33515 v 4 The World Bank Bank-Netherlands Water Partnership Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia Final Report Annex 3 Jordan December 2004 DHV Water BV, the Netherlands BRL ingénierie, France Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the BNWP, the World Bank, its Executive Directors, or the countries they represent. Any references provided in this document to a specific product, process, or service is not intended as, and does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the World Bank of that product, process, service, or its producer or provider. Annex 3 - Jordan Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination Table of Contents Summary ................................................................................................................5 1 Country Profile ......................................................................................................7 2 Water Resources and Water balance ..................................................................9 2.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................9 2.2 Water resources........................................................................................................9 2.3 Water demand.........................................................................................................10 3 Water Resources Management .......................................................................... 12 3.1 Ministry of Water and Irrigation ............................................................................12 3.2 Water Authority of Jordan......................................................................................12 3.3 Jordan Valley Authority.........................................................................................13 4 Desalination.......................................................................................................... 14 4.1 Background.............................................................................................................14 4.2 Seawater Desalination ............................................................................................14 4.3 Brackish Water Desalination..................................................................................14 4.4 Conclusions ............................................................................................................15 5 Energy................................................................................................................... 16 5.1 Conventional Energy..............................................................................................16 5.2 Renewable Energy..................................................................................................16 6 Water Sector Capacity and Capability.............................................................. 19 6.1 Capacity building....................................................................................................19 6.2 Private Sector Participation ....................................................................................19 6.3 Micro PSP...............................................................................................................20 6.4 Desalination and the private sector .........................................................................21 7 Environmental Issues.......................................................................................... 22 7.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................22 7.2 Water and Desalination schemes ............................................................................22 7.3 Environmental Impacts...........................................................................................23 7.3.1 Operational Stage ...................................................................................................24 7.4 Recommendations for Mitigation...........................................................................25 7.4.1 Institutional and Management Mitigation..............................................................25 7.4.2 Physical Mitigation.................................................................................................25 8 Future Developments .......................................................................................... 26 9 References............................................................................................................ 27 Annex 3 - Jordan 3-1 Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination List of Appendices Appendix A List of existing desalination plants List of Tables Table 1.1 Statistical profile ..................................................................................................8 Table 4.1 Private sector desalination plants.......................................................................14 3-2 Annex 3 - Jordan Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination Map of Jordan Annex 3 - Jordan 3-3 Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination 3-4 Annex 3 - Jordan Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination Summary Water Resources. All conventional water resources are being used at their maximum capacity. In order to estimate the future water demand two growth scenarios have been drafted. Whatever the growth scenario adopted, there will be a big gap between supply and demand. In addition to demand management options this gap can only be closed by applying more desalination. Energy. Jordan is almost totally dependent upon imported fuels to meet its energy demands, principally oil and gas. A major programme of exploration for oil and gas is underway, and natural gas is already being produced for power generation. The National Energy Research Centre (NERC) was established for the purposes of research, development and training in the fields of new and renewable energy. Institutions. The Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI) is responsible for the management of the water resources in Jordan. It was established in 1992 to integrate various policies carried out thus far by a number of government agencies including the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ), the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA), Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health. The Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) is among others responsible for the municipal water supply and the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA) for irrigation. Water Supply Sector Performance. Jordan is working hard on water demand reduction, awareness creation, education, etc. Measures include re-use of water, and brackish water desalination. Current Status of Desalination. In the Jordan Valley there is small-scale brackish water desalination. Twenty-one stations deliver water destined largely for irrigation use. These stations are located north of the Dead Sea and are privately owned. WRM studies indicate that there is a maximum of 80 million m3 of water that can be used in the Jordan Valley. Salinity in the valley is maximum 7000-8000 ppm, but on average it is some 3000 ppm. The Hisban project could be implemented by 2015. This project should deliver some 9 to 15 MCM/year. There is a groundwater desalination plant at Zarqa, operating at 600 m3/hr. This plant was inaugurated by the King in 2001. Public Sector Participation. In Jordan various types of PSP are underway, or being planned. The most well known example is the management contract for water supply that is being carried out in Amman. Another important PSP contract is the BOT contract for the Asamra WWTP near Zarqa. The private sector has been involved with the construction of private RO plants for industrial and agricultural use since the late eighties. Governmental plans for desalination came into being much later during the late nineties. The Ministry of Water has been investing in the local industry by promoting local manufacturers and contractors to get involved with desalination. There are two companies in Jordan with the capability of designing and constructing RO plants. These are Aqua Treat and Irishaidat. Both companies have still limited experience Capacity Building. In Jordan it is difficult for water companies to recruit qualified staff, since water supply services are generally provided by the public sector, which has a quite restrictive salary system. Particularly with regard to desalination, the absence of well-qualified and experienced personnel in the field of water desalination science and technology is experienced. It is recommended to start programs for capacity building, which can be achieved through cooperation between the academic and research communities with the MWI. Environmental Impact. The Ministry of Environment has only recently been set up. Therefore, Annex 3 - Jordan 3-5 Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination regarding institutional aspects of environment, the first steps have been made, but it is an area that is as yet in its infancy. Proper implementation of an EIA law or EIA as guidelines under a more basic environmental law would be of great use in further development of water resources in this country. Future plans for Desalination. In order to meet the growing water demand the Government has drawn up a number of major water development plans. ˇ The exploitation of fossil non-renewable groundwater in the Disi aquifer. ˇ The construction