Authorities remove illegal water connections in south Amman

AMMAN — Authorities on Tuesday removed illegal fixtures on a main carrier that supplies residents of south Amman with water, an official source said, indicating that over 1,000 cubic metres of drinking water were being diverted daily.

Two illegal pipelines were diverting water from the 800-millimetre carrier that transfers water from Al Qastal to south Amman, the official said, noting that the stolen water was being diverted for irrigating hundreds of dunums of land in Um Al Amad, south of the capital.

A team from the Water Ministry, the Jordan Water Company (Miyahuna), the Royal Badia Forces and Gendarmerie Department inspected the site to verify the violation.

The team removed an illegal fixture, which was diverting the water via a 200-metre pipeline, the official said on condition of anonymity, explaining that another two illegal fixtures were carrying the stolen water from the first illegal pipe and distributing it to ponds in several farms.

“The diverted water was being used to irrigate field crops and vegetables in scores of greenhouses and to fill up ponds,” the official said. 

“A number of guest workers fled the farms when the team arrived for inspection. The technical teams disconnected the illegal pipes and search is now under way for the owners of the farms,” the official underscored.

The Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) Law lays down strict penalties against violators of water networks, as well as those who dig illegal wells and pollute water resources.

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 will be jailed for up to five years and fined up to JD7,000.

In addition, violators of WAJ water and wastewater projects will be jailed for up to three years and fined up to JD5,000.

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

The official said the ministry will continue its “serious crackdown” on all forms of violations on water resources. A campaign was launched in 2013 to end violations on water networks and seal all illegal wells.