No Compromise on Water Security: Jordan Plans for the Future
last updated: 1 h ago
Amman — The Royal Speech has placed water security at the top of Jordan’s national priorities, with King Abdullah II stressing that there can be “no room for compromise or appeasement” on the issue and directing the government to continue water-security projects and adopt proactive plans to protect national resources, ensure their sustainability and safeguard the rights of future generations.اضافة اعلان
Translating the Royal directive into sustainable water security requires combining resource protection and diversification, rapid implementation, emergency preparedness, efficient management and spending, moving Jordan from crisis-driven water supply management toward a more resilient system capable of meeting long-term needs and protecting future generations.
Between meeting present needs and safeguarding future rights, Jordan’s water-security strategy is shifting from responding to scarcity toward long-term planning amid climate challenges and regional and geopolitical pressures.
According to water-sector experts who spoke separately to Al-Ghad, the challenge is not limited to water scarcity, but also involves the efficiency of managing and distributing resources, diversifying supplies, accelerating projects and strengthening preparedness for any disruption to water services.
Jordan’s National Water Strategy for 2023-2040 and the Executive Program of the Economic Modernization Vision for 2026-2029 provide frameworks for short- and medium-term projects and initiatives. However, experts say there is a need to move from approving plans to implementing them according to clear timelines and performance indicators that measure their actual impact on water supply, reducing losses and improving services.
The response begins with reassessing water-use priorities, as the agricultural sector consumes more than 65% of available water resources, according to expert estimates. This must be accompanied by reducing water losses, upgrading networks, protecting groundwater, and expanding wastewater treatment and reuse.
Diversifying water sources also requires accelerating desalination projects, particularly the National Carrier Project, which aims to raise annual water availability per capita to 150 cubic meters. Experts say the project will also help narrow the gap between supply and demand and increase weekly water-supply hours.
Experts stress that proactive planning is not limited to major projects. It also includes developing emergency scenarios to ensure uninterrupted supply if any source becomes unavailable, establishing emergency budgets, operating wells and pumping stations efficiently, and safeguarding Jordan’s shared water rights while diversifying sources to reduce dependence on external supplies.
According to the experts, sustainability is also inseparable from fairness, transparency and community participation. Water resources must be managed efficiently and equitably, citizens should be informed about projects, their costs and implementation stages, and communities most affected by water scarcity should be involved in setting priorities. A culture of water conservation must also be strengthened as a shared responsibility.
Building on National Initiatives and Visions
International water-sector expert Dr. Duraid Mahasneh said that water security, water sustainability and the rights of future generations are interconnected issues that cannot be addressed separately.
He stressed that addressing Jordan’s water challenges requires reviewing how available resources are managed, accelerating the implementation of water projects, exploring additional sources, improving sector management and strengthening its capacity to meet future needs.
Mahasneh said Jordan should build on national initiatives and visions, particularly the Royal initiative under the Economic Modernization Vision, which placed significant emphasis on the water sector and called for reconsidering domestic water use to ensure available resources are directed toward the most important and economically viable purposes.
He noted that Jordan, one of the world’s most water-scarce countries, needs to reassess its water-use priorities. More than 65% of its water resources go to agriculture, including activities that are not economically viable, while agricultural use is prioritized over drinking water without generating economic or social returns commensurate with the amount of water consumed.
“It is unreasonable that Jordan is one of the world’s most water-scarce countries while we use more than 65% of our water for agriculture, including unproductive agriculture,” Mahasneh said, stressing the need to reorder water-use priorities and strike a balance between the needs of different sectors while preserving available resources.
Mahasneh also pointed to delays in implementing water projects, saying this calls for new mechanisms to develop the sector and accelerate projects, including the establishment of a public shareholding water company similar to companies operating in the electricity, telecommunications and other service sectors.
He said a public shareholding company, or several financially and economically capable companies, could open the door to investments in projects such as drilling deep wells and searching for new water sources, while the state would regulate the sector in terms of prices and quality.
He stressed that establishing a public shareholding company in the water sector is one option for expanding investment and using financial and economic capabilities to develop additional water resources.