of the Al Wahda dam on the Yarmouk river in the north of the country. ˇ Use of treated waste water will increase. ˇ Desalination of seawater and brackish water; this remains the only solution to solve the water shortage problems in the long run. 3-6 Annex 3 - Jordan Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination 1 Country Profile Jordan is a relatively small country with a total area of 92,300 km2, bordered on the north by Syria, to the east by Iraq, and by Saudi Arabia to the east and south, where it has its only short coastline onto the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea. On the west it is bordered by Israel and Palestine. The terrain and landscape of the country are very diverse, with a variety of landforms and climates more typical of larger countries. The principal feature is the arid plateau that rises from the Jordan Rift Valley to reach heights of up to 1100 m from where it falls gently to the Syrian border. There are three distinct physiographic regions in Jordan: the Jordan Valley; the mountain heights plateau; and the Eastern desert or Badia region. The fertile river valley of the Jordan (known in Arabic as the Ghor) dominates the agriculture in the country, representing the northern part of the Great Rift Valley of Africa, extending from Syria through the depression of the Dead Sea (the lowest place on earth at 410 m below sealevel - in 2003) southwards to Aqaba. The weather in the Valley is warm throughout the year, and although rainfall is low and summer temperatures can reach 48oC in August, the rich soils and innovative irrigation projects make the Ghor the breadbasket for the Kingdom. The mountain heights plateau is the region containing Jordan's main population centres of Amman, Zarqa, Irbid and Kerak; and also the location for important historical sites such as Petra, Jerash and Madaba. The region, which runs from Irbid in the north to Ras al-Naqab in the south, is intersected with small valley and riverbeds (wadis), which flow after substantial rainfalls into the Jordan River, the Dead Sea or the normally arid Jordan Rift. The height of the region ranges from 600m to 1500m above sea-level, where temperatures below freezing are sometimes experienced in January and where the average summer temperature in Amman is 25.6oC. The Badia region in the east covers almost two-thirds of Jordan, is principally desert and desert steppe, and is part of the North Arab Desert stretching into Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia at deviations varying between 600-900m. It is an empty area with only scattered small settlements, but its complex geomorphic formations, especially the legendary Wadi Rum desert-scape, are attracting increasing numbers of visitors. The Badia climate is marked by extremes of both daily and seasonal temperatures; and rainfall is relatively low averaging under 50mm annually. Jordan has a current population of about 5.3 million, with a natural growth rate of about 2.9% (1998 - 2002), although the overall population growth has been higher at 4.3% largely because of the major immigration of people into the country as a result of the Gulf Crisis. Around 70% of Jordan's people now live in urban areas, with nomads and semi-nomads comprising perhaps 5% of the population. Amman, the capital city has grown rapidly through both natural increase and in- migration, from 320,000 in 1966 to over 1.7 million at present; and other important cities include Irbid (950,000), Al Zarqa (600,000), and the seaport of Aqaba (75,000). Arabic is the official language though English is widely spoken in business, science and tourism. With only 5% of total land area under agriculture and with widely varying rainfall and a continuous decline of the groundwater table, agricultural production is difficult to plan. Wheat and barley are the major grain crops which together with lentils and chickpeas are grown in the rain-fed areas: beans, tobacco and sesame are also cultivated in this area. The Ghor year-round temperate climate enables it to grow a wide variety of tropical and subtropical crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, citrus fruits, melons, bananas, potatoes and onions, many of which are exported to Europe. Sheep are the most important livestock, together with cattle, goats and poultry; and Jordan has invested heavily in modern livestock production and associated veterinary care. The relative absence of natural resources throughout Jordan has been a major constraint on its economic development, and it will be difficult to sufficiently exploit those resources that do exist without heavy investment in appropriate advanced science and technology. Phosphates and potash are the Kingdom's principal natural resources, and in 1993 exports of these minerals generated over a quarter of total export revenues. Jordan is the second largest exporter of phosphates after Morocco with 3.7 million tonnes being shipped to countries such as India. Proven phosphate Annex 3 - Jordan 3-7 Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination reserves in Jordan are in excess of 1.9 billion tonnes, thus guaranteeing an export earning potential far into the future, with the state-owned Jordan Phosphate Mines Corporation accounting for over 15% of total world production. The Kingdom is dependent upon imported petroleum, and there is now a priority through the National Resources Authority to attract foreign investors into the growing exploration programme for natural gas and oil. Natural gas was first discovered in Jordan in 1987, and it is now thought that reserves in excess of 150 billion cubic feet exist. Five production wells have already been drilled and the resulting gas used to power to 30 megawatt turbine's to generate electricity for supply to the national grid. It is also estimated that Jordan has upwards of 40 billion tonnes of shale oil reserves located around Lajjun 160 Km south of Amman which could eventually yield upwards of 4 billion tonnes of oil once higher real oil prices make extraction and refining economic. Table 1.1 Statistical profile Topic Geographical region Middle East Area (km2) 92,300 km2 Climate mostly arid desert, rainy season (November to April, only in west) Natural resources phosphates, potash Land use: arable land 3 % permanent crops 1 % other 96 % Irrigated lands 750 km2 Environment - current issues limited natural fresh water resources, deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, desertification Population 5.3 million (2002) Population growth 2.89 % Languages spoken Arabic, English Capital city Amman Inhabitants 1.7 million Other cities, inhabitants Aqaba, Zarqa, Irbid, Balqa Economy GDP USD 21.6 billion (2001) GDP per capita USD 4,200 (2001) GDP composition agriculture - 3.7 % industry - 26 % services - 70.3 % Industries phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash, light manufacturing, tourism Agriculture wheat, barley, citrus, olives, sheep, goats, poultry Administrative divisions 12 governorates Source: CIA - The World Factbook 2002 and 2003 3-8 Annex 3 - Jordan Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination 2 Water Resources and Water balance 2.1 Introduction Jordan is considered one of the countries in the world with the scarcest of water resources. In 2001 the renewable water resources were only 150 m3/cap/year, compared to the minimum required amount of 1000 m3/cap/year as determined by the international water agencies. In order to close the gap between supply and demand the groundwater aquifers have been heavily abstracted. Although the annual safe yield of the aquifers is 275 MCM, the abstraction rate has been 435 MCM recently. This has led to deterioration of the groundwater quality and an increase in the salinity levels. The dominant environmental challenge facing Jordan is the scarcity of the Kingdom's water resources in an arid land with unpredictable rainfall and an expanding population. Rainfall is confined largely to the winter season and ranges from around 660 mm in the north west of the country to less than 130 mm in the extreme east. Major surface water sources are the Yarmouk and Zarqa rivers, and the associated side wadis, all flowing westward into the River Jordan and the Dead Sea. Whilst high evaporation rates result in relatively low annual stream flows, the high infiltration rates common in Jordan result in high rates of groundwater recharge. The central problem that faces Jordan is that there are three other riparian states in the Jordan valley (Israel, Syria and Lebanon) all seeking to draw on the area's limited water resources to meet a growing demand. This means that water resources and water use are a major international issue for Jordan, where the Peace Process impacts will be critically important. In response to this major challenge to its existence, Jordan is taking steps to both reduce demand and increase supply, and to build regional co-operation in water resource planning and utilisation. Water conservation is being pursued through increased water recycling, improved irrigation techniques and reducing water loss in distribution; whilst on the supply side is examining the potential for increased desalination (including schemes to transport sea water from Aqaba to the Dead Sea to restore its level and generate potable water) and further investment in dams and domestic reservoirs to collect and hold rainwater. Jordan's 1994 peace treaty with Israel has restored to it a further 50 MCM per year. Jordan has started the construction of the Unity Dam (also called the Al Wehda dam) which shall secure a further 85 MCM per year from the flood flow of the Yarmouk river. Of this figure remain 50 MCM pending solution. 