Jordan - Improved Groundwater Resources Management in Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

Country / Region: Jordan / Western Asia
Focal Point: Groundwater

Begin of project: May 1, 2015

End of project: August 31, 2019

Status of project: June 15, 2020

Dried-out well in the north of Jordan Source: BGR

As a result of the inflow of refugees from neighboring Syria the pressure on the Jordanian water sector has increased considerably. Mostly the northern governorates Mafraq, Irbid, and Zarqa and the capital Amman are affected. Significantly, more drinking water must be supplied to these hosting communities. Therefore, groundwater resources are over-pumped and wells are continuously deepened or newly drilled. As a result, groundwater levels and water quality are rapidly declining. Due to overstrained sewer networks and wastewater plants and the uncontrolled expansion of domestic and industrial areas, groundwater pollution increased and became a severe problem for water suppliers. Groundwater recharge areas which are sensitive to pollution are insufficiently mapped and measures for groundwater protection are not adequately implemented.

In order to cope with these tremendous challenges in the water sector it is necessary to estimate the existing water sources around major well fields to allow for an adapted extraction strategy to allow long-term utilization. BGR supports the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI) in this. Furthermore a close cooperation with the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) and the water utilities (Miyahuna and Yarmouk Water Company) exists, and, for the assessment of geological and geophysical data, a cooperation with the National Resources Authority. Further ministries, such as the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MoMa), are also included in the project activities.

Project focus areas are the hosting communities for Syrian refugees. In order to strengthen water utilities in the efficient control and distribution of drinking water resources groundwater management plans on local (well fields) and regional scales are prepared. This allows engineers and decision makers to adapt to the ever changing conditions. The risk of over-pumping and salinization of wells are minimized through a more sophisticated well field management strategy. This avoids unnecessary costs and ecological damage and helps to allow for an adequate water supply of hosting communities and refugee camps.

A groundwater vulnerability map for central and northern Jordan will be developed. Again, project focus are the hosting communities for Syrian refugees. With the help of the map a better protection of groundwater resources against pollution can be achieved. This will be achieved by land-use planning processes and restrictions issued to land-use planning that takes into account areas prone to groundwater pollution. From an economic perspective the implementation of these preventive measures are also useful. Purification of already polluted water resources is more costly and water resources might even become non-suitable for water supply. Drinking water must then be transported from other areas, which in turn increases the supply costs.

Consequently, the strengthening of the partner institution MWI and other involved institutions in the fields of: