Khaberni - Faisal Al-Fayez, President of the Senate, emphasized the necessity of securing water security, considering it a part of national security, through the optimal exploitation of underground waters at various depths, and surface waters of which large quantities are wasted every winter season.
According to a statement from the council, this came during his receipt on Wednesday in his office of a study prepared by the Amman Group for Future Dialogues, titled: "Essentials for the Sustainability of Jordanian Water Security: Challenges and Solutions (Diversifying Water Sources, Water Desalination, and Renewable Energy)".
Al-Fayez called for serious consideration from now on to study the implementation of a new project similar to the national water carrier project, with the aim of addressing future water scarcity challenges due to increasing population growth and various uses, whether through sea water desalination or exploiting underground waters at various depths and treating them if necessary, so they can be potable and compensate for the shortage of water designated for agricultural purposes.
He pointed to the importance of addressing water loss, cleaning dams, expanding the construction of water ponds and water harvesting, and establishing earthen dams, in addition to raising awareness of the importance of conserving water and preventing waste when used for various purposes, stressing the need to address the costs of rising energy prices through the expansion of renewable energy projects (solar and wind), for its positive reflections on water prices and extraction from underground or desalination of sea water.
On his part, Bilal Al-Tal, the head of the group, said that Jordan is facing a complex water crisis intertwined with population pressures, climate change, and high water loss, alongside regional crises that have reflected on food and economic security.
He pointed out that Jordan is one of the most water-poor countries in the world, necessitating an urgent transition from the stage of plans and strategies to the actual implementation of sustainable projects and solutions.
The study considered that water desalination represents the most fundamental solution for addressing water scarcity in Jordan, either through the project of the national carrier for desalination of Red Sea water and its transfer to Amman and the governorates, or through desalination of salty and deep wells, and the benefit from mobile desalination technologies.
The study emphasized the need to expand the use of renewable energy in operating water projects and reducing the costs of pumping and desalination, benefiting from the significant potential of solar energy in Jordan.
The study recommended focusing on reducing water loss resulting from leaks and assaults on networks, rehabilitating infrastructure, and generalizing smart meters, controlling water thefts, in addition to expanding in water harvesting, building dams, and charging aquifers.
The study asserted the necessity of increasing the coverage of sewage networks and treating wastewater for use in agriculture instead of depleting fresh water, and also highlighted the importance of re-prioritizing water usage among sectors.
It was mentioned that the agricultural sector consumes the largest share of water, despite its economic return being lower than industry and tourism, calling for adopting less water-intensive crops, improving irrigation efficiency, and enhancing the integration of water, energy, and food within a comprehensive national approach that achieves sustainability and creates job opportunities.
Through its study, the Amman Group demanded enhancing water sector governance through legislative and institutional reforms, improving data systems and monitoring, and expanding partnerships with the private sector, alongside a regional and diplomatic movement to protect Jordan's rights in shared waters with neighboring countries, and not to mortgage water security to politically unstable external sources.
