'Plans under way to improve summer water supply'

AMMAN — The government has no plans to raise the prices of water in 2020 or 2021 despite the increase in costs, Water Minister Raed Abul Saud said on Thursday. 

In a ministry statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Abul Saud said that the ministry is implementing several projects to secure additional water sources, especially after Israel withdrew from the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project.

Meanwhile, during a meeting of senior employees at the ministry, Abul Saud stressed the importance of endorsing the summer plan before the end of March to ensure water supply in sufficient amounts to all regions of the Kingdom to avoid shortcomings witnessed in past years.

For his part, Water Ministry Secretary General Ali Subah said that many areas will witness a "remarkable improvement" in water and sanitation services through the projects the ministry is implementing. 

Subah noted that the current wet season has so far recorded 117 per cent of the long-term rainfall average, and the 15 major dams in the Kingdom now hold more than 54 per cent of their full capacity.

He added that dams used to store drinking water hold less than 50 per cent of their full capacity, while some dams used for agricultural and industrial purposes are full.

The secretary general pointed out that dams now hold 184 million cubic metres (mcm) of their full capacity of 336.4mcm, calling on citizens to preserve water and implement necessary maintenance on water devices in their homes.