8 water theft cases uncovered in Jiza — authorities

AMMAN — The Ministry of Water and Irrigation on Tuesday said that it had uncovered several violations on water mains in the Jiza area, which were used to illegally siphon off water to houses in the area.

The ministry said that, based on inspection campaigns and tip-offs received by the unified complaints centre at 117116, residents of Jiza said that they had not received water due to the illegal diversion of water, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The ministry set up a taskforce, in cooperation with the Amman governor, the Royal Badia Forces and the Water Authority of Jordan, which resulted in uncovering eight violations on water mains in Jiza to supply more than 25 houses and livestock barns with water amounts exceeding 500 cubic metres. 

The illegal fixtures were dismantled and an investigation is under way, Petra said.

The ministry underlined that the national campaign to end all forms of water theft and violations is still ongoing, urging the public to cooperate with the authorities by reporting violations on water resources and networks.

In 1997, the ministry banned the drilling of wells to limit random pumping of water and preserve aquifers from depletion and salinity.

International studies indicate that water levels at several aquifers have been dropping at a rate of one metre per year, according to the ministry, which noted that more than 50 million cubic metres of underground water are being extracted through indiscriminate pumping.