Security conditions in south ‘badly affected’ project’s progress — source

by Hana Namrouqa | May 22, 2013 | JORDAN TIMES

AMMAN — The Disi Water Company will start experimental pumping from 22 wells in the Disi aquifer later this month, according to a source involved in the implementation of the Disi Water Conveyance Project.

The source said the drilling of over 45 wells has been completed.

The company has flushed, disinfected and filled 20 kilometres of the conveyance pipeline extending between the header tank at the well field and the collection tank at the pumping station.

The company has also flushed, disinfected and filled another 22 kilometres of the conveyance pipeline between the pumping station and the regulating tank in Batn Al Ghoul area, which is located between Maan and Mudawarra, around 270 kilometres away from Amman, according to the source.

“Preparations are underway for the filling of 95 kilometres of the conveyance pipeline between the regulating tank in Batn Al Ghoul and the break pressure tank near Al Jafer area. This phase will start in early June,” the source told The Jordan Times on condition of anonymity.

The source added that filling work of the conveyance pipeline between Al Jafer and Madaba bridge pumping station, which is located on the Queen Alia International Airport road, will commence later in June.

“The conveyance pipeline is being filled in preparation for pumping water to Amman during July,” the source said, noting that security conditions in the southern part of Jordan have “badly affected progress of the project”.

The Disi project, which started in 2007, entails drilling 64 wells, 55 of which will be used for the generation of water, while nine will serve as piezometer wells to measure the elevation of water.

Being carried out on a build-operate-transfer basis, the Disi project seeks to provide the capital with 110 million cubic metres of water annually via a 340-kilometre pipeline, which will convey water from the southern region to the capital, passing through several water stations in Maan, Tafileh, Karak and Madaba.

The project is viewed as the Kingdom’s first step towards achieving water security, according to ministry officials, who said the water supply to Amman and Zarqa, 22km east of the capital, among other governorates is expected to improve.

Once the Disi project is operational, households in the capital will start receiving water three times a week instead of once under the water distribution programme. Later, supply is expected to become constant, according to the ministry.

Under the current distribution programme, households in Jordan receive water once during a set period, usually a week to 10 days, on a rotating basis.

Scarce water resources in the country compelled the Kingdom to initiate the programme in the early 1980s to conserve limited resources and ensure a sustainable water supply for subscribers.

http://jordantimes.com/experimental-pumping-from-22-disi-wells-to-begin-later-this-month

The completed Madaba Bridge Pumping Station, which is part of the Disi Water Conveyance Project (Photos courtesy of the Disi Water Company)