Background: Deteriorating water quality at several wells and springs coinciding with a drought spurred the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) to urgently request donor assistance for upgrading of treatment facilities at these wells and springs. USAID responded with its Wells and Springs Project to upgrade and expand treatment facilities at Wadi Sir, Qairawan, Qantara and Deek springs, Kafrein wells and Salt City Springs for a total investment of over $23 million over four years. Once emergency needs had been addressed, USAID sought to take stock of achievements and obstacles and set a progressive, rational plan of action for future assistance. The result of this was a commitment to help the WAJ and the Ministry of Health (MOH) work in partnership to manage water resources through a comprehensive analysis of the water resources picture, and implementation of solutions in the most critical problem areas related to watershed management, regulatory guidance, water quality monitoring and operations and maintenance (O&M).

Watershed Protection: As a result, USAID initiated the multi-phase initiative, the Jordan Water Quality Management Program, to improve stewardship of water resources and thereby protect public health and the environment. Over $3 million was invested in this project, which started in 2002 and was implemented by Camp, Dresser & McKee (CDM) in partnership with several national agencies including the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI), Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) and Ministry of Health (MOH).

Under Phase I of the program (2001-2002), a holistic analysis of the water resources picture was conducted aimed at managing weaknesses in the barrier protecting public health and examining water quality protection measures in five watersheds in northern and central Jordan.

The follow-on Phase II (2003-2006) involves the implementation of a pilot project in the Qairawan watershed (Jerash Governorate) to create a test case for institutionalizing watershed protection in Jordan and develop the methods and procedures that Government of Jordan (GOJ) agencies require to replicate watershed management in other Jordanian watersheds. Phase II also included implementing ISO-based quality management programs at WAJ and MOH laboratories, as well as assessing the operations and maintenance operations.

Selected Accomplishments:

• The Qairawan pilot project now functions as the first implemented test case for source water protection in Jordan.



• Strengthened ties between MWI and MOH. Counterparts at various levels of the Ministerial hierarchy, who previously interacted primarily on contentious enforcement issues, articulated their roles and responsibilities in the context of a shared commitment: protection of public health. Results included increased trust, cooperation and better accountability.



• Fostered stewardship of water resources. The project stimulated the watershed management concept into practice at WAJ (which created a new Watershed Protection Department), and other GOJ agencies, as well as with local stakeholders.



• Revised Regulations to better safeguard public health.



• Reduced plant shutdowns to almost zero due to revised regulations and improved spring water quality.



• WAJ Jerash has instituted a finance mechanism for sewer connections for low-income community members, as a result of which, the rate of connection to sewer system has increased.



• Although the public awareness component of the program was short and limited, evaluation surveys from school campaigns indicate knowledge has been successfully transferred and anecdotal evidence of improved household practices – this indicates a general acceptance of messages.



• Farmers articulated a strong desire for advisory service to reduce pesticide and fertilizers – this demand will be a strong guarantor of success for imminent farming outreach best management practices (BMPs).



• Local agencies have started evaluating their practices and role in source water protection and pro-actively modifying their processes (e.g. waste management) to come in line with the concepts and messages conveyed.



• Commencement of a new contract, by Suf municipality, to collect solid waste at chicken slaughterhouses.



• Decommissioned cesspits at 288 households as part of the process of connecting the houses to the sewer system.



• Improved laboratory practices at WAJ and MOH Environmental Health Division and obtained ISO accreditation for both labs.



• Finally, the best indicator for sustainability is the very apparent ownership of the program by Government and community stakeholders as implicit in many of the indicators of success above, and by WAJ’s incorporation of the new Watershed Department into all land acquisition and well drilling processes and bureaucracies.