2.2 Water resources The water resources available for Jordan are conventional resources (surface water, renewable groundwater and non-renewable or fossil groundwater) and unconventional resources (desalinated brackish groundwater, desalinated seawater and treated waste water). Except for desalinated seawater all of these resources are being used at the moment to a lesser or greater extent. The quantity of the renewable water resources that can economically be exploited is 780 MCM per year. This includes 505 MCM from surface water and 275 MCM from groundwater aquifers. An additional amount of between 100 and 120 MCM is at the moment taken from non-renewable groundwater aquifers. Jordan has already a number of desalination plants. The total capacity is 20 MCM per year. There is a small desalination plant in Zarqa producing 600 m3/day. It was commissioned in 2001. In the Jordan Valley there are a number of small-scale brackish water desalination plants. 21 stations deliver water destined mainly for irrigation purposes. These stations are located North of the Dead Sea. They are privately owned. Annex 3 - Jordan 3-9 Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination In Abu Zighan a desalination plant is presently under construction that will produce water for Amman.. It was designed by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI). Its construction is done by Jordanian contractors. The project is developed as a Design Build contract. It will be operated by the Government after an initial period of operation by the contractor. The plant will deliver some 40,000 m3/day by 2006. The first phase will 10 to 12 MCM per year. It will eventually produce 18 MCM per year. The plant is now being tested. The first phase of the project will be operational in a matter of months. In early 2003 four mobile water treatment units were put into operation. Two are desalination plants and two are ultra filtration plants. They serve remote communities in times of water shortages. The plants are placed in containers for easy transportation and are powered by generators. One pilot facility involves desalination with renewable energy. In September 2003 a contract was singed between MWI and WAJ for the construction of the Wadi Ma'in, Zara and Mujib desalination and conveyance project. In August 2003 proposals were received from contractors for the construction of the Disi Conveyance project. This project will provide Amman by 2008 with 100 MCM of water per year from non-renewable water from the Disi aquifer. 2.3 Water demand The average water demand per person is between 130 and 140 l/c/d. The un-accounted for water (including physical and administrative losses) amounts according to WAJ to between 55 % and 60 % (1998). The physical losses are around 30 %. The supply of irrigation water sees a reduction every year. In 1999 it was 520 MCM per year. Industrial water use was 42 MCM per year in 1999. It is the policy of the government (issued in 1998) neither to reduce the irrigation water demand nor increased it due to the greater water demands of the other sectors. The demand for irrigation will therefore be maintained at a level of 630 MCM per year. The allocation of the water demand among the main water user groups is: agriculture - 69 %, domestic users- 27 % and industry - 4 %. The total demand in 1998 was 1190 MCM. The water demand is expected to grow exponentially both due to the population increase and due to the demands of the agricultural and industrial sectors. The present water policy of Jordan includes both elements of supply expansion and of demand reduction. Elements of demand management are: not to increase the agricultural lands, a reduction of water losses in the water supply system and increasing the efficiency of agricultural water application. A priority will be given to drinking water supplies. The re-use of wastewater effluent will be stimulated for certain applications. This will then free up water for domestic supplies. It is the Government policy to impose in future water tariffs on private wells. In order to estimate the future water demand two growth scenarios have been drafted. In both cases the water demand was put at 250 m3/capita/year. This includes the water demand of all sectors of the economy. For the first scenario a population growth has been estimated at 3.3 percent. The water demand will reach 2302 MCM per year in 2020. This results in a gap in the water supply of 1037 MCM per year. The growth percentage for the second scenario was put at 2.5 percent. The lower growth rate should be achieved due to better education programmes and public awareness campaigns as well as the inherent lack of water. The water demand will reach 2002 MCM per year in 2020. The gap is now 737 MCM per year. 3-10 Annex 3 - Jordan Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination Whatever the growth scenario, there is thus a big gap between supply and demand. In addition to demand management options which are being pursued this gap can only be closed by using more desalination. The government has its eye on the desalination of both brackish water and of seawater. Annex 3 - Jordan 3-11 Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination 3 Water Resources Management 3.1 Ministry of Water and Irrigation The Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI) is responsible for the management of the water resources in Jordan. MWI was established in 1992 to integrate various policies under one entity. Up to that moment water resources management was regulated by a number of government agencies including WAJ, JVA, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health. The Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) and the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA), who had already existed before the Ministry was established are both placed within the ministry, and carry out the implementation of the water management. The main objective of setting up the MWI was to centralize the national management of water resources into one body in order to improve the management of the resources. The water resources were at that time very much insufficient and there was a need for a more coherent approach towards solving the problems at hand. The MWI acquired the comprehensive functions of proportioning and regulating of the water resources in Jordan and became the responsible authority to settle any disputes between farmers and domestic water supply authorities. At present there are three Secretary Generals within MWI: one for MWI itself, one for WAJ and one for JVA. They report to the Minister of Water and Irrigation. Within MWI there are several directorates: Legal Affairs, Water Resources Development, Deep wells and Drilling, Water Resources Planning, Environment, Public Information Affairs and Awareness, Financial and General Affairs and Project Directorate. The MWI itself is a rather small organisation; it has 35 employees. 3.2 Water Authority of Jordan The Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) is responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of domestic water supply and sewage facilities and for the management of the national water resources management. It formulates water supply and sewage policies and prepares water resources management plans. This organization also overlooks the water supply and sewage services. Within WAJ there are five assistants to the Secretary General: for Technical Support, Planning and Investment, Maintenance and Workshop, Financial Affairs and Administrative Sectors. WAJ has about 7,460 staff members (data of 1998), of which 69% are regular workers and 31% irregular workers. Although the irregular worker carries a temporary status, these positions have become nearly as permanent as the regular workers. The number of regular workers decreases from year to year while number of the irregular workers increases. This probably is the result of the restructuring of central and local organizations based on an ongoing organizational improvement plan. The participation of the private sector is being promoted in Jordan within the governmental sectors. This also applies to the water sector. The Project Management Unit (PMU) has been established within WAJ since 1996. After it was established the PMU has followed upon the ongoing management contract in Amman and has initiated activities for privatisation, such as management contracts for drinking water supply. BOT and BOO systems were and are being introduced for the construction of water conveyance and water supply projects and wastewater treatment plants. 3-12 Annex 3 - Jordan Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination The water supply in Aqaba is still under the national WAJ. However there are plans to establish a public water company that should operate as a publicly owned entity (85 % WAJ, 15 % ASEZA) but as an independent company. The company will have its own board of directors, including representatives of the Ministry of Water, the Ministry of Finance and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA). 