Regarding future water sources, Mahasneh identified Aqaba as a priority location for seawater desalination projects because of its location on the Red Sea and its tourism, economic and industrial importance.
He said Aqaba is a tourism, economic and industrial city and that seawater desalination there should be accelerated. He noted that the Economic Modernization recommendations included proposals for tourism, industrial and port activities in Aqaba to rely on seawater desalination and treated water.
Mahasneh said reliance on Disi water is not a sustainable long-term solution because the source is finite. He added that the National Carrier Project and seawater desalination would provide significant quantities of water, but would not be sufficient on their own to meet long-term needs.
“Reliance on Disi water, which will eventually run out, is not enough,” he said, adding that the National Carrier Project “will be sufficient to some extent, but not in the long term.” He stressed the need to continue searching for additional water sources rather than relying on a single project or source.
Regarding shared water resources with neighboring countries, Mahasneh highlighted the Yarmouk Basin and Jordan’s agreed share of its waters with Syria. He said Jordan’s annual share exceeds 360 million cubic meters, equivalent to about one-third of the country’s water consumption.
He questioned why these quantities have not reached Jordan and stressed the need to accelerate communication with Syria to secure Jordan’s water rights, which have not reached the Kingdom over the past 10 to 12 years.
He said Jordan receives only a small portion of this water, estimated at between 20 million and 25 million cubic meters, stressing the importance of pursuing the issue and restoring Jordan’s full water allocation.
Mahasneh also warned against continued reliance on Israel for water supplies and purchases, saying such dependence is directly linked to water and resource security and that continued reliance on external sources in this area is dangerous.
Regarding sector reforms, Mahasneh said privatization has reached most active economic sectors except water, whose companies continue to operate within the government framework. He noted that Miyahuna remains a government-owned company and has not developed to the extent possible under other sector-management models.
He acknowledged that the company provides good services and helps address shortages, while also noting the Ministry of Water and Irrigation’s efforts to repair networks. However, he stressed that these efforts, despite their importance, are not sufficient on their own to develop the sector and address its challenges.
“Privatization in the water sector is a very important issue,” Mahasneh said, not only in terms of finding new water resources but also in improving water management and increasing efficiency.
Mahasneh also highlighted water theft as a major concern, calling for such practices to be treated as a serious violation of citizens’ rights to access water and for tougher penalties against those responsible.
He said those who steal water deprive citizens of their rights and exploit the resource for financial gain by selling it to others and enriching themselves at the expense of the public.
Mahasneh called for the strongest possible measures against water theft, describing it as an attack on the country and its citizens and urging tougher penalties for perpetrators and treatment of such violations as serious crimes affecting the public interest.
Diversifying Water Sources
Former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation Eng. Iyad Al-Dahiyat said moving from water-crisis management to sustainability requires an integrated strategic approach combining long-term planning, preparedness for regional and climate-related changes, diversification of water sources and accelerated implementation of vital projects.
He said water security is a fundamental pillar of national, economic and social security, particularly given scarce water resources, climate challenges and geopolitical tensions. Addressing the issue requires combining water diplomacy, international law and national efforts to protect resources and strengthen supply security.
Al-Dahiyat said the Economic Modernization Vision, launched in 2022, established a general framework for managing the water sector as a key pillar of economic growth and improving citizens’ lives. This includes managing supply and demand, encouraging sustainable water use, strengthening climate resilience, expanding desalination projects and reducing water losses and the sector’s financial deficit.
He noted that the National Water Strategy 2023-2040 was developed in response to changes and challenges facing the sector, particularly declining groundwater and surface-water resources, population growth driven by refugee inflows, and the effects of climate change, including drought, declining rainfall and rising temperatures, all of which have disrupted the balance between supply and demand.
He added that the Executive Program of the Economic Modernization Vision for the water sector for 2026-2029, aligned with the national strategy, provides an implementation framework for short- and medium-term water initiatives and projects. It also serves as a roadmap for strengthening water-security indicators by defining technical targets, timelines, estimated costs and beneficiary groups.
