Three arrested for illegal well drilling in Irbid

AMMAN — For the second time in one week, authorities arrested three people for drilling an illegal well in Ramtha, in Irbid Governorate, on Tuesday a government official said.

A team from the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ), the Public Security Department and the Gendarmerie raided a farm in Ramtha, 90km north of Amman, where two Jordanians and a Syrian national were drilling an illegal well, the official at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation said.

“The team moved to the location at dawn, following reports of a group of people digging a well in a farm near the wastewater treatment plant,” the official told The Jordan Times.

Security forces arrested three suspects, including the owner of the farm, the brother of the owner of the drilling rig and a Syrian national who was operating the drilling rig, the official noted.

“The illegal well has been sealed and WAJ’s central workshops directorate confiscated the drilling rig,” he added.

The three suspects are currently incarcerated at Ramtha police station, where they are being investigated, according to the official.

“Several of the illegal drilling of wells or cases of abuse of the water resources and networks are reported by individuals who have a great sense of awareness and responsibility. We value the cooperation of the public in protecting water from abuse,” the official highlighted.

He said that millions of cubic metres of water are being lost in water violations and theft, noting that the ministry is also incurring heft financial burdens in its campaign to end violations on the water network.

Last week, the ministry announced the arrest of six people in Ramtha as they were drilling an illegal well in the middle of the night, using a locally manufactured drilling rig.

Since it launched its campaign to end violations on the water networks and resources in 2013, the ministry has seized and confiscated over 80 drilling rigs, according to official figures.

The ministry banned the drilling of wells in 1997 to limit random pumping of water, and preserve aquifers from depletion and salinity.

Stiffer penalties for infractions against the water system have also 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.