Germany, US urge Jordan to raise water tariff to ensure financial sustainability

water pipe
(File photo: Jordan News)
AMMAN — Germany and the US, as donors of water projects in the Kingdom, have urged Jordan to raise its water tariff in order to ensure financial sustainability for the water sector. اضافة اعلان

The call was made during the launch of the National Water Strategy for the years 2023 to 2040 on Thursday, according to a Khaberni.

Government urged to make tough decisions critical to water sector
Speaking at the event, Florian Reindl, the German Deputy Ambassador to the Kingdom, said that his country encourages the government to make tough decisions that are critical in the water sector, including reforming water tariffs.

Financial sustainability, he said, is crucial for the sector's success, and the new strategy provides a roadmap for coordinating the efforts of donors to reduce water challenges, especially water loss, and increase investments.

Recover financial cost, reduce energy costSimilarly, Sherry Carlin, the Director of the USAID mission, stressed the need to recover the financial cost of providing water to the population and reduce the cost of energy used in water distribution.
… Water in Jordan is a luxury that not everyone can obtain due to the scarcity of its sources.
She noted that water in Jordan is a luxury that not everyone can obtain due to the scarcity of its sources, adding that the US has provided more than $1.5 billion since 2011 to support the water sector and achieve water security for the population.

She confirmed the partnership's continuity to enhance water resource management and improve the water situation.

Increased investmentsThe National Water Strategy aims to enhance the governance, management, and operation of the water sector by updating current institutions and restructuring them to simplify operations, cover costs, and define institutional responsibilities.

The plan also involves developing the institutional performance of all water sector facilities in collaboration with partners to improve efficiency, increase revenues, recover costs, reduce the growing deficit of the water sector, and improve the services provided to ensure the financial capacity of the sector's institutions to fulfill their obligations according to the best global standards and implement the necessary plans, and programs.
Jordan faces a significant reduction in its annual per capita share of renewable freshwater, from 61 cubic meters to 35 cubic meters by 2040, if water sources remain as they are. This is in stark contrast to the global average per capita share of about 9,000 cubic meters in 2019.
Jordan faces a significant reduction in its annual per capita share of renewable freshwater, from 61 cubic meters to 35 cubic meters by 2040, if water sources remain as they are. This is in stark contrast to the global average per capita share of about 9,000 cubic meters in 2019.

Non-traditional sources of waterThe National Water Strategy emphasizes the urgent need for non-traditional sources of water to improve water supply and sustainability, such as the new national carrier project, with significant expansion in treating wastewater for reuse in irrigation, increasing supply efficiency for drinking water, and providing water for industrial, agricultural, and tourism investments.

It also focuses on reducing water loss by accelerating the update of the water supply system, replacing networks, and searching for sustainable water sources.


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