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- West Bank/Gaza, 06/05: Kafa Kids Get a New School
[pdf, English
/ Arabic]
- Egypt, 05/05: First Lady Laura Bush Meets Egypt's
Alam Simsim Muppets [html]
- West Bank/Gaza, 05/05: USAID Invests $6 Million
in Job Creation [pdf, English
/ Arabic]
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October 5-9, 2003: 11th World Water Congress
Wastewater Treatment Plant Reclaims Precious Water in Jordan
Water is one of the basic human needs, yet millions of people
around the world do not have enough clean water. There are
many claims on the world's water supply, from agriculture
and industry to drinking water and tourism. It is a global
issue, and everyone must share what is available. However,
in some places, water is scarcer than in others. Sixty-three
percent of the world's population without access to clean
water is in Asia, and in the Middle East and North Africa,
people are extracting water faster than it can be replenished.
In these areas, water is becoming increasingly precious and
can be a source of tension between countries and among populations.
The 11th World Water Congress, which will take place in Madrid
on October 5-9, 2003, comes at an opportune time. While the
previous Congress stressed caring for the scarce waters of
the earth, this one will focus on using water efficiently,
including new technologies, infrastructure, and the influence
of cultural and socio-economic factors on water policy.
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The Wadi Mousa Wastewater
Treatment Plant was built to accommodate the growing
number of residents and tourists visiting the World
Heritage Site of Petra, while also protecting this national
treasure from wastewater overflows. The plant provides
about 1.25 million cubic meters per year of treated
wastewater for agricultural use.
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The Kingdom of Jordan has faced the problem of water scarcity
for many years, and improving the efficiency of water use
is an important part of its efforts to deal with the problem.
Jordan shares the rivers providing much of its water with
Israel and Syria. Over the years, conflicts have emerged over
use of the water. For Jordan, lack of water is damaging people's
health as well as the economy. Rapid population growth, poor
water management, not enough wastewater treatment plants and
inappropriate pricing policies all contribute to the problem.
In 1999, the total water supply was estimated to be 801 million
cubic meters; however, the demand for water is expected to
reach 1, 321 million cubic meters by the year 2005. To shrink
the gap between what is available and what is needed, the
Government of Jordan has a long-term plan to increase efficiency
of water use, improve the management of the water supply and
improve wastewater treatment.
Improving wastewater management could make a huge difference
in Jordan's water problems. Agriculture requires large amounts
of water, primarily for irrigation. If more wastewater could
be treated, enough to be reused for irrigation as well as
for industrial purposes, the savings in fresh water would
be tremendous. These steps also would create additional job
and income opportunities.
With that in mind, USAID, along with the Government of Jordan
and other donors, has worked hard to improve existing wastewater
treatment plants and to build new ones. One of the most important
new facilities is in Wadi Mousa near Petra. Petra is one of
the most visited tourist destinations in the Middle East,
and the number of tourists is rising each year. More tourists
means more hotels and restaurants, which leads to a higher
demand for water and an increase in wastewater.
To protect the environment around Petra, which is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, and to ensure enough water for tourists,
the local population and regional farmers, a new water and
wastewater treatment facility was necessary. USAID united
with other donors and the Jordanian government to design and
build the facility. USAID contributed $28 million of the total
$45 million cost of the project. Today, it benefits 17,000
residents, up to 3,000 tourists a day, the tourism sector
as a whole and the natural environment of Petra. Furthermore,
the high-quality treated wastewater coming out of the treatment
plant is being used to irrigate a nearby model farm to demonstrate
the safe and effective use of reclaimed water in irrigating
high-value crops of environmental and phytosanitary suitability.
An additional 1000 dunums (247 acres) of land will be distributed
among local farmers, giving them an opportunity to increase
their income by employing these new water management techniques.local
farmers, giving them an opportunity to increase their income
by employing these new water management techniques.
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