Contributions to the Protection of Water Resources in Jordan (PDF, 6

Contributions to the Protection of Water Resources in Jordan

A. Margane, G. Schmidt, K. Schelkes Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources Hannover, Germany

N. Khalifah, A. Subah Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Amman, Jordan

Arabic word for water, Plural (miyah), from: inamo, nr. 27, Vol. 7, 2001, Content

Introduction Project “Groundwater Resources Management” Groundwater management The National Water Master Plan (NWMP) The comprehensive groundwater model for the NWMP Measures for water protection Vulnerability mapping Examples: Irbid and Karak Groundwater protection zones and by-law Example: Pella spring Surface water protection zones Example: Wadi Mujib Dam Concluding remarks Technical Cooperation with Jordan Partners: NRA, MWI, WAJ

Projects in the Water Sector

► Arja – Uweina (1967-1969): Groundwater Resources Exploration ► Water Master Plan (with GTZ; 1973-77) ► El Lajjun Oilshale (1984-86): GW-Resources Exploration; GW-Model ► Azraq (1986): GW-Resources Exploration ► Siwaqa-Qatrana (1988/89): GW-Model ► Groundwater Resources Assessment for South Jordan (1986-1990) ► Groundwater Resources Assessment for North Jordan (1991-1999) ► Groundwater Resources Management (2002-2009): NWMP; GW-Protection Zones & Surface Water Protection Zones (Dams) with By-Laws

Change in Objectives 1967 – 1986: Mainly GW-Resources Exploration Since mid 1980s: GW-Management Tools (Water Master Plan, GW-Modeling) Since mid 1990s: GW-Protection Tools (GW-Vulnerability Mapping, GW-Protection Zones) Since 2002: Legal Framework (GW-Protection Zones, Surface Water Protection Zones) Groundwater Resources Management

Project goal : Measures for groundwater protection are elaborated and implemented by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation

Activities (1st phase, 2002-2005): Support to the National Water Master Plan Establishment of groundwater protection zones: > Elaboration of guidelines and a by-law > Establishment of protection zones (at two sites) as examples Application of concepts to prevent groundwater contamination > Analysis and evaluation of groundwater vulnerability (maps, recommendations, advice) > Evaluation of effects of anthropogenic contamination (transport models) > Recommendations for preventive gw protection, dissemination of results Groundwater Resources Management 2nd phase : July 2005 – June 2009 (4 years)

Main Tasks • Establishment of Surface Water Protection Zones - Prepare draft By-Law / Guideline on Delineation of Surface Water Protection Zones - Delineate at least two Surface Water Protection Zones • Groundwater Protection - Delineate at least five Groundwater Protection Zones - Support Planning Authorities in the Implementation of the Landuse Recommendations • Integration of Water Resources Protection into Landuse Planning - Support Licensing Decisions (Inter-Ministerial Licensing Committee) • Improvement of Water Quality Information - Compile up-to-date information about water quality (annual report) • Application of concepts to prevent groundwater contamination Support to the National Water Master Plan

National Water Master Plan of Jordan, Volume 5: “Groundwater Resources”

Objective of the report: to provide an up-to-date evaluation of the groundwater situation

Preparation by: Staff of the Groundwater Resources Management Project (MWI-BGR) in cooperation with the National Water Master Plan staff Simplified Hydrogeological Map of Jordan

Spatial distribution of aquifers and aquitards

On a regional scale, the aquifers in Jordan can be grouped into three major aquifer systems. This classification is based on their spatial distribution, lithology and the age of the geological units. Observed Behaviour of Groundwater Levels and Quality

Decline in groundwater level Decrease in spring discharge

Increase in salinity Increase in nitrate Recommendations for Sustainable Groundwater Management - Groundwater Abstraction Rates (within given limits) - 1 300 000 1 1986 El Lajjun 10