Regarding future water supplies, Al-Dahiyat stressed the importance of building an integrated national water mix that balances traditional and nontraditional sources as well as transboundary waters, rather than relying on a single source. He emphasized that desalination is a strategic pathway for increasing available water supplies.
He identified the National Water Carrier Project to transport desalinated water from Aqaba to Amman as one of the leading projects, describing it as a cornerstone of the long-term strategic desalination program.
The project aims to raise annual water availability per capita to 150 cubic meters, compared with about 61 cubic meters currently, help narrow the supply-demand gap estimated at around 36%, and increase water-supply hours to between 72 and 96 hours per week.
Al-Dahiyat stressed that proactive planning goes beyond developing long-term strategies and projects. It also requires emergency scenarios and contingency plans to ensure water supplies continue if any source stops operating or becomes unable to provide its expected quantities.
He highlighted the importance of emergency budgets that allow rapid responses, as well as operational plans covering the activation of emergency wells and pumping stations in major well fields at maximum capacity, strengthening the sector’s readiness to deal with emergencies.
He also stressed the need to move from preparing policies and strategies to actually implementing water projects without delay and improving the efficiency of capital-project execution according to approved timelines and financial allocations. This includes developing water sources, rehabilitating networks, reducing losses, and implementing wastewater networks and treatment plants.
He said these projects should be linked to clear performance indicators measuring implementation results and impact, including the number of beneficiaries, areas served, additional water quantities, improvements in wastewater services and reductions in water losses.
On improving sector management, Al-Dahiyat highlighted the importance of using the private sector’s capabilities in technology, artificial intelligence, management expertise and financing for water projects.
He said private-sector developers should be involved at an early stage of project preparation to benefit from their expertise in feasibility assessments, proposals and financing, while partnership projects should be designed in a balanced manner that allocates risks to the party best able to manage and control them.
According to Al-Dahiyat, sustainable water security therefore depends on integrating strategic planning with emergency preparedness, diversifying water supplies, accelerating project implementation, improving management efficiency and benefiting from public-private partnerships. Together, these measures can strengthen Jordan’s ability to address water challenges and ensure sustainable resources for future generations.
Adopting Long-Term Plans
Jordanian water diplomacy expert Eng. Maysoun Al-Zoubi said the water-sector challenge facing Jordan is not limited to scarce resources and rising demand. It also concerns how those resources are managed and how the country plans for their future.
She called for a shift from responding to water crises after they occur to a proactive approach based on anticipating risks, preparing for them and developing long-term plans that ensure water security and sustainability for future generations.
“The challenge Jordan faces today is not limited to scarce water resources or rising demand, but also involves how these resources are managed and how we plan for their future,” Al-Zoubi said, stressing the importance of adopting long-term plans that ensure sustainable water resources and strengthen the country’s ability to confront future challenges.
Regarding strategic water projects, Al-Zoubi said the National Water Strategy and major projects, particularly the National Carrier and seawater desalination, represent important steps toward strengthening Jordan’s water security and diversifying supplies.
However, she stressed that these projects must form part of an integrated water-management system. Increasing available water quantities alone is not enough; it must be accompanied by protecting existing resources, reducing water losses, upgrading distribution networks, limiting groundwater depletion, expanding wastewater treatment and reuse, and improving water-use efficiency, particularly in agriculture.
Al-Zoubi also highlighted the importance of human resources and institutional management, saying this aspect deserves greater attention when discussing water strategies and projects.
She stressed the need to “put the right person in the right position” and place qualified officials who understand the importance of water security in leadership and executive positions. She said managing the sector requires officials with knowledge, experience and vision, as well as a strong sense of belonging and responsibility.
“Water management is not simply a job or an administrative position; it is a national trust linked to citizens’ lives and the future of generations,” she said, noting that plans and projects, regardless of their sophistication or investment size, cannot achieve their objectives without competent management capable of implementation, monitoring, evaluation and accountability, and committed to institutional work and making use of available expertise.
She stressed the importance of expanding community participation in water planning and decision-making so that the process of preparing plans and setting priorities does not remain limited to government institutions and experts, but includes different segments of society, particularly marginalized groups and those most affected by water scarcity.
