Petra News Agency
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Ministry of Water and Irrigation Launches USAID - Funded Phase II of Treated Wastewater Reuse Initiative in Jordan
Amman, Aug. 22(Petra)--United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) Acting Mission Director Mike Harvey jointed Water Authority of Jordan
(WAJ) Secretary General Eng. Munther Khleifat at a workshop launching USAID's new '' Reuse
in Industry, Agriculture and Landscaping'' (RIAL) project.
The 3- day, $ 6.9 million RIAL project aims to create successful examples of sustainable,
treated wastewater reuse that can be replicated throughout Jordan.
A recently completed USAID- funded Water Reuse Implementation Project WRIP set up three
wastewater treatment pilot sites in Aqaba, Wadi Mousa and Irbid ( at the Jordan University
of Science and Technology). The RIAL project, which will be implemented by U.S engineering
firm Camp Dresser and McKee (CDM), will further develop these projects to achieve
sustainability. In addition, RIAL will extend agricultural and landscaping activities to
two new sites in Jordan.
Secretary General of the WAJ, Munther Khleifat, delivered a speech in which he noted that
Jordan is one of the 10th poorer countries in water.
'' As you know water scarcity in Jordan presents a great challenge to the Ministry of
Water and Irrigation and we are working very hard to meet this challenge,'' Khleifat said.
On the other hand, Harvey delivered remarks in which he noted that Jordan's 19 wastewater
treatment plant generate more that 80 million cubic meters of treated wastewater per year.
'' This volume is significant and will play an important role in meeting future demands
for water in Jordan,'' Harvey added.