Authorities end alleged large-scale water theft in Lubban

AMMAN —  Authorities on Monday announced uncovering a major water theft case, under which some 48,000 cubic metres of freshwater were being diverted monthly for the irrigation of over 100 dunums of lands in Lubban, according to a government official.

The Ministry of Water and Irrigation, the Jordan Water Company (Miyahuna) and security forces from the Public Security Department, the Gendarmerie and the Royal Badia Forces raided early this week the location after verifying reports on a major violation on a water main that supplies area residents, an official at the ministry said.

In a farm in Lubban, located 30 kilometres south of Amman in Al Jizah District, authorities uncovered a 100-metre long illegal pipeline that was diverting municipal water from a main carrier to the vast plantation, the official said, noting that the stolen water was being channeled into five huge ponds, which were already filled with thousands of cubic metres of water.

"The fresh precious water that is supposed to reach people for drinking and domestic usage was being illegally diverted for the irrigation of all kinds of field cultivations and crops in 13 greenhouses," the official, who requested anonymity, told The Jordan Times.

Authorities removed the violation and are in the process of estimating the cost of the stolen water, according to the official, who noted that investigation is under way to identify owner of the farm and those involved in the violation to refer them to court.

"More than 1,600 cubic metres of water were being diverted daily to the farm from the main carrier. This is a huge violation involving the deprivation of thousands of people of their right to constant supply of water," the official said, noting that the daily water per capita share in Jordan ranges between 80-100 litres depending on the location.

Stiffer penalties for infractions against the water system have been introduced under the amended Water Authority of Jordan Law.

Those who abuse water carriers and mains, wastewater, pumping, purification or desalination stations, cause the pollution of water resources, pipes or stations used for drinking water, dig or are involved in the digging of wells without obtaining a licence face a prison sentence of up to five years and fines of up to JD7,000.

In addition, violators of water and wastewater projects can be jailed for up to three years and fined up to JD5,000 under the amendments.

All penalties stipulated under the law are doubled in the case of repeat offences.

Also earlier this week, the ministry's teams sealed an illegal well in a farm in Mafraq, some 68 kilometres north Amman, under its ongoing campaign to end all violations on water networks and resources, according to the official.

In the process, authorities seized and confiscated a “sophisticated” drilling rig for digging deep wells, the official said, noting that the illegal well was sealed and the ministry is estimating the cost of water pumped out of the well.

The ministry banned the drilling of wells in 1998 to limit random pumping of water, in order to preserve aquifers from depletion and salinity.

Water theft and violations on the water network and resources are being targeted by the ministry's ongoing campaign, launched in 2013.

Recent ministry figures show that 32,000 violations on water networks and resources have been stopped since the campaign started. In addition, a total of 900 illegal wells have been sealed, 53 drilling rigs confiscated and 800 cases referred to courts.

In the process, a total of 25 million cubic metres of water have been retrieved per year, according to the ministry, which encouraged the public to contact the ministry’s unified water emergency number on 117116 to report any suspected violations against the water network and resources.