Harnessing non-traditional water sources a strategic option, workshop hears

AMMAN — Enhancing the use of agricultural land is vital to achieve water sustainability, heard the fourth National Economic Workshop at the Royal Hashemite Court on Saturday.

Experts, academics and representatives of economic sectors discussed suggested solutions for the challenges facing each sector during the fourth session.

The water sector panel discussed the suggested solutions for water management, water and financial stability, public-private partnerships, technology and innovation, institutional and governance framework, and “the people element”.

The panel stressed the need for strategic plans and projects to utilise non-traditional water sources, such as seawater desalination and reclaimed water use, as well as the expansion of wastewater systems and rehabilitation, maximising the amounts of reclaimed water to be used instead of freshwater in agriculture and restoring the cost of water used in agriculture.

The session also discussed climate change and ways to mitigate its effect on water in Jordan through promoting water harvesting in urban areas, improving drought management systems, and developing the Water Guide of Jordan which was launched in 2018.

The experts recommended the institutionalisation of the Climate Resilient Water Safety Plans (WSP) to provide “a simple robust framework” for water utilities, as well as technology deployment in agricultural and irrigation activities.

Dureid Mahasneh, chariman of Edama’s Board of Directors, emphasised the importance of generating carbon offsets and having an enabling environment for less carbon emission, noting that the contribution of the water sector to the carbon emission in Jordan is only 2 per cent.