An Overview of the Water Situation in Amman, Jordan

In terms of per-capita availability of renewable water resources, Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. Amman, the capital of Jordan, has grown rapidly in the past 50 years, and its internal water resources can no longer meet the needs of its burgeoning population. Per capita water use in Amman is much less than that of its American or European counterparts, with further efforts in water conservation and demand management necessary for the long-term sustainability of the system. Major water works have come online in the past decade, and with rapid population growth and economic development, other, larger-still water works are under way. In the past 5 years alone, the water supply situation has changed so rapidly for Amman as to make the data of 2004 essentially obsolete. This report presents the current state of the water resources system in the Greater Amman Area (GAA) with an emphasis on the purview of Miyahuna, the Jordan Water Company.