eeUnder the patronage of the Minister of Water and Irrigation Dr. Hazem El-Naser, the Millennium Challenge Account –Jordan(MCA-Jordan) and leaders from a wide spectrum of organizations interested in promoting health and safety in the construction sector gathered to share their successes and encourage more focus on this important issue.
The conference was organized in coordination with Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Water and Irrigation, and the Social Security Corporation and with participation from consultants and contractors implementing different projects.
MCA-Jordan is implementing the five year $275 million MCC-Jordan Compact and currently building 1100 km of water and wastewater pipelines in Zarqa Governorate in addition to expanding the capacity of As-Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant, all funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a US foreign aid agency.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Stephanie Williams, US Embassy Chargé d' Affairs stated that “the United States, through the Millennium Challenge Corporation, is proud to partner with Jordan to achieve greater water security for the country, not just by investing in infrastructure, but by doing so in a way that promotes the sustainability of health and safety practices in the construction sector.”
“The conference served as a useful platform to exchange expertise among leaders in the construction industry and public officials, advocating better conformance with health and safety measures in Jordan,” MCA-Jordan CEO Eng. Kamal Zoubi said.
During her presentation, MCA-Jordan Environmental and Social Director Eng. Mai Abu Tarbush said that MCC places high emphasis on social and environmental issues as well as offering safety to citizens and workers alike in all its Compacts around the globe. “There are many social,environmental, and safety procedures that were applied for the first time in Jordan by MCA-Jordan in accordance with MCC guidelines. In the same context,the conference called for updating the guidelines and standards for safety in the construction sector as well as enforcing monitoring mechanisms and capacity building.”
Topics discussed at the conference revolved around management of safety, accidents prevention, safety methods, and public protection and consultations.
MCC is funding three major water projects:
1) Water Network Project, which focuses on rehabilitating and restructuring up to 800 km the primary and secondary waternet work in Zarqa Governorate. MCA-Jordan has accomplished about 72% of the project. Under the same project, the company implements the Water Smart Homes-Activity, which is comprised of an awareness and behavioral change campaign that was launched in February this year to promote best in house water management practices among the people of Zarqa Governorate. The Project also includes a direct intervention to maintain and repair a large portion of the water systems inside the houses of the beneficiaries of the National Aid Fund in Zarqa Governorate.
2) Wastewater Network Project, is providing up to 300 km of new sewage pipes for the Zarqa Governorate water utility. Extending wastewater sewer systems will dramatically reduce sewage overflows into city streets and improve the living and business environment. The company has completed 70% of the project.
3) The expansion of As-Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), in partnership with the private sector and the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, 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. The project is around 90%completion.
The MCC funded projects formulate a complete water cycle for Jordan; the Water Network Project will increase the supply of water to the citizens of the Zarqa Governorate, the used wastewater is then channeled through the expanded Wastewater Network Project, and finally, the wastewater is treated through the As-Samra plant providing more water for reuse and irrigation in the Jordan Valley.