Waste water management and reuse in Jordan

Abstract

Jordan is an arid to semi-arid country. Its population has has risen over the past few decades, which places an enormous pressure on water resources. Water resources in Jordan consist primarily of surface and groundwater, while treated wastewater is being used on an increasing scale for irrigation, mostly in the JordanValley. Over the past decades, the government has developed surface water resource management schemes that included the construction of dams and irrigation projects in the Jordan Valley. The future of the agricultural sector in Jordan heavily depends on future plans for water resource management to meet irrigation requirements. Due to Jordan's increasing population and the social and economic development, the amount of treated wastewater is increasing, which is considered an essential element in its water strategy. By the year 2020, the volume of treated wastewater is estimated at 227 MCM/year and will constitute a significant portion of the total irrigation demand. Demand management measures are important because they often have short payback periods and lead to reduced capital and operational costs for water supply and wastewater treatment facilities. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.