6 2 1989 Yarmouk Irbid 3 1989 Suwaqa-Qatrana Mafraq 2 8 Zarqa Amman 12 4 1991 South 11 Az raq 550 m 5 1991 Tabuk (analytical)

6 1994 Azraq Siwaqa Karak Qatrana 3 El Lajjun 7 1995 Qa Disi 1 Hasa 9 8 1995 Jordan Valley

1 000 000

m 9 1995 Wadi Sirhan 0

El Jafr

0 1

10 1995 Wadi Hammad >

4 11 1996 Muwaqqar

Qa ' D i s i Aqaba 12 1997 North Mudawwara

0 800 000

0 0 0

0 0

0 Groundwater

5 5 0

3 5 2

0 0 0 Models Support to the National Water Master Plan

Development of a three-dimensional groundwater model of entire Jordan

Objectives: Determination of existing groundwater resources Verification of recharge / discharge values Tool for management of groundwater resources, (e.g. abstraction scenarios or climatic changes) Support to the National Water Master Plan

Model area: 100.000 km2

- 76.000 km2 of the Jordanian territory -

Simulation period: 30 years starting 1976

Integrated Finite Differences 2.5 - dimensional

Groundwater basins and isolines of the piezometric surface of the sandstone complex Hydro-Geological Model

2 0 1 0

2 0 0 8

2 6 0 0

0 2 4 0

2 2 0 0

0 0 2 0

9 1 8 9

1 9 9 6

1 9 9 4

9 9 1 2

9 1 0 9

9 8 1 8

8 1 6 9

1 9 8 4

1 9 8 2

1 9 8 0

1 9 7 8

1 9 7 6 AL3482 BS+B2/A7AL3482 B2/A7AL3384 004 004 Hydrographs of the Calibrated Model 565 555 545 535 525 515 555 545 535 525 515 505

2 0 1 0

2 0 0

004 8

2 6 0 0

0 2 4 0

2 2 0 0

0 0 2 0

9 1 8 9

1 9 9 6

1 9 9 4

9 9 1 2

9 1 0 9

9 8 1 8

8 1 6 9

1 9 8 4

1 9 8 2

1 9 8 0

1 9 7 8

1 9 7 6 CD1106 B2/A7 CD1106 G3149 B4/B5 002 Hydrographs of the Calibrated Model 685 675 665 655 645 635 915 905 895 885 875 865 Groundwater Budget for Amman-Zarqa-Basin RECH 84.1

FLUX SEEP 6.0 -2.7

891.4 RAIN 9.4 RFAC in % 2.0 BOUN -139.6 QABS

Amman Zarqa G03

Number of cells : 424 4308.3 km2 Total Budget : -52.2 2001

Volumes in million m3/year

2 0 1 0 43 68 375 -177

- 423 -114

2 0 0 5

Return

2 0 0 0

1 9 9 5

Total Groundwater Budget in MCM 1980 - 2004 - 1980 MCM in Budget Groundwater Total Source : MWIBGR - - GSMO (2004)

1 9 9 0

1 9 8 5

1 9 8 0

Recharge Inflow Production Baseflow Budget

1 9 7 5 0 0 0 0 0 700

1 3

8 0 /

/ Precipitation

0 2

8 0

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

MWI Data Base (2004) Groundwater Production

500 01

400 02 300

200

100

AB C D

Calibration : HEAD-00 Prognosis : HEAD-01/02

0 5

0 0 0

5 5 5

0 0

0 5 0 5 5 5

0 1

1 8 2

8 2 7

9 3

4 9 5 0 3 4

0 0

0 9 0

9 0 9

9 0

0 9 0 0 0 0

2 2

2 1 2

1 2 1

1 2 2 1 2 2 2 2

Productive Aquifers :

3 001 Basalt 006 Kurnub Total Precipitation and Groundw ater Production in MCM ( million m ) 002 B4 / B5 007 Zarqa Group 003 008

