Repeat offenders arrested selling untreated water

AMMAN — Authorities on Wednesday and Thursday night arrested a group of people for allegedly selling untreated water in Amman’s western neighbourhood of Wadi Al Seer, a government official said on Thursday.

Those detained, in the two separate cases, were previously released from police custody a few years ago after signing a pledge and paying hefty fines for selling untreated wastewater via tankers, an official at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation said.

“A team from the ministry, the Jordan Water Company (Miyahuna) and a security force raided two locations on Wednesday morning and sealed two illegal wells, from which [alleged] violators were pumping water and selling it to people,” the official told The Jordan Times over the phone.

Authorities identified the suspects and detained them for further investigation, while technical teams sealed the wells and seized and confiscated pumps and other equipment.

“It was a very long process that started on Wednesday and ended today. The two wells were 25-30 metres deep and were connected to a network of pipes which were all removed,” the official highlighted.

The suspects face several charges, including “drilling illegal wells and selling untreated water to people, thus endangering public health safety”, the official underscored.

He noted that the ministry repeatedly urges people to verify the source from which they get their drinking water when buying from tankers.

“People need to be more vigilant and ask drivers of the tankers to show them a document that identifies the source of the water. People receiving water from private wells must obtain a receipt indicating the source and cost of the water,” the official noted.

The ministry called on the public to report water tanker owners who breach regulations.