Residents of rural and underserved areas, low-income households and farmers are among those most affected by water shortages, she said. Their needs should therefore be heard and they should be involved in setting priorities and developing solutions rather than simply receiving decisions and their consequences.
In this regard, Al-Zoubi stressed that transparency and keeping citizens informed about water plans, strategies, projects, details and implementation considerations should be fundamental elements of water-sector management.
She said citizens have the right to know the plans of relevant authorities, project objectives and costs, implementation stages, the technical and economic rationale behind decisions, and their implications for service levels, water supply, pricing and distribution.
“It is not enough to simply announce a decision; we must explain to citizens why it was made, what alternatives were considered and what results are expected,” she said, warning that a lack of information or failure to explain the reasons behind decisions can lead to misunderstanding and create room for rumors and speculation, even when decisions are based on necessary technical or economic considerations.
She added that when citizens have access to facts and feel that their voices are heard and their needs are taken into account, they are more likely to understand and cooperate with plans and contribute to their success.
She also stressed the importance of continuous water-awareness programs through schools, universities, media, civil society organizations and local communities, rather than relying solely on seasonal campaigns. Such efforts can help establish a culture of water conservation as a shared national and community responsibility.
Al-Zoubi further emphasized the need to link water sustainability to equitable resource distribution, ensuring that all citizens have fair access to water while taking into account the needs of areas and groups most affected by scarcity.
This requires balancing the needs of drinking water, agriculture, industry and the environment without meeting present needs at the expense of future generations’ rights.
She stressed that moving from water-crisis management to sustainability requires integrating proactive planning, implementation of strategic projects, protection of available resources, selection of appropriate leaders and qualified personnel, greater transparency and accountability, and citizen participation in decision-making.
Jordan’s success in achieving water security should not be measured solely by the size of completed projects or the quantities of water available today, Al-Zoubi said, but by its ability to build a sustainable water system managed efficiently, fairly and transparently and supported by public trust and participation.
Al-Zoubi reiterated that “water is not the responsibility of one ministry or institution; it is a shared national responsibility.” She said genuine investment in water security extends beyond infrastructure to include people, management and public awareness.
The goal, she said, should be to act today with future generations in mind, so that Jordan does not leave them delayed water crises, but instead a more efficient, secure and sustainable water system.
Source: Al-Ghad
Translating the Royal directive into sustainable water security requires combining resource protection and diversification, rapid implementation, emergency preparedness, efficient management and spending, moving Jordan from crisis-driven water supply management toward a more resilient system capable of meeting long-term needs and protecting future generations.
Between meeting present needs and safeguarding future rights, Jordan’s water-security strategy is shifting from responding to scarcity toward long-term planning amid climate challenges and regional and geopolitical pressures.
According to water-sector experts who spoke separately to Al-Ghad, the challenge is not limited to water scarcity, but also involves the efficiency of managing and distributing resources, diversifying supplies, accelerating projects and strengthening preparedness for any disruption to water services.
Jordan’s National Water Strategy for 2023-2040 and the Executive Program of the Economic Modernization Vision for 2026-2029 provide frameworks for short- and medium-term projects and initiatives. However, experts say there is a need to move from approving plans to implementing them according to clear timelines and performance indicators that measure their actual impact on water supply, reducing losses and improving services.
The response begins with reassessing water-use priorities, as the agricultural sector consumes more than 65% of available water resources, according to expert estimates. This must be accompanied by reducing water losses, upgrading networks, protecting groundwater, and expanding wastewater treatment and reuse.
Diversifying water sources also requires accelerating desalination projects, particularly the National Carrier Project, which aims to raise annual water availability per capita to 150 cubic meters. Experts say the project will also help narrow the gap between supply and demand and increase weekly water-supply hours.
Experts stress that proactive planning is not limited to major projects. It also includes developing emergency scenarios to ensure uninterrupted supply if any source becomes unavailable, establishing emergency budgets, operating wells and pumping stations efficiently, and safeguarding Jordan’s shared water rights while diversifying sources to reduce dependence on external supplies.
