Industry experts gathered recently to discuss methods to overcome the challenges in increasing and improving the percentage of households’ connections to the wastewater networks in Zarqa, Irbid and Amman.
The discussion took place during a workshop organized by the Millennium Challenge Account-Jordan (MCA-Jordan), which manages the $275 million Compact funded by the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), in cooperation with the Water Authority of Jordan, Miyahuna Jordan Water Company and Yarmouk Water Company.
“Funded by MCC, MCA-Jordan managed and implemented some 300 km of new wastewater networks in Zarqa Governorate. Now it is time to increase the education for the citizens of Zarqa about the benefits of connecting to the new networks,” MCA-Jordan CEO Eng. Kamal Zoubi said.
Eng. Zoubi explained that the MCC Compact in Jordan is funding major projects in Zarqa Governorate of which the expansion and restructuring of a new wastewater network is included to help reduce sewage overflows into city streets and improve the living and business environment.
“The percentage of the people served with wastewater services in Zarqa Governorate will increase from 72% to 82% by Compact’s completion. MCA-Jordan regularly delivers completed sections of the network to Miyahuna Water Company – Management Contract Zarqa to operate those lines,” Eng. Zoubi added.
However, the workshop shared statistics showing that households connecting to the MCC funded wastewater network in Zarqa are still standing at a low 50%; which is 1920 connections out of a total of 3856 handed over to Miyahuna until the end of May 2016. Within two months the handed over is expected to be about 8500 connections serving more than 17000 families.
Low connection rates are common challenges that the Water Authority of Jordan, Miyahuna Jordan Water Company and Yarmouk Water Company currently face, particularly in South Amman’s new wastewater project and in Irbid’s Shalaleh network, despite all the incentives made from the management of these entities. The experts analyzed, exchanged experiences, and discussed how to improve the connection rates in all the areas.
Some of the main points of agreement as the Assistant CEO for management contract - Zarqa
Jordan Water Company –Miyahuna Eng. Zeyad Shawagfeh said, that the utilities; Miyahuna, WAJ and Yarmouk Water agreed to have flexible fees instalments for the beneficiaries. He also stressed the need to conduct a strong communication plan, and more cooperation with the local governments and take legal actions against those refusing to connect.
The workshop highlighted the benefits of connecting to the wastewater network such as cost savings of not paying cesspit pumping and maintenance, cost savings of not building cesspit tanks in the first place, and increase usability of land not occupied by cesspits, as well as the protection of water basins from pollution and to protect citizens health from the negative effects and smells resulting from the presence of cesspits.
“The United States through the Millennium Challenge Corporation is proud to partner with Jordan to achieve the compact’s full promise, because with greater water security, Jordanians will also reduce poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth,” MCC Resident Country Director Alex Russin said.
The workshop looked at ways to motivate beneficiaries of the wastewater network in Zarqa Governorate to legally connect through Miyahuna Water Company – Management Contract Zarqa. The findings of the workshop will be produced in order feed into a plan that targets an increase in the percentage of households connecting to the wastewater network.
Attending the workshop were representatives from MCC, MCA-Jordan, Miyahuna Water Company – Management Contract Zarqa, Water Authority, Zarqa Governorate, NGO’s, CBO’s, and others.
MCC’s five year, $275 million compact with Jordan, launched in December 2011, is increasing the effective supply of water available to the inhabitants of Zarqa Governorate, through three principal projects:
1.Water System Project which includes the extension of 800 km of new pipelines along with 50,000 new water meter and a new Al Basateen pump and tank station to reduce water leakage, and aimed water project to reduce wastage of 50% of the amount - 35% and increase the rate of water supply to citizens from 36 hours to 72 hours per week. MCA-Jordan has been able to implement approximately 90 % of the project until this moment.
2.Wastewater network project, which includes the extension of 300 km of wastewater pipes in Zarqa Governorate. Extending wastewater sewer systems will dramatically reduce sewage overflows into city streets and improve the living and business environment. Adding to that increase the beneficiary areas of the wastewater network will from 72% to 82 %. The company was able to implement 96% of the project to this day.
3. The expansion of As-Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant that was delivered in October, 19th 2015, will continue to use the industry’s most modern methods to handle 70% of the country’s entire sewage, including Amman, and provide 133 MCM annually of high quality treated water for irrigation in the Jordan Valley- over 10% of Jordan’s entire annual water.