AMMAN — The national water strategy 2016–2025 requires JD5.4 billion to implement its various projects, according to the
Ministry of Water and Irrigation, as per the investment plan for the water sector, Al-Ghad News reported.
اضافة اعلان
The World Bank said that $114 billion will be required annually to achieve complete access to safely managed water and sanitation services globally by the end of the current decade.
A World Bank report on water scarcity issues and opportunities warned of the problems facing the water sector in various countries, including Jordan, stressing that business as usual will not be enough to overcome those problems.
The report said that funds from public sector donors are expected to cover less than a quarter of the needed amount worldwide, and therefore, access to clean drinking water and sanitation depends on significant increases in private sector and municipal investments.
To increase water availability, as demand exceeds supply in several countries, the ministry pointed to the role of recycled domestic and industrial wastewater as a potential source of water for agriculture.
The report said that promising innovations in wastewater treatment are increasing the supply of high-quality treated water, which is a valuable resource for meeting agricultural and other non-potable water needs.
The report mentioned the role of desalination in reducing fresh water scarcity, explaining that this technology is widely used all over the world, but the establishment and operation of desalination plants remains relatively expensive, even as these costs decrease over time.
The cheapest option that should be explored, the report said, is the desalination of brackish water, as it is less saline than sea water, and therefore requires less energy to desalinate which makes it less expensive.
Research by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said that brackish groundwater is a significant unused resource for many countries with water scarcity issues.
With the major impact of climate change, population growth, and urbanization, the report warned that many countries face water challenges which threaten human health, economic growth, and food security, adding that there is a need for innovative approaches to provide affordable and safe water.
The ministry had prepared an investment plan for the water sector until 2025, which stipulates procedures for dealing with water scarcity.
The water plan focuses on needed infrastructure investments to meet expected demand and take into account socioeconomic factors, with implementation timelines coordinated with population growth projections and development needs.
The ministry also indicated that the investment plan identifies necessary capital expenditures and sets a framework for the ministry and the government to secure the funds necessary to implement the plan.
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