According to the experts, sustainability is also inseparable from fairness, transparency and community participation. Water resources must be managed efficiently and equitably, citizens should be informed about projects, their costs and implementation stages, and communities most affected by water scarcity should be involved in setting priorities. A culture of water conservation must also be strengthened as a shared responsibility.
Building on National Initiatives and Visions
International water-sector expert Dr. Duraid Mahasneh said that water security, water sustainability and the rights of future generations are interconnected issues that cannot be addressed separately.
He stressed that addressing Jordan’s water challenges requires reviewing how available resources are managed, accelerating the implementation of water projects, exploring additional sources, improving sector management and strengthening its capacity to meet future needs.
Mahasneh said Jordan should build on national initiatives and visions, particularly the Royal initiative under the Economic Modernization Vision, which placed significant emphasis on the water sector and called for reconsidering domestic water use to ensure available resources are directed toward the most important and economically viable purposes.
He noted that Jordan, one of the world’s most water-scarce countries, needs to reassess its water-use priorities. More than 65% of its water resources go to agriculture, including activities that are not economically viable, while agricultural use is prioritized over drinking water without generating economic or social returns commensurate with the amount of water consumed.
“It is unreasonable that Jordan is one of the world’s most water-scarce countries while we use more than 65% of our water for agriculture, including unproductive agriculture,” Mahasneh said, stressing the need to reorder water-use priorities and strike a balance between the needs of different sectors while preserving available resources.
Mahasneh also pointed to delays in implementing water projects, saying this calls for new mechanisms to develop the sector and accelerate projects, including the establishment of a public shareholding water company similar to companies operating in the electricity, telecommunications and other service sectors.
He said a public shareholding company, or several financially and economically capable companies, could open the door to investments in projects such as drilling deep wells and searching for new water sources, while the state would regulate the sector in terms of prices and quality.
He stressed that establishing a public shareholding company in the water sector is one option for expanding investment and using financial and economic capabilities to develop additional water resources.
Regarding future water sources, Mahasneh identified Aqaba as a priority location for seawater desalination projects because of its location on the Red Sea and its tourism, economic and industrial importance.
He said Aqaba is a tourism, economic and industrial city and that seawater desalination there should be accelerated. He noted that the Economic Modernization recommendations included proposals for tourism, industrial and port activities in Aqaba to rely on seawater desalination and treated water.
Mahasneh said reliance on Disi water is not a sustainable long-term solution because the source is finite. He added that the National Carrier Project and seawater desalination would provide significant quantities of water, but would not be sufficient on their own to meet long-term needs.
“Reliance on Disi water, which will eventually run out, is not enough,” he said, adding that the National Carrier Project “will be sufficient to some extent, but not in the long term.” He stressed the need to continue searching for additional water sources rather than relying on a single project or source.
Regarding shared water resources with neighboring countries, Mahasneh highlighted the Yarmouk Basin and Jordan’s agreed share of its waters with Syria. He said Jordan’s annual share exceeds 360 million cubic meters, equivalent to about one-third of the country’s water consumption.
He questioned why these quantities have not reached Jordan and stressed the need to accelerate communication with Syria to secure Jordan’s water rights, which have not reached the Kingdom over the past 10 to 12 years.
He said Jordan receives only a small portion of this water, estimated at between 20 million and 25 million cubic meters, stressing the importance of pursuing the issue and restoring Jordan’s full water allocation.
Mahasneh also warned against continued reliance on Israel for water supplies and purchases, saying such dependence is directly linked to water and resource security and that continued reliance on external sources in this area is dangerous.
Regarding sector reforms, Mahasneh said privatization has reached most active economic sectors except water, whose companies continue to operate within the government framework. He noted that Miyahuna remains a government-owned company and has not developed to the extent possible under other sector-management models.
He acknowledged that the company provides good services and helps address shortages, while also noting the Ministry of Water and Irrigation’s efforts to repair networks. However, he stressed that these efforts, despite their importance, are not sufficient on their own to develop the sector and address its challenges.
“Privatization in the water sector is a very important issue,” Mahasneh said, not only in terms of finding new water resources but also in improving water management and increasing efficiency.
Mahasneh also highlighted water theft as a major concern, calling for such practices to be treated as a serious violation of citizens’ rights to access water and for tougher penalties against those responsible.
