Attempt to empty oil tanker in valley foiled as Water Ministry urges caution

AMMAN — As part of its continued efforts to maintain the quality of water resources, the Water Ministry, in cooperation with the concerned authorities, on Thursday seized an oil tanker filled with olive pomace, foiling an alleged attempt to get rid of it in a valley south of Amman.

The ministry, the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) and the Royal Department for Environment Protection (Rangers) formulated a team that follows up on such "dangerous violations", which threaten people's health by contaminating drinking water, according to a ministry statement.

Pomace is a black residue from olive presses, according to online sources.

The driver of the tanker was allegedly trying to empty the residue in the valley, before he was detained. The tanker was seized and delivered to the Jiza police, the statement said. 

The ministry expressed its gratitude to its partners for their support, noting that as per Article 30 of the WAJ Law, any abuse of water sources in violation of the law leads to a prison sentence of up to two years of imprisonment and a fine of JD3,000.

In cooperation with the authorities, the ministry said it will continue monitoring and tracking all violations and illegal uses of water sources and hold accountable any persons who attempt to tamper with water resources and networks, according to the statement. 

"Any contamination could negatively impact the lives of thousands of innocents," the ministry said, urging citizens to ensure that the water they buy comes with a stamped receipt to ensure quality. 

The WAJ also urged the public to contact the unified complaints number 117116 to report any violations and to avoid buying water from unknown resources, as it is highly possible that their water is not compliant with the standards and thus poses a danger.