Authorities uncover water theft from Disi pipeline

AMMAN — Authorities have uncovered illegal water diversion into tankers from the Disi Water Conveyance Project's supply pipeline, according to a statement from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation on Tuesday. 

The violation was reported in the Qatraneh area, the statement said, adding that this form of theft puts the pumping of water to Abu Alanda at risk.

The alleged violation at the Disi pipline, one of the Kingdom’s strategic water resources that meets some 55 per cent of Amman, Zarqa and Madaba's water needs, endangers the Kingdom's already scarce water resources, the statement said. 

The statement added that ministry cadres are working round-the-clock to complete maintenance to avoid a halt in pumping resulting from repeated violations.

During the first six months of this year, the ministry recorded 61 violations and acts of sabotage at the Disi project’s facilities, despite state-assigned patrols to protect them.

The project was launched in 2013 and supplies water to Amman via a pipeline that passes through several stations in Maan, Tafileh, Karak, Madaba before reaching Amman and continuing north via the national carrier.

Under the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) Law, those who abuse water carriers and mains, wastewater, pumping, purification or desalination stations, pollute water resources, pipes or stations used for drinking water, or are involved in digging wells without a licence face jail terms of up to five years and fines of up to JD7,000. 

Violators of WAJ water and wastewater projects can also be jailed for up to three years and fined up to JD5,000.