Authorities dismantle illegal fixture on water main

AMMAN — Authorities on Tuesday dismantled an illegal pipe through which hundreds of cubic metres of fresh water were being diverted every day for cattle and the irrigation of crops, according to a government official.

The violation on a main carrier was discovered in west Al Aal near the Hisban River on the outskirts of the capital, the official said.

“A team from the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) and the Jordan Water Company (Miyahuna) was inspecting water mains in the area, when it discovered the illegal fixture,” the official told The Jordan Times on condition of anonymity.

The water was being channelled to a valley near the Hisban River to irrigate crops planted along the river bank and to water livestock, the source noted.

“Authorities dismantled the illegal fixture and are investigating the identity of the perpetrator, who will be referred to court,” he said.

The inspection of water pipes and main carriers is part of an ongoing campaign that covers all governorates to put an end to violations on water resources, according to the official.

Water theft is responsible for 70 per cent of the Kingdom’s water loss, according to the Ministry of Water and Irrigation.

The amended WAJ Law stipulates stiffer penalties against those who abuse any element of the water system.

Those who abuse water carriers and mains, wastewater, pumping, purification or desalination stations; or cause the pollution of water resources, pipes or stations used for drinking water; and dig or are involved in the digging of wells without obtaining a licence, face a prison term of up to five years and fines up to JD7,000.

In addition, violators of water and wastewater projects are jailed for up to three years and fined up to JD5,000, according to the new amendments.

All penalties stipulated under the new law are doubled in the case of repeat offences.