He said those who steal water deprive citizens of their rights and exploit the resource for financial gain by selling it to others and enriching themselves at the expense of the public.
Mahasneh called for the strongest possible measures against water theft, describing it as an attack on the country and its citizens and urging tougher penalties for perpetrators and treatment of such violations as serious crimes affecting the public interest.
Diversifying Water Sources
Former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation Eng. Iyad Al-Dahiyat said moving from water-crisis management to sustainability requires an integrated strategic approach combining long-term planning, preparedness for regional and climate-related changes, diversification of water sources and accelerated implementation of vital projects.
He said water security is a fundamental pillar of national, economic and social security, particularly given scarce water resources, climate challenges and geopolitical tensions. Addressing the issue requires combining water diplomacy, international law and national efforts to protect resources and strengthen supply security.
Al-Dahiyat said the Economic Modernization Vision, launched in 2022, established a general framework for managing the water sector as a key pillar of economic growth and improving citizens’ lives. This includes managing supply and demand, encouraging sustainable water use, strengthening climate resilience, expanding desalination projects and reducing water losses and the sector’s financial deficit.
He noted that the National Water Strategy 2023-2040 was developed in response to changes and challenges facing the sector, particularly declining groundwater and surface-water resources, population growth driven by refugee inflows, and the effects of climate change, including drought, declining rainfall and rising temperatures, all of which have disrupted the balance between supply and demand.
He added that the Executive Program of the Economic Modernization Vision for the water sector for 2026-2029, aligned with the national strategy, provides an implementation framework for short- and medium-term water initiatives and projects. It also serves as a roadmap for strengthening water-security indicators by defining technical targets, timelines, estimated costs and beneficiary groups.
Regarding future water supplies, Al-Dahiyat stressed the importance of building an integrated national water mix that balances traditional and nontraditional sources as well as transboundary waters, rather than relying on a single source. He emphasized that desalination is a strategic pathway for increasing available water supplies.
He identified the National Water Carrier Project to transport desalinated water from Aqaba to Amman as one of the leading projects, describing it as a cornerstone of the long-term strategic desalination program.
The project aims to raise annual water availability per capita to 150 cubic meters, compared with about 61 cubic meters currently, help narrow the supply-demand gap estimated at around 36%, and increase water-supply hours to between 72 and 96 hours per week.
Al-Dahiyat stressed that proactive planning goes beyond developing long-term strategies and projects. It also requires emergency scenarios and contingency plans to ensure water supplies continue if any source stops operating or becomes unable to provide its expected quantities.
He highlighted the importance of emergency budgets that allow rapid responses, as well as operational plans covering the activation of emergency wells and pumping stations in major well fields at maximum capacity, strengthening the sector’s readiness to deal with emergencies.
He also stressed the need to move from preparing policies and strategies to actually implementing water projects without delay and improving the efficiency of capital-project execution according to approved timelines and financial allocations. This includes developing water sources, rehabilitating networks, reducing losses, and implementing wastewater networks and treatment plants.
He said these projects should be linked to clear performance indicators measuring implementation results and impact, including the number of beneficiaries, areas served, additional water quantities, improvements in wastewater services and reductions in water losses.
On improving sector management, Al-Dahiyat highlighted the importance of using the private sector’s capabilities in technology, artificial intelligence, management expertise and financing for water projects.
He said private-sector developers should be involved at an early stage of project preparation to benefit from their expertise in feasibility assessments, proposals and financing, while partnership projects should be designed in a balanced manner that allocates risks to the party best able to manage and control them.
According to Al-Dahiyat, sustainable water security therefore depends on integrating strategic planning with emergency preparedness, diversifying water supplies, accelerating project implementation, improving management efficiency and benefiting from public-private partnerships. Together, these measures can strengthen Jordan’s ability to address water challenges and ensure sustainable resources for future generations.
Adopting Long-Term Plans
Jordanian water diplomacy expert Eng. Maysoun Al-Zoubi said the water-sector challenge facing Jordan is not limited to scarce resources and rising demand. It also concerns how those resources are managed and how the country plans for their future.
