Revamping Maan’s water network to cost JD3m — ministry

AMMAN — The Water Ministry on Tuesday launched water and wastewater projects in the southern Governorate of Maan to improve supply, reduce leakage and link more households to the sewage network.

“The projects are worth JD3 million and are funded by the Gulf grant. One of the projects will be completed within a year, while the rest are scheduled to be ready by summer,” Water Ministry Spokesperson Omar Salameh told The Jordan Times.

Located 220 kilometres south of the capital, Maan Governorate’s daily water per capita share stands at 80 litres per day, according to the ministry, which said that water loss due to deteriorating networks is affecting supply to residents.

In a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times, Water Minister Hazem Nasser said the most important project is extending new main wastewater pipes in three major neighbourhoods in Maan.

Under the project, a local contractor will be responsible for the purchase, installation, operation and maintenance of 150-200 millimetre reinforced-plastic pipelines, which will also be covered with reinforced concrete and linked to existing sewage pipes, the statement quoted Nasser as saying.

The project will be implemented within a year and will cost JD1.8 million, the minister added.

Another JD500,000 project to construct a main pumping station and a reservoir in the Hashemiyeh and Husseiniyeh areas in Maan, as well as revamp water systems and networks in both areas, is under way, according to Salameh.

The ministry will also implement a project in Shobak District, 180km south of Amman, to replace worn-out pipes, according to the statement.

A JD260,000 project will also be implemented in Maan and Shobak to extend water carriers.

The governorate’s Shobak District is situated 1,300 metres above sea level.

In 2011, the Gulf Cooperation Council allocated $5 billion to finance development projects in Jordan between 2012 and 2016. The grant is divided between Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, with each country paying $1.25 billion.
Some $425.4 million of the grant is allocated for water and sanitation projects.