AMMAN — In
light of the increasing demand for
water in Jordan and
climatic changes that
weaken water management control, environmental experts suggested several
solutions, the most important of which is low-cost water harvesting.
اضافة اعلان
There are some,
however, who disagree with the feasibility of this solution.
Director of the
Smart Desert Project Ali Al-Hayajneh told
Jordan News that the water
situation in Jordan is bad, so water harvesting is a solution; it entails collecting
the largest possible amount of rainwater during the rainy seasons, no matter
how short, he said, adding that this could secure large quantities to meet the
different needs for water of citizens.
Hayajneh said
that relying on water harvesting would reduce the risk of floods, which has
increased recently in the southern governorates and the desert areas.
“Water
harvesting is not a new idea. Rather, it has existed for thousands of years,
and its effects are still visible in archaeological areas such as Petra, which
is famous for having the best ancient network for collecting and draining
water,” he said.
Since water
harvesting is a global solution that countries of the world resort to,
especially those that suffer from water scarcity, Hayajneh commended
Minister of Agriculture Khaled Al-Hanaifat who, when announcing the ministry’s strategy
for the year 2022–2023, said the ministry was striving to build thousands of
water harvesting reservoirs in various regions of Jordan to reduce the longstanding
water deficit problem.
Hayajneh
stressed that the Smart Desert project cannot be excluded from the national
agenda that strives to address water shortages. A large part of the project
depends on water harvesting, including in Ramtha and northeastern Badia. The
selection of these and other areas is the result of studies conducted to
identify areas with a high potential to provide a large water harvest.
Hayajneh stressed
that there should be greater awareness among citizens and urged them to practice
water harvesting at home, due to its low cost and great effectiveness.
“Other
solutions cannot be ignored, of course, and we must also continue to raise
awareness about rationing water consumption and the correct management of its
distribution, and constantly provide the correct information about water
situation in Jordan to the citizens,” he said.
The head of the
Union of Environmental Associations, Omar Shoshan, told
Jordan News that the water situation in Jordan is very critical due to the deterioration of
the 13 aquifers in Jordan, the problem of managing dams and their capacity, the
high rate of evaporation of surface water, illegal encroachments on water
sources, and technical losses of water as a result of the old water networks.
Shoshan
stressed that all these problems can only be solved through major projects such
as the National Mega Project, which would help Jordan face the water problems
it suffers from.
He added that
climate change requires high-level adaptation measures and that one of these
measures is the
Red Sea water desalination project.
Security
oversight and strengthening water management, in cooperation with security and
control institutions in general, by inflicting serious and deterrent penalties
against violators, is very important, said Shoshan.
Also important
is to exercise local control over the cleanliness of water resources and protect
them from pollution, while continuously raising citizens’ awareness about the
need to ration water consumption.
Shoshan did not
see water harvesting as a serious solution, in view of the very high rate of
evaporation. He said that the best thing to do when harvesting water is to
fill the aquifers only.
“What is being
dug in the desert is left in the sun, so there is no real benefit from that as it
is not applied in the right way, and the environmental impact is not studied
properly,” he said.
Environmental
expert Mohammad Samih agreed and suggested that the problematic water situation
in Jordan requires major projects, which “can be a radical solution”. Other solutions
are the National Mega Project and the Red Sea desalination project, whose
impact will be significant and precise, unlike water harvesting, he said.
Samih believes
that the idea of water harvesting is only a complementary solution to large
projects and that its implementation needs a careful study so as not to affect
other natural resources.
“If we use
water harvesting, the responsible authorities must raise citizens' awareness
about individual projects and must be careful and accurate concerning water
harvesting national projects,” he said.
Dureid
Mahasneh, a water expert, told
Jordan News that the rain that falls
in Jordan is not enough for harvesting. Rain reaches 3 billion cubic meters in
the poor rainy seasons, and 8 billion cubic meters in the rich rainy seasons,
he said, adding that, “unfortunately, 85 percent of these quantities are
exposed to evaporation, so water harvesting will not be feasible due to climate
change that causes high temperatures. Consequently, the water in the water
harvesting ponds and dams evaporates".
Mahasneh added
that water harvesting would recharge the groundwater, but the
groundwater depletion is serious; Jordan had 13 aquifers before, while now it
has only two, he said.
“We have enough
water for two million people, while the population is 11 million. Therefore,
water harvesting is a simple solution for a limited period and a limited
quantity that is insufficient in the long run,” he said.
As for the
appropriate solution, "of course the Red Sea water desalination project is
the best option under the current circumstances".
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