She called for a shift from responding to water crises after they occur to a proactive approach based on anticipating risks, preparing for them and developing long-term plans that ensure water security and sustainability for future generations.
“The challenge Jordan faces today is not limited to scarce water resources or rising demand, but also involves how these resources are managed and how we plan for their future,” Al-Zoubi said, stressing the importance of adopting long-term plans that ensure sustainable water resources and strengthen the country’s ability to confront future challenges.
Regarding strategic water projects, Al-Zoubi said the National Water Strategy and major projects, particularly the National Carrier and seawater desalination, represent important steps toward strengthening Jordan’s water security and diversifying supplies.
However, she stressed that these projects must form part of an integrated water-management system. Increasing available water quantities alone is not enough; it must be accompanied by protecting existing resources, reducing water losses, upgrading distribution networks, limiting groundwater depletion, expanding wastewater treatment and reuse, and improving water-use efficiency, particularly in agriculture.
Al-Zoubi also highlighted the importance of human resources and institutional management, saying this aspect deserves greater attention when discussing water strategies and projects.
She stressed the need to “put the right person in the right position” and place qualified officials who understand the importance of water security in leadership and executive positions. She said managing the sector requires officials with knowledge, experience and vision, as well as a strong sense of belonging and responsibility.
“Water management is not simply a job or an administrative position; it is a national trust linked to citizens’ lives and the future of generations,” she said, noting that plans and projects, regardless of their sophistication or investment size, cannot achieve their objectives without competent management capable of implementation, monitoring, evaluation and accountability, and committed to institutional work and making use of available expertise.
She stressed the importance of expanding community participation in water planning and decision-making so that the process of preparing plans and setting priorities does not remain limited to government institutions and experts, but includes different segments of society, particularly marginalized groups and those most affected by water scarcity.
Residents of rural and underserved areas, low-income households and farmers are among those most affected by water shortages, she said. Their needs should therefore be heard and they should be involved in setting priorities and developing solutions rather than simply receiving decisions and their consequences.
In this regard, Al-Zoubi stressed that transparency and keeping citizens informed about water plans, strategies, projects, details and implementation considerations should be fundamental elements of water-sector management.
She said citizens have the right to know the plans of relevant authorities, project objectives and costs, implementation stages, the technical and economic rationale behind decisions, and their implications for service levels, water supply, pricing and distribution.
“It is not enough to simply announce a decision; we must explain to citizens why it was made, what alternatives were considered and what results are expected,” she said, warning that a lack of information or failure to explain the reasons behind decisions can lead to misunderstanding and create room for rumors and speculation, even when decisions are based on necessary technical or economic considerations.
She added that when citizens have access to facts and feel that their voices are heard and their needs are taken into account, they are more likely to understand and cooperate with plans and contribute to their success.
She also stressed the importance of continuous water-awareness programs through schools, universities, media, civil society organizations and local communities, rather than relying solely on seasonal campaigns. Such efforts can help establish a culture of water conservation as a shared national and community responsibility.
Al-Zoubi further emphasized the need to link water sustainability to equitable resource distribution, ensuring that all citizens have fair access to water while taking into account the needs of areas and groups most affected by scarcity.
This requires balancing the needs of drinking water, agriculture, industry and the environment without meeting present needs at the expense of future generations’ rights.
She stressed that moving from water-crisis management to sustainability requires integrating proactive planning, implementation of strategic projects, protection of available resources, selection of appropriate leaders and qualified personnel, greater transparency and accountability, and citizen participation in decision-making.
Jordan’s success in achieving water security should not be measured solely by the size of completed projects or the quantities of water available today, Al-Zoubi said, but by its ability to build a sustainable water system managed efficiently, fairly and transparently and supported by public trust and participation.
Al-Zoubi reiterated that “water is not the responsibility of one ministry or institution; it is a shared national responsibility.” She said genuine investment in water security extends beyond infrastructure to include people, management and public awareness.
The goal, she said, should be to act today with future generations in mind, so that Jordan does not leave them delayed water crises, but instead a more efficient, secure and sustainable water system.
Source: Al-Ghad
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