903 254.629 0.826 506.01 Treated Wastewater 0.0 0.0 83.545 0.00 83.545 **Total** 291.36 38.403 603.384 7.826 941

From the Table 1 it is clear that Jordan is facing a chronic imbalance in the population-water resources equation. The per capita use of water will continue to decline at a rate equal to that of population increase. The renewable water resources falls short of meeting actual demand, which translates into the increase of food imports where the deficit in food balance

Amman Governorate enjoys a special position in Jordan because of its size and population, as well as its importance as the having the capital city Amman, the center of governmental

Jordan is administratively divided into 12 Governorate. Figure 6 represents a map of Jordan showing the twelve Governorates. Amman Governerate is one a middle governerate and has an area of 7,579 km2. This represents 8.5% of Jordan's area. However, the population of Amman was 2125400 in 2005 representing 38% of the population in Jordan (DOS, 2005). The

During the last 10 years the amount of new building within the city has increased dramatically with new districts of the city being founded at a very rapid pace (particularly so in West Amman), straining the very scarce water supplies of Jordan as a whole, and exposing Amman to the hazards of rapid expansion in the absence of careful municipal

Amman enjoys four seasons of excellent weather as compared to other places in the region. Summer temperatures range from 28 - 35 degrees, but with very low humidity and frequent breezes. Spring and fall temperatures are extremely pleasant and mild. The winter sees nighttime temperatures frequently near zero, and snow is not unknown in Amman, as a matter of fact it usually snows a couple of times per year. It typically will not rain from April to September, with blue skies prevailing. But lately it started to rain in April and the beginning of May. In fact about half the quantity of rain Amman and Jordan received in

institutions, communication, commerce, banking, industry, and cultural life.

**Municipal Industrial Irrigation Livestock** 

**Uses** 

source.

(In Million Cubic Meters per Year, MCM/year)

reached \$110 per capita in 1996 (Strategy, 1997).

**3. Amman governorate** 

planning.

2006 fell in April.

Table 1. Sources of Sectoral Water Use in Jordan in 2005

population densitiy is 280.4 persons per km2 (DOS, 2005).

Fig. 5. Ground water basins and sustainable abstraction rate per ground water basin

In Jordan, about 84 MCM of wastewater were treated in 2005 and discharged into various water courses or used directly for irrigation, mostly in the Jordan Valley. Currently, approximately 60% of the urban population is provided with sewerage services.

Standards 893/2002 "Water-Reclaimed Domestic Wastewater" controls wastewater reuse in agriculture. The National Wastewater Management Policy (1998) allows for the Jordanian Standards on water reuse to be periodically examined to account for ambient conditions, end uses, socio-economics, environment and local conditions.

## **2.5 General water budget**

In 2005 the total use of water in Jordan was 941 million cubic meters (MCM) or 164 m3/capita/year t the total 2005 country's population of 5.47 million people. This usage included 77 MCM of nonrenewable groundwater (groundwater mining) and 83.5 MCM of treated wastewater. The total renewable freshwater resources in Jordan are estimated at 850

Fig. 5. Ground water basins and sustainable abstraction rate per ground water basin

approximately 60% of the urban population is provided with sewerage services.

end uses, socio-economics, environment and local conditions.

**2.5 General water budget** 

In Jordan, about 84 MCM of wastewater were treated in 2005 and discharged into various water courses or used directly for irrigation, mostly in the Jordan Valley. Currently,

Standards 893/2002 "Water-Reclaimed Domestic Wastewater" controls wastewater reuse in agriculture. The National Wastewater Management Policy (1998) allows for the Jordanian Standards on water reuse to be periodically examined to account for ambient conditions,

In 2005 the total use of water in Jordan was 941 million cubic meters (MCM) or 164 m3/capita/year t the total 2005 country's population of 5.47 million people. This usage included 77 MCM of nonrenewable groundwater (groundwater mining) and 83.5 MCM of treated wastewater. The total renewable freshwater resources in Jordan are estimated at 850 MCM, however the presence of groundwater mining and wastewater reuse in 2005 indicates that the demand already exceeds the availability of renewable water during that year. Table 1 shows the most recent statistical data on water use in Jordan by user sector and water source.


(In Million Cubic Meters per Year, MCM/year)

Table 1. Sources of Sectoral Water Use in Jordan in 2005

From the Table 1 it is clear that Jordan is facing a chronic imbalance in the population-water resources equation. The per capita use of water will continue to decline at a rate equal to that of population increase. The renewable water resources falls short of meeting actual demand, which translates into the increase of food imports where the deficit in food balance reached \$110 per capita in 1996 (Strategy, 1997).
