The document discusses water resources and reuse of reclaimed water in Jordan. It notes that Jordan has limited water resources but a growing population, placing increasing demand on its water supplies. Approximately 95% of treated wastewater in Jordan is currently reused in agriculture. The document outlines Jordan's water strategy, which emphasizes wastewater reuse. It provides details on wastewater treatment, current reuse in agriculture, and monitoring of soils, crops and groundwater to ensure safe reuse of reclaimed water. Strategic plans are discussed to further develop water resources, increase reuse, and ensure sustainable water management.

1. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Reuse of Reclaimed Water in Jordan
By
Eng. Ziad Darwish Taqash
Ministry of Water and Irrigation
September 2011

2. JORDAN IN FACTS AND FIGURES
Jordan is an arid to semi arid country
An area of about 90.000 km2.
A population of 6 million.. Annual growth
rate of about 2.2 %
High flow of refugees from surrounding
countries adds burden to water supply
system due to instability in the region .
About 73% of the population lives in
urban areas concentrated in the northern
and middle parts of Jordan .

3. Water Resources in Jordan
The average annual renewable fresh water resources:
(780) MCM
275 MCM is Ground Water
505 MCM is usable Surface Water
Other sources of water are Non-conventional water
resources:
Nonrenewable water = 140 MCM
Treated WW = 100 MCM
About 95 % of treated effluent in Jordan is currently reused in
agriculture.
Almost 100% will be reused

4. Prevailing Water Sector Management
Constraints and challenges
• Per capita availability of water resources
is declining rapidly, from 3600 m3/Cap in 1946 to
145 m3 in 2009.
• Competing sectoral demands on scarce water
resources
• Demand centers are distant from water sources
• Limited financial capacities
• Groundwater over-abstraction

5. Water Supply & Demand
Actual 2022
Year 2010 2015 2020
(2006)
Domestic Needs
290 380 407 437 450
(MCM)
Industry & Remote
46 77 100 120 125
Areas
Agriculture
589 1072 1040 983 980
including TWW
Total Needs (MCM) 1512 1529 1547 1540 1555
ًWater Supply (MCM) 925 1150 1233* 1296 1871**
Deficit (MCM) -587 -379 -314 -244 +316
* DISI starts at 2013 ** Red – Dead starts at 2022

6. Jordan’s Water Strategy of the
Ministry of Water and Irrigation
Wastewater shall not be managed as “waste”.
It shall be collected and treated to standards
that allow its reuse in unrestricted agriculture
and other non-domestic purposes, including
groundwater recharge.

7. Wastewater use in Jordan
(2010)
Wastewater Treatment Plants 23
Total effluent (MCM) 102
Total effluent of As Samra Treatment Plant (MCM) 79
Restricted Agriculture inside Treatment Plant (ha) 1438
Restricted Agriculture outside Treatment Plant (ha) 1055
Unrestricted Agriculture in Jordan Valley (ha) 15252

8. Institutional and Legal Issues
• In 1997, the MWI formulated a national Water Strategy, which
was the foundation to four subsequent water policies:
• The Water Utility Policy
• The Groundwater Management Policy
• The Irrigation Water Policy
• The Wastewater Management Policy
• Recently, the water demand management policy was issued.
• The policies emphasize the need to study the environmental
feasibility of proposed water projects.
• The policies also focus on public awareness of water resource
protection and conservation.

9. Policy guidelines
• Protection of surface and groundwater
• Efficient management of urban water and all environmental and
irrigation aspects relevant to the water sector.
• Development of appropriate institutional capacity building and
legislative framework for water management.
• Efficient and sustainable management of utilities by further
involvement of the private sector.
• Fostering of regional cooperation and donor coordination.
• Introduction of socially acceptable cost recovery tariffs for all
types of water use depending on the quality and quantity of
water consumed.

10. Reclaimed Water Use in the Jordan Valley
Farmers in the Jordan Valley use reclaimed
water for irrigation in accordance with
environmental and public health regulations.

