Water Sector Policy for Surface Water Utilization 2023.

This Water Sector Policy for Surface Water Utilization is a part of a set of new policies developed by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation to define rules to manage the scarce national water resources efficiently and sustainably. These new policies lay out the measures and actions required to achieve the national goals for long-term water security. These result-oriented policies are built upon and updated from previously adopted strategies, policies, and plans. It is essential to maximize the use of surface water to the greatest extent possible by increasing the efficiency of water use in the various sectors and investing in rainwater harvesting in remote areas and from rooftops, while focusing on women's role in this area. The policy's overall objective is to detail a vision for the maximum and optimal use of surface water, focusing on its protection and management. To achieve this, the document presents several key measures (i) Sustainable Development: The strategy calls for a periodic assessment of available surface water and the creation of an integrated development plan, complete with an investment strategy; (ii) Supply Enhancement: Measures will focus on minimizing losses from evaporation and seepage, protecting resources from pollution, and expanding water harvesting projects like ponds and dams; (iii) Enforcement and Protection: This requires strict enforcement, including a permitting system for land use in water catchments to control erosion. It also involves establishing and monitoring protection zones around all drinking water sources with the full cooperation of government bodies; (iv) Infrastructure Maintenance: To preserve the capacity of existing infrastructure, the policy will implement measures to reduce sediment buildup in dams and minimize water loss; (v) Monitoring and Climate Adaptation: The plan includes a continuous program to monitor the quantity, quality, and use of all surface water. It also mandates that the strategy account for the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events; (vi) Resource Integration: The policy promotes using multiple water sources interactively, prioritizing the use of surface water over groundwater whenever feasible; (vii) Capacity Building: Training and capacity-building programs, with a special focus on women and households, will be provided to teach water harvesting techniques.
Additionally, the Policy deals with other related topics, the main of which are (i) the use of treated wastewater for industry and agriculture, ensuring it meets national standards and protects public health; (ii) irrigation, with water allocation capped in favor of more economically profitable sectors, and efficiency improved through partnerships with private entities, along with the use of tariffs and incentives to encourage efficient irrigation and higher economic returns for crops; (iii) regional and international cooperation, recognizing that many water sources are shared, where Jordan will work to sustain its rights in shared water basins through negotiations and agreements, managing these resources holistically regardless of national borders; (iv) flood risk mitigation, which will be done through detailed flood mapping and risk assessments, establishing early warning systems, and implementing measures in catchments and wadis to reduce flow speed; and (v) public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on flood control and the importance of not blocking drainage systems.