Jordan has signed an $11-million agreement with the United States that will help the Middle-Eastern country stem water loss in one of its regions, according to official sources on Thursday, October 14.
The Water Authority of Jordan has signed the agreement with the United States Agency for International Development, said the sources.
The deal is said to be aimed at reducing water loss in Maan Governorate in southern Jordan.
The agreement is the third phase of a five-year $152-million Fixed Amount Reimbursement Agreement.
The FARA apparently aims to rehabilitate, develop, and improve the main and subsidiary water networks in Maan, with $1 million contribution of WAJ.
The signing ceremony was attended by Jordanian Water Minister Mohammad Najjar.
During the ceremony, WAJ Secretary-General Bashar Bataineh is said to have indicated that efforts are being exerted to upgrade and expand Jordan’s water networks, increase the availability of drinking water, and provide sustainable services for citizens.
He said the FARA project was one of the integrated cooperation programs with the USAID to modernize and rehabilitate networks in several areas of the kingdom.
The areas are said to include the governorates of the south, Balqa and other areas.
He also noted that the project would evaluate the water challenges in Maan, and provide smart water meters compatible with the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition or SCADA system.
Bataineh added that FARA also includes building a water conveyance system with different lengths, upgrading the sub-networks, installing higher accuracy smart water meters and control valves, and replacing existing pumps with pumps of high efficiency and adequate capacity.