004 A7 / B2 009 Upper Ram Group 005 A4 010 CD3417 Node : 2464 370 1 391. 0 360

348. 8 350 342. 6 340 1 330 329. 3

320

5 5 0 5 0 0

0 9 9 8 8 0

0 9 9 9 9 0

2 2 1 1 1 1 2

2 3 CD3418 Node : 2464 370 2 391. 0 360

348. 8 350 342. 6 340

330 329. 3

320

5 5 0 5 0 0

0 9 9 8 8 0

0 9 9 9 9 0

2 2 1 1 1 1 2

697. 1 Node : 5119 695 3 685 Groundwater Heads 675

Heads in [m] 665 664. 5 ref. to mean sea level 655 651. 8

AQUI : 009 645

5 5 0 5 0 0

0 9 9 8 8 0

0 9 9 9 9 0

2 2 1 1 1 1 2 Drawdown for Scenario 2 in B4/B5

2005 to 2019 2019 to 2050

9 1 3

Drawdown, maximum : 2 m Recovery, maximum : 10 m Drawdown for Scenario 2 in the Ram Group

2005 to 2019 2019 to 2050

5 5 7 3

5 1 1

Drawdown, maximum : 13 m Drawdown, maximum : 24 m Measures for Water Resources Protection (Jordan)

Groundwater • Groundwater Vulnerability Maps introduced in 1996, 4 maps available: Irbid, South Amman, Qunayya spring, Karak-Lajjun • Groundwater Protection Zones introduced in 1999; 3 protection zones established; 5 in ongoing project phase • Groundwater Protection By-Law initiated in 2002, to be issued soon

Surface Water (ongoing project phase) • Surface Water Protection Zones (drinking water; ongoing phase): 2 protection zones: Wadi Wala dam, Wadi Mujib dam) • Surface Water Protection By-Law (ongoing phase)

Hazards to Groundwater (ongoing project phase) • Improved Licensing Decisions • Public Awareness • Design Standards Waste Disposal Sites, Sewage Treatment Plants, etc. Importance of Protection

Deterioration of water resources quality

• Increasing salinities and nitrate contents in heavily exploited / cultivated areas due to irrigation return flow (e.g. Badia, Dhuleil-Hallabat, Azraq) • Insufficient collection and treatment of sewage water (capacity and efficiency) ¾ high risk of bacteriological contamination • Growing number of hazards to groundwater due to increasing industrial/commercial development ¾ health risks (organic substances not sufficiently analyzed)

¾ Reduced availability of suitable water resources for drinking purposes ¾ Urgent need for water resources protection Use of Groundwater Vulnerability Maps

Land Use Planning (Planning Authorities): ¾ Selection of Areas for Activities Hazardous to Groundwater, ¾ Protection of very Productive Aquifers (conservation)

Water Resources Management (Water Authorities): ¾ Groundwater Protection Zone Delineation and Definition of Land Use Restrictions, ¾ Protection of Resources which may be Important in the Future, ¾ Design of Groundwater Monitoring Networks, ¾ Environmental Impact Assessments, ¾ Detection of Pollution Sources and Pathways. Groundwater Vulnerability Map of the Irbid Area GW-Vulnerability Maps Prepared in Jordan

¾ Irbid area, northern Jordan (MARGANE et al., 1997, MARGANE et al., 1999)

¾ South-Amman, central Jordan (SUBAH et al., 1999)

¾ Qunayyah Spring Catchment (E of Jarash), northern Jordan (BROSIG, 2005)

