‘Authorities end 7 water violations entailing theft of 30,000 cubic metres per day’

AMMAN — Authorities last week ended seven major violations on water resources, under which over 30,000 cubic metres per day were being stolen, according to an official at the Water Ministry.

The violators were pumping amounts of water each day equal to the needs of a whole district, the official said, noting that 12,000 cubic metres per hour were being stolen to be sold via tankers to contractors and to be used for agricultural purposes.

“The violations entailed installing pipelines to divert water for illegal usage and drilling wells, an act prohibited under the law,” the official told The Jordan Times on condition of anonymity.

He noted that four contracting companies, some of which are working on the expansion of Al Azraq highway, were fined JD68,000 each for purchasing water from unlicensed tankers and signed pledges worth JD20,000.

The water the contracting companies bought was stolen from a pipe in Azraq which was sabotaged in order for the violators to collect water and sell it, according to the official.

Authorities also seized and confiscated two drilling rigs in Mafraq and Ramtha, the official said, noting that violators involved in the two cases will be jailed for up to five years and fined up to JD7,000.

Under new amendments introduced to the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) Law, those who abuse water carriers and mains, wastewater, pumping, purification or desalination stations, or cause the pollution of water resources, pipes or stations used for drinking water, or are involved in the digging of wells without obtaining a licence will be jailed for up to five years and fined up to JD7,000. 

In addition, violators of WAJ water and wastewater projects will be jailed for up to three years and fined up to JD5,000.

All penalties stipulated under the new law will be doubled in the case of repeat offenders, according to the ministry, which said that Article 31 of the legislation classifies water conveyance schemes and pipes as “strategic, vital projects”.

The Water Ministry is continuing with its “serious crackdown” on all forms of violations on water resources and systems, according to the official.

The campaign was launched in August 2013 to end violations on water networks and seal all illegal wells.

Since the onset of the campaign, authorities have confiscated over 140 drilling rigs, sealed more than 240 illegal wells and dismantled almost 10,000 pipes that were diverting tens of thousands of cubic metres illegally every day.