Water Reallocation Policy.

This sectoral Policy is an integral part of the National Water Strategy 2016-2025 aiming at setting action plans for redistributing the water flexibly between sectors and governorates. It intends to employ a conveyance system for water connecting the southern and northern regions and another conveyance system for treated wastewater in the Jordan Valley to maximize the use of treated wastewater for irrigation in order to save the fresh water for domestic uses. The main pillars for water reallocation are the sustainability, resiliency, health, efficiency, equity, economy, environment and nature, giving priority to the domestic uses followed by the other economic sectors according to their importance tied to its economic returns.
Based on the pillar of building resilience, main objectives of this Policy are: to create rules and present statements considered fundamental in managing the scarce water resources efficiently, protecting them, and proposes actions required for implementation; to establish sustainability, protect health, and ensure equity endurance; to protect environment and nature; and to maintain an internationally acceptable level of economic performance.
The water resources considered in the document are, in order of importance: surface water followed by the utilization of ground water aquifers; desalinated brackish ground water and sea water; wastewater (for industrial, agricultural, cooling and other uses except for drinking purposes); deep aquifer water; impounded waters in reservoirs; reclaimed water (for industry and agriculture).
Distribution and reallocation priorities are established as follows: each governorate shall retain its available water for its sole needs, unless is otherwise necessary, then it will be transferred to the geographically nearest governorate and to the governorate of highest need. Rules and measures shall be adopted in the building codes to guarantee a fair planning and management to achieve improved services, reduce losses and protect water from pollution. Scenarios allowing reducing the impact shall be pursued and implemented in extreme events such as during drought periods and when climate changes result in reduced water quantities. Public awareness, stakeholders’ participation, role of private sector and monitoring system are essential elements for the implementation and success of the Policy.