3.3 Jordan Valley Authority The Jordan Valley Authority (JVA) was founded in 1977. It is the prime authority to plan and implement the water supply services for irrigation in the Jordan Valley. JVA has also strengthened the management of the infrastructure development (including water, electricity, land and municipalities) in the Jordan Valley. JVA is also responsible for the dams and reservoirs in the country. Over many years, this Authority has taken the lead in the development of water supply facilities in the Jordan Valley and built up an advanced water management system. JVA has six assistants to the Secretary General: for Planning and Environment, Southern Ghors and Wadi Araba, Lands and Urban Development, Administration, Finance and Tenders, Northern and Middle Ghors, and Studies and Projects. Of the total number of 2,094 staff members in 2000, 1,020 members were engaged in irrigation water supply. Of 1,020 members, the regular workers accounted for 68% and irregular workers for 32%. The former is decreasing while the latter is increasing. The justification for regular (permanent) and irregular (theoretically temporary) worker id the same as for the Water Authority. Annex 3 - Jordan 3-13 Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination 4 Desalination 4.1 Background To date, the desalination of either seawater or brackish water in Jordan has been very limited. In the case of seawater, Jordan has a very short shoreline on the Gulf of Aqaba and this is very distant from the main centres of population. This is further aggravated by the fact that these centres of population are at high elevations (Amman 1000 m above mean sealevel) and would therefore involve high pumping costs. Jordan does have reserves of brackish water and a small number of brackish water desalination plants have been built. Wangnick's survey of 2002 lists 19 plants on 13 sites with a total capacity of 11000 m3/day. These are listed in Appendix A. There are more plants than this survey indicates. as the situation is changing rapidly with new plants coming on stream. 4.2 Seawater Desalination Jordan's only access to the sea is at Aqaba, where it has a short shore line. The seawater at Aqaba has a TDS of 43000 ppm. Currently Aqaba gets its water from the Disi aquifer and itself has no immediate need for seawater desalination. The per capita consumption of water in Aqaba is around 200 L/capita/day. Several studies have been carried out in the past on the possibilities for desalination at Aqaba. None of these have been shown to be attractive. There are a few small desalination plants for industrial use and in connection with the power station. The construction of a conveyor taking seawater from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Dead Sea to restore the Dead sea to its natural level will provide the opportunity for very large scale seawater desalination. Such a plant could have a capacity to produce 850 MCM of potable water. This is discussed in section 9 of this report. There are plans for a significant expansion of tourism and commercial activities in Aqaba which may also require investment in seawater desalination in the future. 4.3 Brackish Water Desalination Jordan's experience in brackish water desalination has been fairly limited. All of the plants built to date have been small and built for commercial/industrial use or for agriculture. Most have been RO plants but there are at least two EDR plants. Table 4.1 lists some of these plants. Table 4.1 Private sector desalination plants Project Raw Water TDS Capacity Baptism Site 57,000 32 m3/hr Omari Wells 3,000 22.5 m3/hr Safawi Wells 3,700 50 m3/hr Ruweished Wells 1,500 50 m3/hr Al Reesheh Wells 1,100 50 m3/hr Abu Zighan 7,000 1,875 m3/hr Various studies have shown that Jordan has a considerable brackish water resource. There is therefore considerable scope for both RO and EDR plants in the future. In particular there may be scope for EDR for small remote locations. This technology is more robust than RO and the feed water requires significantly less pre-treatment. It may be powered by PV. 3-14 Annex 3 - Jordan Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination Currently under development is a large RO plant at Abu Zighan. The project will deliver some 40,000 m3/day by 2006 (eventually 18 MCM at maximum capacity). The first phase of the project will be operational in a few months. This project is to release the pressure on the King Abdullah canal, which provides water to Amman. It is very unlikely that this water will be used for purposes other than domestic use. The first phase of the Abu Zighan project is now in its test phase. The TDS of the feed water for this project is around 7000 ppm. The design was made by the Ministry and construction is being carried out by local contractors. Jordan is a low cost country and international firms could not compete with local contractors. The membranes for the plant are from the US. The product water will be around 130 ppm TDS . Seven wells will be drilled. Water will be pumped to Amman. In the Jordan Valley there is small-scale brackish water desalination. Twenty-one stations deliver water destined largely for irrigation use. These stations are located north of the Dead Sea and are privately owned. WRM studies indicate that there is a maximum of 80 million m3 of water that can be used in the Jordan Valley. Salinity in the valley is maximum 7000-8000 ppm, but on average it is some 3000 ppm. The Hisban project could be implemented by 2015. This project should deliver some 9 to 15 MCM/year. There is a groundwater desalination plant at Zarqa, operating at 600m3/hr. This plant was inaugurated by the King two years ago. MWI and WAJ have signed an agreement in September 2003 for the construction of the Wadi Ma'in, Zara and Mujib desalination plant and conveyance project. The desalination is carried using the reverse osmosis techniques. This is a Design-Build-Operate contract. The plant will be operated for 2 years before being handed over to the Government. The plant includes desalination of 55 MCM per year of water with a salinity of 1500 - 2000 mg/l. It shall provide Amman with 38 MCM per year with a TDS of 250 mg/l. As part of the current expansion of the Aqaba wastewater treatment plant a conveyer pipeline is constructed to supply filtered effluent wastewater for certain uses, such as watering of municipal green. In this way more drinking water can be supplied to major water consumers. 4.4 Conclusions Unlike many of its Arab neighbours, Jordan has virtually no indigenous energy sources. Jordan is not a rich country. Consequently any desalination project will be very carefully examined with regards to capital and operating costs. It is therefore almost certain that RO will be selected as the optimum process for large scale desalination. ED & EDR may have useful small scale applications. Annex 3 - Jordan 3-15 Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination 5 Energy 5.1 Conventional Energy Jordan is almost totally dependent upon imported fuels to meet its energy demands, principally oil and gas; and these involve around $330 million of annual imports. Minimising reliance on imported energy to meet its current and future energy demand is being given policy priority. A major programme of exploration for oil and gas is underway in partnership with international companies, and natural gas is already being produced for power generation. It is thought possible that eventually natural gas from domestic reserves could generate all Jordan's electricity, thus reducing fuel imports by up to 40%. Until 1974, electricity was generated from two small and unreliable Diesel stations. After the establishment of JEA, the installed capacity grew at a rapid growth rate to meet the demand and to provide sufficient reserve. Currently, the total installed power generating capacity in Jordan is about 1660 MW. The system's peak load is about 1255 MW. The production of electrical energy grew at an average growth rate of about 12% per annum during 1978-1998 from about 595 GWh in 1978 to about 6750 GWh in 1998. Almost 100% of the population are supplied with electricity. NEPCO`s capacity portfolio includes fuel oil-fired steam generating units, gas fired combustion turbines, diesel-fired combustion turbines and diesel engines. NEPCO used to provide all the bulk power to the national grid, except for that supplied by interconnected industrial companies (about 100 MW). NEPCO also operates the bulk power network in Jordan, which is composed principally of 132 kV circuits. The transmission system is structured on the north-south axis of Jordan. It is essentially a radial system with no looping except for a small ring around the main load center of Amman. The distribution systems are served from this system at 132 kV. The direct service bulk customers are also served from this system. There are about 2211 circuit-km of transmission lines currently operated at 132 kV, which represents about 73% of the total networks. In addition, there are 809 circuit-km of transmission lines operated at 400 kV . NEPCO also operates the main substations to provide services to the various distribution networks, which have an aggregate capacity of about 3887 MVA. In addition, the Jordanian Power System is interconnected with Egypt Power System through a 400 kV submarine cable crossing the Gulf of Aqaba in the southern part of Jordan . And in the northen part of Jordan it is connected with the Syrian Power System through a 400 kV single circuit transmission line. There is a connection planned to the electricity grid of Turkey. 