Ministry tackles water loss with new projects, says Najjar

AMMAN — Water loss, which affects around 50 per cent of the water pumped to the networks, is among the greatest challenges for the water sector, which already faces declining water resources, the increasing impact of climate change, and decreasing potable water which is driven by low rainy seasons and population growth, according to Minister of Water and Irrigation Mohammad Al Najjar.

Najjar said that the ministry’s strategic plan, which was recently updated, focuses on speeding the implementation of network replacement-related projects, enhancing the capacity of these projects and improving performance to cut losses by 2 per cent per year. These improvements are intended to achieve the strategy’s 2040 goals, which aim for global levels of no more than 25 per cent of water loss.

The water loss strategy, a major component of the 2022-2040 national water strategy, is meant to reduce losses by 2 per cent per year through a combination of projects worth around $350 million funded by the United States Agency for Development. 

The government will contribute 10 per cent to multiple projects in the second phase, and will contribute to all projects in the third phase, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Highlighting the ministry’s efforts to address water loss, Najjar said that projects worth $30 million are underway in Amman through Jordan Water Company (Miyahuna). Operations of these projects will be expanded to reach Madaba, Zarqa and Aqaba, and the value of financing for these projects has increased to $60 million, he said.

He added that the second phase agreement was signed in 2018 with a value of $152 million to be completed by the end of 2023. As of now, the projects are scheduled to be completed by end of 2025.

The third phase began in 2020 with the same value of $152 million, and was expected to be completed by 2026. The value of projects was increased by $75 million, bringing the total value of projects to $227 million, in order to cover additional areas in the northern region.