In Jordan, a country facing severe water scarcity, a population surge and influx of refugees have intensified the demand for water, straining the already struggling water supply systems. Climate change exacerbates the situation, bringing extreme heat and insufficient rainfall. Jordan suffers these effects despite the country's relatively small carbon footprint compared to other major contributors to climate change. USAID has taken action to address the water supply challenges through its Water Engineering Services Activity (WES). The Amman Water System Improvement Project was initiated to reinforce and extend the existing water supply network, adding approximately 40 km of water pipelines. The primary goal of this project is to enhance access to clean and reliable water sources, thus bolstering the country's water security and improving the efficiency of water supply systems.
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Engineer Rodana Al Dabbas supervising pipelaying of the water network in Ain Al Basha, Jordan. The pipelaying is part of USAID’s Management Engineering Services Contract II, which is working to increase water supply through the replacement of old water network components, improvement of water network management, installation of pressure management and monitoring systems, investments in high accuracy smart meters, and leak detection equipment. These interventions, in partnership with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, aim to strengthen Jordan’s ability to improve its water security, adapt to climate change, and meet the needs of the growing population.
A young Jordanian boy drinking water from a tap. Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world and climate change is aggravating the water shortage situation. USAID’s Management Engineering Services Contract is working to increase water supply through water utilities institutional development, replacement of old water network components, improvement of water network management, installation of pressure management and monitoring systems, investments in high accuracy smart meters, and leak detection equipment.
Jordan’s agriculture sector is particularly threatened by climate change given the already scarce water resources. In Jerash, Ala’a is collecting water from the water network for irrigation during dry summer months. USAID through its Management Engineering Services Contract II is supporting Yarmouk Water Company to reduce non-revenue water and energy consumption thus improve service delivery. Energy efficiency will be improved by converting most of the water supply from pumping to gravity-fed. Such interventions will ensure that Ala’a will receive some of the limited water resources to grow his produce.
The country of Jordan is largely desert, making it vulnerable to climate change. Inconsistent rainfall, higher temperatures, and population increase stress the already limited water resources. In the Balqa Governorate, USAID’s Management Engineering Services Contract II Activity is working to rehabilitate and restructure the water supply system to support the Water Authority of Jordan, reduce water loss, and save limited water resources. Photo subject Khaled is working as part of the project to improve drinking water supply.
USAID's Water Engineering Services Activity (WES) aims to upgrade and expand the South Amman Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is currently under strain. By enhancing effluent quality and improving the local reuse system, the treated effluent will be fully utilized for irrigation, which will promote greenery while reducing the demand for freshwater resources. This will enable water diversification for other purposes, like expanding access to clean water. WES’s Local Reuse Network project fosters collaboration between farmers and promotes the use of treated effluent for expanded farming activities. This innovative approach enhances water utilization, contributing to climate-resilient farming practices.
The South Amman Wastewater Treatment Plant discharges excess effluent to an old carbonate pond. USAID's Water Engineering Services Activity (WES) aims to upgrade and expand the plant to address potential adverse environmental and social consequences. Through WES's Local Reuse Network project, local farmers are being actively encouraged to utilize the plant’s treated effluent for expanded farming activities. This initiative is expected to significantly boost the utilization of the treated effluent.
USAID's Water Engineering Services Activity (WES) is committed to upgrading and expanding the overloaded Fuhais and Maheis Wastewater Treatment Plant. The existing treatment plant has two maturation ponds, one of which will be utilized for the new treatment plant upgrade and expansion. This project aims to boost the plant's efficiency and enhance the quality of its effluent. By doing so, it will enable the utilization of Jordan’s limited water resources for other purposes, leading to increased access to clean water and enhanced living conditions for the surrounding community.
This is a photograph of the North Aqaba Wastewater Treatment plant in Aqaba, Jordan. Captured here are some of the solar panels that help power the wastewater treatment process that occurs in the buildings and structures behind the panels. The solar panels, along with the use of biogas from the treatment process, reduce the need for fossil fuels to power the treatment plant. In addition, the water is treated to a point where it can be reused for watering municipal public spaces thereby saving limited drinking water supplies. This work took place as part of USAID's Jordan Water Infrastructure project which was implemented by CDM International Inc.
Background:
The North Aqaba Wastewater Treatment plant was originally constructed in 1986 and expanded in 2005 with a grant from USAID. Under this project, USAID once again supported the expansion and rehabilitation of the North Aqaba Wastewater treatment plant to accommodate the sanitation needs of Aqaba’s growing population and enhance sanitation for residents of Aqaba Governorate. Through this project, USAID helped to construct new facilities and rehabilitate the existing wastewater treatment plant. The project increased the treatment capacity of the plant from 12,000 m3/day to 40,000 m3/day.
The plant was completed in November 2021, and 150,000 people in Aqaba Governorate are benefiting from safely managed sanitation services that prevent contamination of water resources and protect public health and the environment. Properly treated wastewater now serves as an alternative water source for irrigation of public green spaces and for industrial use, relieving pressure on drinking water supplies for domestic uses.
This green project enjoys significantly lower operational costs and reduces its impact on the environment through its use of sustainable solar energy, from the use of photovoltaic (PV) power generation and biogas produced through the wastewater treatment process.