5.2 Renewable Energy The National Energy Research Centre (NERC), founded in 1998, is considered as one of the specialized science and technological centres working under the umbrella of the Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST). The Centre was established for the purposes of research, development and training in the fields of new and renewable energy and raising the efficiency of using energy in the different economic sectors and energy conservation in Jordan. As part of its mission, the centre is active in most fields of Renewable Energy, such activities are: Wind Energy Jordan has good wind energy potential. Currently there are two wind farms, one with a capacity of 3-16 Annex 3 - Jordan Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination 320 kW at Al-Ibrahimiah, and the other with a capacity of 1.125 MW at Hofa, in the northern part of Jordan. In 2001 the government of Jordan called for an international tender for wind farms of a capacity of 75-90 MW on BOO basis, and offers are being evaluated at this stage. In its efforts to promote Wind Energy utilization in Jordan, NERC is: ˇ Preparing a wind database and identifying and evaluating the promising sites for wind farms. Twelve wind measuring systems are already installed at promising sites in Jordan. ˇ Conducting technical consultations in wind energy utilizations for public and private sectors. ˇ Manufacturing, installing and maintaining mechanical wind pumping systems for water at many remote areas in Jordan. ˇ Designing and manufacturing small wind turbines and their components and transferring their production technology to the private industry. Solar thermal energy NERCJordan has long experience in producing and installing Solar Water Heaters. In order to promote the use of Solar Water Heaters, the Centre provides the following: ˇ Design of solar collectors and solar thermal systems for residential and industrial applications. ˇ Testing of solar collectors and on site testing of solar thermal systems. ˇ Conducting training courses and seminars in the fields of solar thermal applications for designers and installers of Solar Water Heating Systems. Rational use of energy NERC is actively promoting energy conservation. Jordan imports almost all its needs of energy, which constitutes a considerable burden on the economy. In order to promote Energy conservation in Jordan, NERC is: ˇ Conducting energy audits to industrial and commercial facilities (over 100 facilities). ˇ Providing Consultations to industrial and commercial facilities prior to investment in new equipment. ˇ Promoting energy saving equipment through publishing equipment directories and their suppliers in Jordan. ˇ Promoting rational use of energy through seminars and publications to target groups. ˇ Establishing an Energy Conservation information system. ˇ Conducting training courses in the field of energy conservation. Photovoltaic energy Jordan is blessed with an abundance of Solar Energy. The average solar radiation is 5.6 kWh/m2/day. Thus Photovoltaic energy (PV) has great potential in Jordan. NERC has applied and installed PV for many activities in the remote areas of Jordan, which are implemented in the following fields: ˇ 24 Photovoltaic water pumping systems areas (108,026 kWp). ˇ 13 Photovoltaic power supply systems for tele-communication system (18,601 kWp). ˇ 19 Photovoltaic power supply system for electrification of the police stations in remote border posts of Jordan (16,606 kWp). ˇ 22 Photovoltaic power supply system for electrification of schools, mosques, teacher residents and clinics (8,574 kWp). ˇ 8 Photovoltaic power systems for other applications (26,500 kWp). ˇ Brackish Water Desalination using Reverse Osmosis technology and Photovoltaic as a power source. Annex 3 - Jordan 3-17 Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination The total peak power of PV used for the different above-mentioned application is 178,307 kWp Oil shale Jordan has huge oil shale reserves of about 40 billion tons, which can be a significant energy source to Jordan. NERC is involved in conducting studies, and research and development projects with other universities and research institutions in Jordan to determine the best technical and most economically feasible methods for oil shale utilization in Jordan. Some of NERC's efforts are: ˇ Conducting studies to utilize oil shale ash for building construction. ˇ Design and erect a small CFB boiler and put long-term strategies and plans to fully address the issue of oil shale exploitation to enhance self-sufficiency and reduce energy costs. ˇ Prepare to design and erect a small retort unit in order to assess all available technical options using state-of-the-art technologies. Biogas Jordan has already erected a one-MW pilot biogas plant, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East. This pilot project has proved a success as an environmentally sound and efficient technology. NERC was assigned to carry out the capacity building program for the biogas project with the objective of dissemination and replication of the biogas technology including composting and recycling in Jordan and other Middle East countries. The major activities of the current program are: ˇ Educational upgrading (curricula and lab modifications). ˇ Information dissemination and awareness rising about biomass technology. ˇ Recycling and re-using activities. ˇ Training outreach. ˇ Master Plan. Geothermal energy Although Jordan is country with scarce water resources, it enjoys the presence of thermal and mineral waters distributed along different places in Jordan. NERC is currently conducting studies in order to evaluate the geothermal energy potential in Jordan. NERC's activities can be summarized as follows: ˇ Creating a geothermal activities database for Jordan. ˇ Establishing a geothermal energy library. ˇ Preparing a pre-feasibility studyfor geothermal energy utilization project in Central Jordan. ˇ Conducting, with other institutions, a study for evaluating the geothermal energy potential and methods of utilization at the Zerqa Ma'in and Zara hot springs area. 3-18 Annex 3 - Jordan Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination 6 Water Sector Capacity and Capability 6.1 Capacity building An essential prerequisite for a well-established desalination industry is the presence of the qualified manpower. In Jordan it is at times difficult for water companies to recruit qualified staff, since water supply services are generally provided by the public sector, which has a quite restrictive salary system. Particularly with regard to desalination, absence of well-qualified and experienced personnel in the field of water desalination science and technology is experienced. (Dr. Hani Abu Qdais, Eng. Fayez Batayneh, 2003) Qdais and Bateyneh recommend to start programs for capacity building, which can be achieved through cooperation between the academic and research communities with the MWI. Al-Ghazawi, Abo-Qdais and Al-Hadidi in their paper published in 2001 state that even an earlier step is yet to be taken, namely the development of an academic focal point on desalination issues and technologies that can be in the form of a center hosted by Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST). This center could act as a resource body on all aspects of desalination including capacity building, training, research, curriculum development, and public awareness, with the following objectives: 1. Development of the necessary human resources and expertise for locally and regionally adaptable and sustainable desalination technologies through training and capacity building. 2. Conducting desalination experiments and testing of processes and products under environmental conditions of the region, and promoting technology transfer 3. Development of desalination courses and curriculum at the post graduate level in JUST and other Jordanian universities 4. Enhancing the public awareness about desalination technologies and the needs and issues associated with them. 5. Establishing the grounds for participation of all stakeholders including local communities as well as creating partnerships for the planning, implementation and management of specific desalination projects on the local, regional and international levels. (Ziad Al-Ghazawi, Hani Abo-Qdais and Mahmoud Al-Hadidi, 2001) The seed of their recommendation may have found fertile soil. The Consultant learned that JUST is one of two universities in the region that considers developing a degree in desalination. Now that Jordan is on the Executive council of MEDRC whose mandate includes capacity building in desalination, the process is likely to speed up. 6.2 Private Sector Participation In Jordan various types of PSP are underway, or being planned. The most well known example is the management contract for water supply that is being carried out in Amman. The Lema consortium, consisting of Ondeo, Montgomery Watson and Arab-tech, employs some 1250 staff which is actually seconded to the consortium, but remains on the pay roll of the Ministry. There is a limited number of private sector staff, particularly in specialist positions with a good percentage of these transferred to other WAJ units. Although it is difficult to dismiss governmental employees, the workforce has decreased by 400 staff, paid by the operator. The Lema consortium is paid a management fee of some USD 2 million annually. On top of this there is a variable performance component, but this is rather small. The contract award was based on financial criteria; the bidder with the lowest total amount of fixed