Water pumping remains suspended in Amman, Madaba

AMMAN — Pumping of water from several main resources to Madaba and the capital remained suspended for the third day in a row on Sunday due to increased turbidity levels, according to the Jordan Water Company (Miyahuna).

Heavy rain on Friday raised turbidity of water (cloudiness of a fluid which is a key test of water quality) reaching several treatment plants and wells, prompting Miyahuna to cease pumping, according to Miyahuna Executive Director Ghazi Khalil.

“Pumping from all the resources supplying Madaba Governorate with water have been suspended," Khalil told The Jordan Times on Sunday.

The company has suspended water pumping from Waleh and Heidan wells, which supply all of Madaba's water needs as well as Zara-Maeen Water Treatment Plant that supply 20 per cent of the capital's water needs, Khalil said.

"The company is supplying Madaba and the capital via other water resources to prevent water shortage in both governorates…," he highlighted.

All internal water resources in Amman are operational, the Miyahuna official added, noting that the Disi Water Conveyance Project as well as the Zai Water Treatment Plant are also operational.

All of the capital's reservoirs are full which helped the company respond to water suspensions, he continued.

Pumping from several water resources and wells gets suspended several times during winter when water becomes muddy.

The suspension of pumping is not expected to affect the water distribution programme in Amman and Madaba, according to the company.

Under the water distribution programme, households receive water once during a certain period, usually between 7-10 days on a rotating basis. Scarce water resources in the country compelled the Kingdom to initiate the programme in the early 1980s to conserve limited resources, while ensuring a sustainable supply of water.

Miyahuna has 30,000 subscribers in Madaba, 150,000 subscribers in Zarqa and 600,000 subscribers in Amman.