Jordan has succeeded in reducing water losses by 10 percentage points over the past four years, allowing significant quantities of water to be recovered and made available for supply without requiring a corresponding increase in new water resources, Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Al-Saud said Tuesday.
اضافة اعلان
Speaking at the second Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial Meeting on Water in Rome, Abu Al-Saud said Jordan is simultaneously working to protect every available drop of water amid severe scarcity and growing pressure on its resources.
He said Jordan is increasingly using advanced technologies to detect leaks and illegal connections, improve network management and pumping efficiency, and forecast demand. The country is also strengthening drought and flood monitoring and supporting evidence-based decision-making.
Abu Al-Saud said Jordan seeks to use data to make better decisions that contribute to providing water for communities, adding that the Kingdom’s experience demonstrates the possibility of moving “from managing scarcity to managing opportunities.”
He said water security in the Mediterranean region has become a genuine challenge amid climate change, floods, drought, population growth and rising demand for water.
Jordan is working to meet the needs of a growing population while hosting large numbers of refugees, he said. At the same time, climate change is making reliance on traditional water sources increasingly difficult, while rising pumping, treatment and transportation costs continue to put pressure on the sector’s financial sustainability.
Abu Al-Saud said regional tensions are placing additional pressure on already limited water resources, calling on the international community to support a cooperative approach and avoid measures that could undermine regional stability.
He stressed that transboundary water resources should not be used as a weapon or political tool, but rather as an instrument for cooperation, peace, development and stability. He also emphasized the importance of managing shared surface and groundwater resources in accordance with international rules and principles in ways that deliver mutual benefits to countries.
The minister said efforts to control vital national and regional water resources pose a threat to Jordan and the region, stressing the importance of strengthening regional cooperation amid geopolitical challenges and ongoing crises.
To mitigate the impact of water scarcity, Jordan is expanding its use of non-conventional water resources, particularly seawater and brackish-water desalination, as well as the safe reuse of treated wastewater.
He said the Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project represents a cornerstone of this approach and a major step toward strengthening Jordan’s water security over the medium term.
Abu Al-Saud called on Mediterranean countries to implement practical projects in desalination, water reuse, leak reduction, technology and climate resilience.
He reaffirmed Jordan’s commitment to working with Union for the Mediterranean countries and partners to build a more water-secure Mediterranean region that is resilient to climate change and sustainable.
Abu Al-Saud made the remarks during the second Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial Meeting on Water, which he co-chaired with European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall.
During the meeting, the Union for the Mediterranean launched the “Rome Water Initiative,” aimed at mobilizing investment, providing technical assistance and developing sustainable, bankable water projects across the Mediterranean region.