and incremental management fee was awarded the contract. The contract was signed in October 1999. Annex 3 - Jordan 3-19 Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination The O&M budget within the project is paid for by WAJ, while at the same time an operational investment programme is funded by the World Bank, aimed at investing in small replacements, small pumps, vehicles, computers etc. The operational investment fund is USD 55 million. Procurement under this programme is done using WB procurement guidelines, and the implementation of the programme is basically taking place outside the control of the Lema consortium. Another important PSP contract is the BOT contract for the Asamra WWTP near Zarka. The total investment will be some JOD 154 million, of which around 50%will be funded by a USAID grant. This project is won by Ondeo, Morganti (a US Engineering-Contractor), and Inflico/Degremont. The daily capacity of this plant will be some 267,000m3/day, and can be expanded up to 530,000m3/day. Critical in the BOT process has been transparency in tender documents and tendering procedures. As a first step in the tendering procedure, all tender documents were sent to the bidders as `draft' documents, for comments. Since it was the first time for the Ministry of Water to enter in a BOT arrangement, it left space for tenderers to suggest changes over a fixed period of time. After that period there was no space for questions or reservations to be included in the bids, since all parties agreed to the contents of the tender documents. A system of assurances and guarantees was to be discussed during negotiations. A USAID / MWI set of guarantees made the project feasible for private sector companies. For example, a reserves account containing an amount representing some 4 months of operations is created by the Ministry. This account can be accessed by the Private operator if the Ministry fails to pay, and can be accessed by the Bank consortium if the operator fails to pay the bank. One of the conditions for USAID support was that the consortium should be at least 50% American, and the contractor must be from the United States. The contract was signed with the consortium well before financial close. Financial negotiations are still ongoing between the private consortium and its financiers. Actually the Consultant was informed that the contract contains some clauses the financiers do not agree with. Therefore there might be a long process of getting to an agreement on the financing of the scheme. Apart from the USAID grant all funds are Jordanian. The Arab bank is the lead bank, with a number of Jordanian banks taking part in funding of the scheme. The entire scheme is guaranteed not only by the Ministry, but also by the Government. A reserves account worth some 4 months of operations is created by the Ministry. Another BOT scheme under development is the Disi conveyor project aimed at transporting large quantities of water from the Disi aquifer to Amman. The project will have a contractual term of 40 years. It includes the construction of 85 wells to produce a total of 100 MCM of water per year. This project will require JOD 600 million of investment. It concerns a major water conveyance project, of which the government will invest JOD 200 mln, to bring the m3 cost price down. The first large desalination project, Abu Zighan, is however not being implemented under a BOT or similar arrangement. It is rather a Design-Build contract, built by local contractors. The first phase of the Abu Zighan project, an RO plant, is now in its test phase. The design was made by the ministry, construction is carried out by local contractors since international firms could not compete with them. The plant will cost around USD 3.5 million for the first phase of 12 MCM. 7 wells will be drilled. Water will go to transportation mains to Amman. The project will be developed as a D-B contract and will eventually be operated by the Government, after an initial period of operations by the Contractor. 6.3 Micro PSP An alternative to macro PSP, as described above (Amman Management Contract, Asamra WWTP 3-20 Annex 3 - Jordan Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination and Disi Conveyor), recently a seminar took place in which GTZ in close co-operation with the Ministry of Water proposed a Micro-PSP approach. This has been defined as "Private Sector Participation in operation, maintenance and management of selected business activities and smaller business units of WAJ [JVA] enabling local private companies to support commercialization and efficiency of service delivery". The basic principle and rationale for micro PSP is to contract out clearly defined tasks and activities of an otherwise publicly run utility. One of the advantage of this is that a utility benefits at short-term of the advantages of private sector involvement, without having to go through lengthy international procedures. Moreover, expertise can likely be sourced from the local market. The micro PSP approach is a structured approach to sub-contracting particular problems in the regular business processes of WAJ like meter reading, billing & revenue collection, leakage repair services, customer surveys, GIS based information management and sewerage connections management. It should be noted that this is an approach that can find only very limited application with regard to desalination. 6.4 Desalination and the private sector Other than typical PSP, the private sector has been involved with the construction of private RO plants for industrial and agricultural use since late eighties. Governmental plans for desalination came into place much later during the late nineties. The Ministry of water has been investing in the local industry by promoting local manufacturers and contractors to get involved with desalination. The plants realised are largely rural brackish water RO plant, of maximum 1000m3/day. There are two companies in Jordan with the capability of designing and constructing RO plants. These are Aqua Treat and Irishaidat. Both companies have limited experience but are growing rapidly. A number of desalination projects undertaken by the private sector are listed in Table 4.1. ED and EDR could be useful technologies for remote or small applications in the region and there may be very many of these. Jordan is a low labour cost area and it is unlikely that overseas contractors will be able to bid competitively in Jordan. It is more likely that Jordanian capability in desalination will develop and could be very competitive in the region. Annex 3 - Jordan 3-21 Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination 7 Environmental Issues 7.1 Introduction Desalination may be the only solution for Jordan to close the water demand gap. The water deficit in Jordan will be some 737 MCM/year by 2020 (not taking desalination into account). The amount of water for irrigation will be fixed, so the bottleneck lies in the development of domestic and industrial demand, due to an increasing standard of living and a growing population. Currently there are some four specialised firms in Jordan that are actively involved in desalination. According to the water policy the upland aquifers that are being overpumped should be restored using other sources of water that need to be developed (particularly non-conventional water resources). The aquifers should be restored to meet their original levels by 2015. In Jordan, a Ministry of Environment has only recently been set up. Therefore, regarding institutional aspects of environment, the first steps have been made, but it is an area that is as yet in its infancy. Jordan has worked hard on water demand reduction, awareness creation, education, etc. Moreover all natural resources are being used at their maximum capacity. Measures include re-use of water, use of the Disi aquifer, and brackish water desalination. In the future there may be the Red-Dead scheme. In the opinion of a Ministry official, desalination is certainly the only solution to close the water supply gap. Strategic plans for sector development are made in close co- operation between the MoP and the respective line ministries. The line ministries express their needs, and the MoP investigates how these needs fit the national budget and the strategic plans. Through an iterative process the strategic plans are then developed. 7.2 Water and Desalination schemes It has been stated that the Red Sea-Dead Sea project is currently the most important project in the Ministry of Water's portfolio. It is a regional project that will affect both Jordan and some of its its neighbours; however, raising the total project cost of USD 5 billion will be difficult. Much attention is going to the environmental aspects of the project. It was stated that if nothing is done, the Dead Sea will disappear in 50 years. During the past 40 years, the level of the sea has fallen 26 metres. The drop of the Dead Sea level causes the loss of some 70 ­ 100 MCM per year, due to the loss of counter-weight from sweet water aquifers. Ministry officials are of the opinion that the Red-Dead scheme may be realized by 2012. Currently the ToR for a feasibility study for the scheme is being developed by the World Bank, also leading to environmental impact studies worth some USD 10 million. Currently there are discussions about the Sumeimeh plant that has been awarded. It is located next to the Dead Sea. This plant would desalinate some 55 MCM of water per year, with a return of some 45 MCM of potable water. 