11. Jordan Valley Area
North JV
Middle & South JV
Southern Ghors

12. North JV ( 9000 ha )
YarmouK River Wadi Arab Dam Groundwater
King Ab-dullah Canal
Irrigation Networks
Citrus, Vegetables

13. Middle & South JV
(13370 ha)
As Samra WWTP
Wadi Seir WWTP
KTD
Kafrien Dam Mixing
50% TWW
30% TWW
50% Rain Water
70% Rain Water
JV Mixing Point
Irrigation Networks
Date palm, Vegetables

14. 15252 ha

15. Impacts of irrigation
with reclaimed water
– salts
– nutrients
– heavy metals
– microbiological
contaminants
crops human health
soils
groundwater

16. State Crop Monitoring system for fresh
fruit and vegetables
Collaboration between JVA, JFDA, MoA.
Safety Control Guideline for fresh fruit and
vegetables
Crop quality assurance system The main
purpose in establishing the steps towards a Crop
Quality Assurance System.
Campaign 2009/2010 shows very low risks
of microbial, contaminated crops no
cases found.
High Nitrate values in leafy crops, due to
over fertigation.
Monitoring campaign is going on (JFDA)

17. Soil Monitoring
Parameters Average Parameters Average
(0 - 60cm) (0 - 60cm)
1999 2007 1985 2007
EC (dS/m) 6.7 4.66 Fe - DTPA 3.07 11.2
pH 7.88 7.92 Zn - DTPA 1.71 5.8
CaCO3 (% ) 37.5 33.6 Cd - DTPA 0.04 0.07
CEC (meq/100g) 10.8 13 Co - DTPA 0.13 0.26
Gypsum 2.1 2.8 O.M (%) 1.02 1.9
B – Hot water 2.06 2.0 Mn - DTPA 7.98 16
SAR 9.7 4.0 Available k 583 696
(ppm)
Texture Medium P – Olsen 40.8 210
(ppm)

18. Groundwater Monitoring
• Possible impact on
groundwater where RW
is used for irrigation
• Long-term risk for
agricultural land use

19. Services to farmers
• RW Guidelines
• Monthly information sheet.
• Soil and water analysis (labs).
• Training about fertigation
(nutrients in reclaimed water)

20. Outlook
Reclaimed Water will become the main source for
irrigation.
Risk monitoring - cross sector exchange information and
link data of all involved parties.
Implementation and enforcement of monitoring programs
Consider WHO Guidelines on reuse.
Implement a project to link effluent from Irbid RW to
irrigation network in north Jordan Valley (JV).
Transfer knowledge and experience of JV to other areas
in Jordan.

21. Strategic Planning for the Water sector
Action Plan consists of 6 major items namely:
1. Institutional and Legal Issues.
2. Private Sector Participation.
3. Agricultural Water Use.
4. Cost Recovery.
5. Information Systems.
6. Adaptation of International Conventions

22. The Way Forward
IN THE SHORT TERM
• Enhance Stakeholders’ participation
• Enhance use of recycled water for industries.
• Adjust water tariff to ensure recovery of O&M Costs
• Encourage Irrigation Advisory Services
• Continued development of Centralised Water Information
Systems including the use of advanced technologies.

23. The Way Forward
IN THE LONG TERM
• Full development of SW & GW (Economic feasibility, social
and environmental considerations)
• Continuous Development of marginal water.
• Gradual reduction of renewable GW over-abstraction (By 2020)
• Continued Development of HR & Public Awareness
•Achieve Highest Possible efficiency (Conveyance, distribution,
application and use, including Water & WW systems performance)
• WW management and reuse to achieve public health standards

24. The Way Forward
IN THE LONG TERM
• Expansion of Private Sector Role
• Regional Cooperation
• Periodical review of institutional arrangements &
restructuring to match changing needs
• Recovery of O&M cost to become a standard practice.
• Regular update of legislation whenever necessary
• Improve Industrial waste water monitoring

25. Thank you
&
Welcome to Jordan