¾ Karak – Lajjun Area, central Jordan (MARGANE et al., 2005) Groundwater Vulnerability Map Karak-Lajjun Area CD3 2239 12 CD3413 CD1 00 1 CD3CD3464 46 67 CD1 02 5 Vulnerability A l Juda ydah Class CD3465 CD1 00 3 CD11 03 Qatrana CD10 26 CD3416 CD1 01 1 C D05CD3 64 35 1 C D13 73 Al Lajjun 8000 CD3415 C D33 60 CDCD1 11 15 51 0 CD3414 CD1 10 4 C D32 25 Solid Wast e 6000 CD 333CD33 9 53 CDCD3411CD3452 345 4 CD3 359 very low 070000 Ch icke n f ar m CD1 19 4 CD3 30 0 ( slau gh te rho us e) C D34 56CD3 45 8 CD3 44 2 4000 CD3453 C hick en far m moderate CD11 93 CD11 58 C D11 57 Ch icke n f ar m C D33 58 low CD3CD3459 445 CD 34 60 STP CD3455 CD1 152 very 2000 CD3417 CD3C 2930 D33 71 00 in du str ial we ll moderate CD3463 high 1000 CD1CD3 15 40 4 3 high CD3418 500 CD 34 61 C D32 27 CDCD1 34 41 15 5 very high 0 highCD3CD3412 46 2C D11 60 low 065000 CD 11 56

Liq uid Was te CD1 16 1

C D10 23 Al Mur aygah

060000

C D11 74

CD 34 07 C D33CD 38 11 70 C D32 55

CD3 31 1

CD11 7278 CD1CD3 1641 89

Al Fajj CD33 12 CD1 16 9 C D34 72 CD1 17 3 055000 Sultani CD3 448 CD1 206 very lowCD1 17 1

CD 122 5 CD 119 6

GroundwaterGroundwater Vulnerability Vulnerability Map Map & & Hazards Hazards to to Groundwater Groundwater

050000 225000 230000 235000 240000 245000 250000 255000 GroundwaterGroundwater Vulnerability Vulnerability Map Map Wadi Mujib dam (~10 km) && Hazards Hazards to to Groundwater Groundwater

Solid waste disposal

Sewage treatment plant Industrial estate Former solid waste disposal

Lajjun well field

Vulnerability Class Oilshale mine 8000 + processing plant ? 6000 very low 4000 low 2000 moderate 1000 high 500 Liquid waste disposal very high 0 direction of groundwater flow HazardsHazards to to Groundwater Groundwater - -Solid Solid Waste Waste Disposal Disposal proposed extension

random dumping over widespread area until 1994

Other main hazards to groundwater: - Chicken farms - Mineral extraction (phosphate mining) HazardsHazards to to Groundwater Groundwater - -Solid Solid Waste Waste Disposal Disposal

¾ no base liner ¾ no top cover ¾ no leachate drainage system ¾ no compaction ¾ no gas collection ¾ no downstream GW-monitoring Establishment of groundwater protection zones

Needs for the establishment of protection zones

Elaboration of guidelines: ¾ hydrogeological delineation ¾ regulations ¾ responsibilities Legal regulations water laws, resp. by-laws

Cooperation projects assist in the elaboration as well as the initiation of the process of preparing the legal regulations (Proposal for a National Guideline for the Delineation of Groundwater Protection Zones in 2002, German-Jordanian approach)

Establishment of protection zones as examples e.g. Pella spring, Qunnayah spring, Wadi el Arab well field GW-Protection Zones

Example: Pella Spring (1999)

Zone I

Aim: Immediate Protection of the springs and wells against direct pollution.

former pools

boreholes Design and establishment of groundwater protection zones

Pella spring GW-Protection Zones Aim: Zone II – Protection against bacteriological Example: Pella Spring pollution (50 days travel-time) Zone III – Protection of the entire well contribution zone Zones II and III

former waste dump

spring (zone I)

surfacezone III water zone II zone III Initiation of Groundwater Protection By-Law

Important: Participation of all Stakeholders Members of the Higher Committee for Groundwater Protection : Ministry of Water and Irrigation • Water Authority of Jordan • Jordan Valley Authority • Ministry of Environment • Ministry of Municipalities • Ministry of Agriculture • Ministry of Health • Ministry of Industry • Universities • Stakeholder Groups (Association of Agriculture)

By-Law proposed: November 2002 Status: pending for approval by Prime Minister Surface Water Protection – Objectives

Protection Zones (identical with aims of groundwater protection zones)

Zone I - Immediate Protection Zone Protects the source and its immediate environment from any contamination and interference giving sufficient time for emergency response (to shut off water supply and replace it by emergency supply – 1 day).