5 MCM should be used for the Dead Sea area, 38 MCM will be transported to Amman. The Disi aquifer in the south of the country on the border with Saudi Arabia will eventually be used for water transfer between 100 and 150 MCVM per year to Amman; this is a non-renewable fresh water source, however, which is expected to run out of water within 50 to 100 years. In terms of BOT the Ministry is undertaking a WWTP project for Amman at Samra, and the Disi conveyor project. The WWTP will be a 25 year contract, the Disi contract will run for 40 years, and includes the construction of 85 wells to generate a total of 100 MCM/year. In Abu Zighan there is going to be desalination. The project will deliver some 40,000 m3/day by 3-22 Annex 3 - Jordan Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination 2006 (eventually 18 MCM at maximum capacity). The first phase of the project will be operational in a matter of months. This project is to release the pressure on the King Abdullah canal, which provides water to Amman as well. It is very unlikely that this desalinated water will be used for purposes other than domestic use. The first phase of the Abu Zighan project is now in its test phase, an RO plant. The TDS for this project is around 7000 ppm. The design was made by the Ministry and construction is carried out by local contractors; international firms could not compete with them. The membranes are from the US. The produced water will be around [TDS] 130 ppm. Seven wells will be drilled. Water will be transported to Amman. Six months ago (thus beginning 2003) four mobile, containerised units were tendered; two for desalination and two for ultrafiltration. These will be powered using generators, since they will serve remote locations. In the Jordan Valley there is small-scale brackish water desalination. Twenty-one stations deliver water destined largely for irrigation use. These stations are located north of the Dead Sea and are privately owned. Water resources management studies indicate that there is a maximum of 80 million m3 of brackish water that can be used in Jordan Valley. The salinity in the valley is maximum 7000-8000 ppm, but on average it is some 3000 ppm. The Hisban project could be implemented by 2015. This project should deliver some 9 to 15 MCM/year. There is a groundwater desalination plant at Zarka, operating at 600m3/hr. (Later the interviewee indicated that this amount is 700m3/hr.). This plant was inaugurated by the King two years ago. There have been mentions of a desalination plant in Aqaba. When asked, it was stated that currently there is no water shortage in Aqaba. The per capita consumption of water is around 200 L/capita/day. In Aqaba a commercial water company will be set up, and is to be in place as per 01/01/2004. The Ministry will be the majority shareholder in this company (85%). The remaining 15% will be held by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (Asiza). In the WRM Study (2001), it is stated that the plan is to have a desalination plant with a capacity of 17 MCM per year (by 2010). 7.3 Environmental Impacts From the above, it can be seen that aside from the typical environmental impacts that might be expected by desalination projects, a number of special problems would have to be taken on in the planning. However, much work has already been done in taking these into account. From the results of the interviews that have taken place, it appears that Jordan has already made its citizens well aware of the value of water as a precious resource. As well, a comprehensive Water Resources Management Study (December 2001) is available. In comparison to a situation such as that seen in Algeria, Jordan is largely landlocked aside from its connection to the inland Dead Sea, and its connection to the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea) in the far south. The desalination that will be taking place in Jordan would largely consist of brackish groundwater desalination projects, especially in the Jordan Valley and near the Dead Sea. The only planned seawater desalination project would take place in Aqaba in the south; this water would be used only for the purposes of Aqaba and not transported further, because of the high cost of seawater desalinisation. A plan that would cause major changes and have an immense environmental impact would be the proposed Red-Dead project, which would bring water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. This project represents a topic unto itself and as mentioned, effort is being put into environmental studies for this undertaking. The Gulf of Aqaba, a branch of the Red Sea with 367 kilometres of coastline, 27 km of which belong to Jordan, is one of the Kingdom's primary tourist attractions and its only port access. Fortunately, however, Aqaba has always been acknowledged as more than a centre of trade and tourism. Boasting one of the world's most unique coral reef systems and rich in fish and aquatic plant life, the Gulf of Aqaba is an "environmental treasure" which Jordan is Annex 3 - Jordan 3-23 Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination endeavouring to protect. The enclosed nature of this marine environment, which encourages its unique biological diversity, also makes it particularly susceptible to pollution from trade, industry and tourism. The existing and potential environmental threats to Aqaba include such industrial pollution as that from phosphates, potash, cement, traffic, electricity generation and shipping. Tourism contributes to individual littering, garbage accumulation, and increases in sewage problems, air pollution and traffic levels. The site also says: "As Aqaba is a major tourism centre and the country's only port, plans for preserving this natural treasure have necessarily been combined with the region's economic and social development. Jordan's early commitment to sustainable development has facilitated this combination, as environmental regulation has been instituted relatively early in the industrialization process". Throughout the Gulf of Aqaba region, industrial and economic growth are being actively stimulated. Therefore, environmental protection must be combined with growth in a comprehensive sustainable development plan. The Gulf of Aqaba Environmental Action Plan (GAEAP) was established by the multilateral working group on the environment to curb existing damage and prevent future harm by establishing a regulatory framework and coordinating policies among the various governmental ministries associated with environmental protection. The plan calls for an environmental audit of Jordan's nearby power plant, updated contingency plans for oil spills, improved monitoring of air and marine water quality and the management of the protected marine area. The primary benefit of the GAEAP will be the local capability to contain the undesirable consequences of development by preserving the marine and desert environments, reducing pollutants and establishing water use efficiency measures. The below impacts are described in general in Chapter 10 of the Main Report; these impacts are also valid for the situation in Jordan. More specific impacts for the situation in Jordan are presented in the following sections. 7.3.1 Operational Stage Energy Use and Air Quality The emissions of pollutants (contributing to air pollution) and CO2 (contributing to global warming) that result from the extra power production needed for desalination would add to the country's total emissions; Jordan ratified the Kyoto Protocol in early 2003 but has not yet signed it (UNFCCC, 2003). Marine Environment Much of the desalination that will occur in Jordan is from groundwater sources. Therefore, marine environment issues are of little relevance unless desalination at Aqaba eventually takes place. The 27 km of coastline that Jordan has, it will protect ­ therefore, these impacts should be taken note of. The coastline and the large volumes of water that would be pumped would also be affected by the Red-Dead project, though environmental studies on this topic are out of the scope of this document. Semi-Desert Environment It should be noted that, although local discharges of brine from smaller installations are of themselves not very significant, that more sustainable approaches should probably be taken in future for the disposal of brine. The brine should eventually be neutralised. The reason is that salinisation is taking place on a wide scale in Jordan, as a result of incorrect irrigation practices and over abstraction of aquifers. An indication of the role of irrigated farming in water pollution emerges from an analysis of pollution mixes and levels in the country's waterways where a significant portion of drainage water ends up. In general, the increasing salinity of surface and ground water due to drainage from irrigated fields is the most worrisome problem and the one which significantly exacerbates the difficulties in providing clean drinking water. Any areas that should be protected (of a rare type of landscape, or supporting threatened or endangered plant or animal species) need to be respected when disposing of brine. 