Water Ministry, UNICEF launch borehole to enhance water supply in Petra, Wadi Musa

AMMAN — The Water Ministry, supported by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has launched a borehole in Athruh region in Maan Governorate with a capacity of 70 cubic metres per hour at a cost of JD202,000. 

Deputising for Water Minister Raed Abul Saud, the ministry’s Secretary General Ali Subuh attended the ceremony, according to a UNICEF statement.

This project aims to enhance water supply for tourism and drinking purposes in the Petra district and Wadi Musa. 

Subuh launched the project in the presence of the Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) at UNICEF Benjamin Smith and a number of officials.

Subuh said that this vital project aims to improve water supply for Athruh residents by providing additional quantities of drinking and multipurpose water. 

Subuh stressed that the ministry is working “extensively” to improve water services for citizens, especially in light of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing demand for water resources. 

Subuh stressed the project’s importance in serving the tourist location, noting that the arrival of an estimated 6,000 tourists per day in Petra and Wadi Musa adds a significant amount of pressure on the available water sources, according to the statement.

He said that the Water Ministry in cooperation with UNICEF managed to operate the new water source through a local contractor in “record time”. 

Subuh stressed that finding a water source was “a great challenge”, yet, citizens will witness a “massive improvement” in water supply due to the construction of the borehole, which is estimated to provide an additional 1,680 cubic metres of water per day to be utilised by citizens as well as the tourism sector.

Subuh expressed the ministry’s gratitude to UNICEF for its continuous support in implementing a number of projects in various areas aiming to raise the efficiency of water supply, especially in remote areas.

Subuh noted that the continuous decline in water resources poses a difficult challenge for the water sector in Jordan.

Jordan UNICEF Country Representative Tanya Chapuisat said that UNICEF is “proud” to support the Ministry of Water and Irrigation’s efforts to provide clean and reliable water to vulnerable communities in Jordan.  

She stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation of already water-scarce communities for whom clean water, safe sanitation and the proper hygiene is critical to protect themselves and their families.

Chapuisat pointed out that Jordan is one of the most water scarce countries in the world and UNICEF is supporting the Water Ministry to meet the immediate needs of vulnerable communities to keep children safe and healthy, while also developing sustainable solutions to ensure that this precious resource is conserved for future generations.