$30 million USAID grant to boost water supply efficiency

AMMAN — The Jordan Water Company, Miyahuna, will install new water networks and meters and renovate deteriorating pipes to curb water theft and reduce water loss by 12 per cent, officials said on Thursday.

Under an agreement signed on Thursday, the US government granted Jordan $30 million to assist Miyahuna boost water supply efficiency and limit water loss and violations on the network.

Water Minister Hazem Nasser said the USAID-Miyahuna agreement will target water lost through leakage and theft, as well as revenue lost through inaccurate billing.

The agreement, which starts with activities worth $1.3 million, will enable Miyahuna to enhance its leak detection capability and provide mobile workshops to repair leaks more efficiently, according to the minister.

“It will allow Miyahuna to replace 80,000 water meters, which will increase the precision of its customer billing, reduce administrative losses and increase revenues,” Nasser said.

Current water loss in Amman stands at 37 per cent, according to Miyahuna operations director Ghazi Khalil.

Water loss in the capital is expected to drop to 25 per cent once the networks are renovated and the new gauges are installed, Nasser told The Jordan Times on the sidelines of the agreement signing.

US Ambassador Alice G. Wells said the grant is the first direct support to Miyahuna, noting that it is essential for water utilities to reduce illegal water use and improve supply.

“Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. It is absolutely essential for its water utilities to minimise loss to leakage, under-billing and theft,” Wells added.

Underscoring that the US government has worked with Jordan in improving its water sector for over 60 years, she noted that its support for the water sector amounted to $700 million since 2000.