3-24 Annex 3 - Jordan Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination Water Balance Issues When new water is added into a water basin which has always had the same water balance, physical impacts such as rising of the water table and possible waterlogging/salinisation may take place. These physical impacts may have further-reaching consequences. This is an impact that should be taken very seriously into account for a scheme such as the Red-Dead project. Inland Desalination Disposal of brine is of concern since there are no water bodies to receive the brine. Evaporation ponds represent the only solution. Current research sponsored by MEDRC deals with this issue particularly in ways to enhance evaporation. 7.4 Recommendations for Mitigation 7.4.1 Institutional and Management Mitigation Proper enforcement of any existing environmental or water laws or regulations Environment is in its infancy in Jordan; however, proper implementation of an EIA law or EIA as guidelines under a more basic environmental law would be of great use in further development of water resources in this country. Effective water resources management planning with environmental aspects The WRM Study (2001) is an ambitious step in the right direction by Jordan. It indicates that Jordan is getting control of its water balance and is planning for water use that is as sustainable as possible in future. As above, implementation of the policy will be the key to its success; at the moment, on average, groundwater aquifers are exploited at double their sustainable rates (Ministry of Irrigation, 2002). Properly developed environmental institutions; ensuring that environmental responsibilities are not divided over too many institutions; clear mission statements regarding environment for involved institutions. The newly formed Ministry of Environment is just starting out; however, there is clearly much environmental knowledge in the country. The Ministry of Irrigation and other related institutions, such as Jordan Water Authority, are slated for improved cooperation and streamlining of activities. 7.4.2 Physical Mitigation For the purpose of water conservation Use of drip irrigation for agriculture The WRM Study (2001) mentions the agricultural sector as a major water polluter. Proper use of water, the best by drip irrigation to most effectively use water (to minimise evaporation, among other benefits) would partially prevent this. Improved wastewater treatment for the existing situation The WRM Study (2001) states that lack of wastewater treatment is indeed a main problem in Jordan: groundwater had been badly polluted by poor wastewater treatment capacity in the urban environment, while in the rural setting, salinisation due to poor agricultural practices had also occurred because of lack of capacity for wastewater treatment. Wastewater treatment capacity improvement is a main priority in Jordan's water resources management plan, however. An EIA study quoted in the WRM Study indicated that 90% of farmers would be willing to re-use treated wastewater on crops. Mixing of waste streams Difficulties in enforcement may arise if desalination wastes are mixed with other waste streams, especially in the case of Aqaba, which will interfere with many other coastal activities. Annex 3 - Jordan 3-25 Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination 8 Future Developments In order to meet the growing water demand the Government has drawn up a number of major water development plans. Some of these are being implemented, others are in the planning stage. ˇ The exploitation of fossil non-renewable groundwater in the Disi aquifer, which is located in the south of the country on the border with Saudi Arabia; although Saudi Arabia also draws on this aquifer, there should be sufficient water available for Jordan to last another 50 year. This project could yield 100 MCM/year by 2008. Companies have been invited to submit their proposals for this project under a BOT arrangement. ˇ The construction of the Al Wahda dam on the Yarmouk river in the north of the country. Also this project is underway. This project will yield 100 MCM/year by 2006. ˇ It is expected that the enhancement of the use treated waste water will increase the water availability from that source from 75 MCM per year now to 245 MCM per year in 2020. ˇ A JICA funded study of brackish groundwater resources between the Dead Sea and Deir Alla in the Jordan Valley showed that about 50 MCM/year could economically be developed using desalination; the water will be used for domestic and industrial purposes. ˇ Import of water from neighbouring water-rich countries such as Turkey and Iraq is a possibility; The project could each yield as much as 150 MCM per year however both options are a rather remote possibility, since they are very costly (estimated at USD 1.65 per m3 from Turkey or USD 1.13 per m3 from Iraq). Moreover projects of this nature cannot be realized at short notice. ˇ Finally the desalination of seawater and brackish water; this remains the only solution to solve the water shortage problems in the long run. In addition to these plans the Government is also considering the construction of the Red Sea - Dead Sea canal to bring seawater to the Dead Sea. This project would first of all improve the ecological condition of the Dead Sea, since if nothing is done, the sea will dry up and disappear in fifty years due to the rate of water abstraction along the Jordan River that feeds the sea. In a second stage of the project desalination plants may be constructed to produce much needed drinking water. The project would benefit not only Jordan but also Israel and Palestine. It was reported that Terms of Reference for Feasibility studies had been drawn up. Funding for these studies was being sought. The Hisban project could be implemented by 2015. This project should deliver some 9 to 15 MCM per year. The total supply of water after completion of these projects will be 1265 MCM in 2020. The table summarizes the currents plans of future water projects. Name Capacity Water source Water use Status (MCM) Disi aquifer 100 Disi aquifer municipal, industrial feas.study 1997 Aqaba 5 Red Sea municipal, industrial feas. ongoing Wahda 100 Yarmouk irrigation Mujib, Zara, Ma'in 45 springs municipal Amman feas. completed det. des. started Warqa Red Dead project 851 Red sea pre-feas. completed Hisban 9 - 15 3-26 Annex 3 - Jordan Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination 9 References 1. JICA; Ministry of Water and Irrigation, The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. December 2001. The Study on Water Resources Management in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Final Report, Volume I: Main Report Part A, Water Resources Management Master Plan; and X: Summary Report. 2. Ministry of Irrigation, The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. 2002. Jordan's Water Strategy and Policies. 3. UNFCCC. 29 September 2003. Kyoto Protocol: Status of Ratification. 4. Odeh Al-Jayyousi, Capacity building for desalination in Jordan: necessary conditions for sustainable water management; in Desalination 141, pages 169-179, 2001 5. Jamal O. Jaber, Mousa S. Mohsen, Evaluation of non-conventional water resources supply in Jordan; In Desalination 136, pages 83-92, 2001 6. Samir F. Dweiria, Mohammad I. Badranb, Desalination: an imminent solution for the future water needs in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ), 2002 7. Ziad Al-Ghazawi*, Hani Abo-Qdais* and Mahmoud Al-Hadidi**, Building Local and Regional Expertise in Water Desalination, 2001 8. GWI - Global water Intelligence, Jordan unveils investment plans (global water intelligence), 2002 9. WAJ, GTZ, PMU, OMS Project, Dorsch Consult, Presentations and reports "Micro PSP - a fast track option forwards commercialisation in WAJ", 2003 10. J.O. Jaber and M.S. Mohsen, Evaluation of non-conventional water resources supply in Jordan', Desalination 136 (2001) 83-92, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hashemite University, Jordan, 2000 11. H.A. Abu Qdais and H.I. Al Nassay, Effect of pricing policy on water conservation: a case study, Water Policy 3 (2001) 207-214, Civil Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan and Managing Director, Transmission and Control Company, United Arab Emirates, 2001 12. YACHIYO Engineering Co. Ltd, Water Resources Management in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Main Report Part-A Water Resources Management Master Plan, Final Report Vol. 1, 2001 Annex 3 - Jordan 3-27 Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination 3-28 Annex 3 - Jordan Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination Appendix A List of existing desalination plants Annex 3 - Jordan 3-29 Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination List of existing desalination plants Jordan Location Total Capacity m3/d Units Process Equipment Feature Customer Water Qual User Con.Year Plant Supplier Membrane Supplier Amman 360 1RO MTU Unknown Brewery BRACK INDU 1979 NL Akman 3028 4RO HFM Unknown JORDAN PETROL SEA INDU 1981 Amman 1200 1RO HFM Unknown BRACK INDU 1981 Amman 409 1RO MTU Unknown ARMORREBUILD BRACK MIL 1981 719 1ED FM EDR BRACK INDU 1982 Irbid 545 2RO HFM Unknown University SEA MUNI 1982 1584 2RO HFM Unknown BRACK POWER 1983 Azraq 600 1RO SWM Unknown SOM DATT RIVER INDU 1987 AT S Aqaba 1100 1VC HTE TVC SADELMI SEA POWER 1997 818 1ED FM EDR BRACK Unknown 1998 800 2RO SWM Unknown Water Ministry SEA MUNI 2001 C Aqaba 1 1THE SOLAR RSS SEA DEMO 1987 Unknown Hisban 4 1RO Unknown JORDAN WATER RIVER MUNI 2001 Unknown Total 11168 19 Source: 2002 IDA Worldwide Desalting Plants Inventory No. 17, Wangnick Consulting GMBH and IDA 3-30 Annex 3 - Jordan Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination Annex 3 - Jordan 3-31