Amman, June 24 (Petra) – Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Saud and Ashley King, Deputy Director of the Office of Water Resources and Environment at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Amman, inaugurated a workshop on Tuesday focused on water resource challenges and the ongoing preparatory infrastructure for the National Water Carrier Project.

Speaking at the event, Abu Saud emphasized that Jordan is facing increasing water scarcity, exacerbated by a weak rainfall season and the growing impact of climate change. Despite these pressures, he said, the ministry remains committed to ensuring the delivery of water to citizens throughout the Kingdom.

He explained that the preparatory infrastructure project involves constructing transmission lines and primary storage tanks in Amman and the northern governorates. These are designed to support the eventual integration of additional water resources from the National Water Carrier Project, a major strategic initiative to bolster Jordan’s water security.

Abu Saud expressed appreciation for USAID’s long-standing partnership with Jordan’s water sector, which has spanned over 75 years. He highlighted recent achievements, including a 7.5 percent reduction in water loss bringing the national loss rate to 46.2 percent and a savings of around 15 million cubic meters of water, contributing to improved supply in multiple governorates.

King commended the project’s progress and reiterated USAID’s commitment to supporting Jordan’s water sector. She stressed the urgency of preparing the infrastructure to ensure timely and effective water delivery once the carrier project becomes operational. "The year 2030 may seem distant, but it is not," she remarked, noting the importance of addressing challenges now to secure future water availability.

//Petra// AO

24/06/2025 14:22:34