EBRD allocates 8.4m euros to revamp ‘Pepsi Pool’

AMMAN — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has allocated around 8.4 million euros to develop and improve the cesspit known as the “Pepsi Pool” in Rusaifa, under the supervision of the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), with the aim of remedying environmental contamination, according to Rusaifa Mayor Osama Haymour.

Half of the allocated amount will be a loan to GAM, and the other half will be a grant to improve the Pepsi Pool, in addition to 13 million euros to be provided by the EBRD to address environmental problems  that emerged  40 years ago, Haymour told The Jordan Times on Sunday.

“Rusaifa Municipality’s vision is to make Rusaifa a better place by finding radical solutions to the Pepsi Pool to protect its people from the health hazards that have affected them over the years,”  he added.

The project, he continued, will implement  micro tunneling techniques while extending drainage lines that have adequate diameters compatible with hydraulic studies to 1.5 kilometres. GAM will supervise the project and will drain rainwater through a box culvert design.

“Currently, feasibility and environmental studies are being conducted to turn the area into a park that serves the residents of Rusaifa,” Haymour said. 

“The Pepsi Pool area is 104 dunums and it suffers from severe contamination due to the stagnant water and illegal connection of sewage networks.”

Engicon, a global engineering consulting firm, was assigned to conduct engineering and technical studies to complement GAM’s procedures and to “find a radical solution to the problem, develop a work plan for GAM to implement and prepare the technical documents needed”, Ne’hma Qatanani, executive engineering director at GAM told The Jordan Times on Monday.

Qatanani added that the consulting firm submitted the final draft of the study, which was presented at a meeting on Monday, during which problem analysis, hydrometeorological studies, geotechnical studies and soil characteristic examinations were discussed.

During the meeting, the consultant proposed four drainage systems, which vary according to different criteria, such as topography, obstacles and technical capabilities, duration of project implementation and cost.