AMMAN — During a meeting at the
Ministry of Water and Irrigation on Saturday, Minister Muhammad Al-Najjar stressed that
the government must explore new sources of water and redirect other sources to
where they are needed most.
اضافة اعلان
The head of the
Water Authority, directors of various local water companies
and officials concerned with water supply and operations, attended the meeting,
reported Hala News.
They discussed the status of water supplies for the
summer months in light of the Kingdom’s endemic water scarcity and attacks on
water lines.
The rising demand for water, especially on hot days,
topped the agenda.
Najjar said the government would crack down on water
thieves and urged stakeholders to collaborate to protect water lines, wells,
and meters.
Ministry spokesperson Omar Salameh, in comments to
Khaberni, said that Jordan’s water problem was “critical” as a result of poor
water resources and low dam reserves — both vital sources of drinking water.
He said that simillarly to previous years, supply
problems are likely to occur at any time, especially for residents of
higher-altitude areas.
Salameh stressed that the country’s water networks
are in need of replacement, saying: “Only in Jordan is water supplied once a
week to residents, as there are not enough water resources, and the population
is increasing.”
He added that the ministry has been working for
years to decrease the rate at which water is lost from the network, a rate that
is starting to decline. The water loss in some areas had reached more than 50
percent, while it reached 32 percent in some areas of Amman before the water network was upgraded,
he said.
In Aqaba, water loss is estimated to be 23 percent,
he said, noting that a project worth up to $375 million was launched to upgrade
the network to pump and transfer drinking water.
Salameh denied rumors
about a decision to raise water prices in Jordan.
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