Mrs. Taghreed, an active member of Disi Women Cooperative, has been working in these nurseries located in Wadi Rum, Aqaba Governorate, Jordan. These nurseries aim to preserve and grow seedlings, and to be planted in their natural habitat, at the heart of the desert. Mrs. Taghreed is supporting and providing for her family by working in the Mitsubishi Corporation funded “Wadi Rum Ecosystems Restoration Project”.
This activity improves the livelihoods of Wadi Rum locals, especially women, through ecosystem conservation and restoration. This activity works with Disi women cooperative (DWC), a local women’s community-based organization with 300 women members that was established in January 2010, targeting Bedouin women of the Disi basin villages to improve their lives. DWC main goals are:
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Women’s empowerment
Provision of jobs and business opportunities to Disi women to improve their livelihoods
Environment Protection
Mitsubishi Corporation supports this program as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, providing a fund for WADI for Sustainable Ecosystems Development. This funded program is called “Wadi Rum Ecosystems Restoration Project”.
Active members of Disi Women Cooperative have been working in these nurseries located in Wadi Rum. These nurseries aim to preserve and grow seedlings to be planted in their natural habitat, at the heart of the desert.
These women are supporting and providing for their families by working in the Mitsubishi Corporation funded “Wadi Rum Ecosystems Restoration Project”.
An active member of Daba’s Community (Jiza District, Amman, Jordan), working on restoring rangelands in Daba’s Village, being an active member of the youth in his community, and taking action toward climate change. WADI works with Daba’s Restoration Site, in collaboration with the Hashemite Fund for the Development of Jordan Badia, to provide technical support and assistance, which will increase the native seedlings survival rate. The partner organization involved in this program is Hashemite Fund for the Development of Jordan Badia, under the United States Forest Service funded Watershed Development Initiative.
Active members of Daba’s Community (Jiza District, Amman, Jordan), participating in a practical training on planting techniques and quality inspections. These community members gained knowledge and skills to sustain their lands, using scientifically correct techniques.
WADI works with Daba’s Restoration Site, in collaboration with the Hashemite Fund for the Development of Jordan Badia, to provide technical support and assistance, which will increase the native seedlings survival rate.
Hashemite Fund for the Development of Jordan Badia is a project under the United States Forest Service Funded Watershed Development Initiative.
Mrs. Tahani, an active member of Sabha’s Community (Mafraq Governorate, Jordan), working in Sabha’s Nursery, learning sustainable techniques, and contributing to supporting her family and overall community livelihoods. Through WADI, women will play an integral role in community-based natural resource management across Jordan. In partnership with the Hashemite Fund for the Development of Jordan Badia, the first women-run community nursery was established at Sabha, Mafraq in 2016. The nursery produces high-quality native seedlings using state-of-the art practices. The seedlings are used for landscape restoration throughout Jordan. Many of these women broke social barriers to work at the nursery with proven professional and personal success. They are now role models in their communities and are setting a standard of professional excellence for nursery management in the Kingdom. Hashemite Fund for the Development of Jordan Badia is a partner organization under the United States Forest Service funded Watershed Development Initiative.
Reem Al-Zubaidi went against social norms and left her village—Om Hussein, Jordan—to work at the Sabha Community Nursery to grow different Mediterranean native plants such as saltbrush (Altriplex halimus) seedlings. The U.S. Forest Service, in partnership with The Hashemite Fund for Development of Jordan Badia, implemented the USAID-funded Sustainable Environmental and Economic Development (SEED) project, which provided Reem with intensive technical and soft skills training that made her a star at Sabha Community Nursery. As native seedlings like Mediterranean saltbrush develop, they go through a “hardening phase” that helps them endure the harsh conditions of the desert and attain a survival rate as high as 85 percent. Rangeland seedlings absorb and store carbon dioxide due to their quick growth and comparatively rapid reproduction rate. Reem’s contribution, along with those of other SEED beneficiaries, sets the stage for a landscape reforestation process that will provide essential ecosystem services and help mitigate climate change as seedlings lock carbon in their fiber.
Location and date the photo was taken: Royal Botanic Garden (RBG) nursery, Al-Balqaa Governorate, Jordan; 19 January 2020
Who is depicted in the photo: Carob seedlings at the RBG nursery.
What activity is depicted in the photo: Native Carob tree seedlings grown in the nursery to be outplanted in Jordanian forests as part of reforestation and alleviation of climate change efforts.
How the activity addresses climate change: Carob is a native Jordanian tree and an important part of Jordan’s forests. Carob is usually grown for its edible pods, and as an ornamental tree in gardens. The ripe, dried pod is often ground to carob powder, which is used to replace cocoa powder.The restoration of such forests helps mitigate climate change by storing carbon, halting land degradation and fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Additionally, it has an aesthetic side, can assist in poverty alleviation due to its economic return, and in fighting hunger and malnutrition due to its high-value nutritional content. WADI grows Carob seedlings with its partners and eventually plants them in different sites in an effort to restore forests; once planted, they will improve soil quality, prevent erosion, and help in eventual groundwater recharge.
Name of the relevant program receiving USAID support (via Global Climate Change or other funds): N/A
Names of partner organizations involved in the program: Watershed and Development Initiative (WADI), Royal Botanic Garden (RBG)