Jordan Times
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Work on Zara-Maeen water treatment project begins
By Sahar Aloul
AMMAN — Work on a vital water treatment project was launched on Tuesday to
increase potable supplies to the capital and the Dead Sea tourist area.
Partially funded by the USAID, the $125 million Zara-Maeen treatment plant is
expected to provide 47 million cubic metres of potable water to Greater Amman
and the Dead Sea resort areas, benefiting two million people, officials said.
Additional 500,000 residents of the Zarqa and Mafraq governorates will benefit
from the project, which will allow the two areas to keep their water, currently
diverted to the Greater Amman.
Minister of Water and Irrigation and Minister of Agriculture Hazem Nasser joined
US Ambassador to Amman Edward W. Gnehm at a groundbreaking ceremony north of the
Dead Sea. USAID Mission Director Anne Aarnes was present.
The Zara-Maeen project will help create around 400 jobs for the residents in the
area.
USAID donated $104 million towards the construction of this design-build-operate
(DBO) water project, expected to be completed in 2006.
The plan includes a pre-treatment system, a desalination plant, six pumping
stations and an advanced monitoring and control system, as well as the
construction of a 40-kilometre pipeline.
The ministry and private sector companies Ondeo- Degremont Inc., Morganti Group,
Harza Engineering, Black and Veatch Corp., and Metcalf and Eddy will implement
the project.