Zone II - Inner Protection Zone Protection against pathogenic micro-biological constituents such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and worm eggs. (50 days travel time = average lifetime of pathogens)

Zone III - Outer Protection Zone Protection from contamination affecting water over long distances such as contamination by radioactive substances or chemicals which are non- or hardly degradable. Surface Water Protection – Problems in Jordan

Numerous Hazards

Enforcement & Acceptance of Restrictions

Waste discharged at/into KAC

Bathing in KAC

Fence pulled down to water animals

KAC = King Abdullah Canal Surface Water Protection – Problems in Jordan

Proximity to Hazards e.g. infrastructure lines: roads not appropriately designed to avoid contamination (accidental spills, permanent contamination load) Surface Water Protection – Problems in Jordan

Proximity to Hazards

Road crossing dam crest at Wadi Mujib dam

Accident on dam crest may contaminate slope: 10% the dam for several years ! Surface Water Protection – Problems in Jordan

Proximity to Hazards Generators set up at Wadi Mujib dam oil spill at dam for irrigation Surface Water Protection – Problems in Jordan

Proximity to Hazards

• Discharge of sewage water from unconnected villages • Illegal waste disposal close to escarpments • Intensively cultivated areas on plateaus upstream of dams • ….. Surface Water Protection – Guideline

Types of Surface Water Resources

• Dams / reservoirs - used for irrigation - used for drinking water supply • Canals - used for irrigation - used for drinking water supply • Streams - used for irrigation • (Reclaimed wastewater)

Considered in this guideline only: ¾ dams used for drinking water supply Surface Water Protection

Dams in Jordan Surface Water Protection – Dams in Jordan

Presently 10 large dams with over-year storage and a total live storage of 232 MCM/a:

¾ Wadi Mujib dam (35 MCM/a) - transferred to Deir Allah and Ghor Haditha (drinking Amman/irrigation Ghor Haditha; pipeline not completed) ¾Wadi Wala dam (9.3 MCM/a) - used for artificial recharge / extraction at Wadi Wala well field (drinking Amman)

¾Wadi Al Arab dam (16.9 MCM/a) - temporary storage of KAC flood waters (returned to KAC when needed: drinking Amman/irrigation Jordan Valley)

- King Talal dam (75 MCM/a) - used for irrigation in the central Jordan Valley - Karameh dam (55 MCM/a) - used for irrigation in the central Jordan Valley -Kafreindam (8.5 MCM/a) - used for irrigation in the southern Jordan Valley --Wadi Ziglab dam (3.9 MCM/a) - used for irrigation in northern Jordan Valley --Wadi Shuayb dam (2.1 MCM/a) - used for irrigation in southern Jordan Valley --Hasa/Tannour dam (16.8 MCM/a) - used for irrigation in southern Ghor --Wadi Fidan dam (10.0 MCM/a; to be completed in 2005) - used for irrigation in southern Ghor Surface Water Protection – Dams in Jordan

Planned/under construction (with expected year of completion and expected live storage): ¾Al Wehdah dam (95 MCM/a for irrigation, domestic and industrial purposes in the North and Amman; expected to be completed in late 2005) Special problem: inflow mainly from Syria, i.e. not under control of Jordanian Government so that little can be done to protect the resources; large-scale agricultural production ¾ may result in elevated contaminant load from pesticides and fertilizers

-Karak dam (1.1 MCM/a from 2008 on) -Wadi Ibn Hammad dam (3.0 MCM/a from 2008 on ) -Wadi Yabis dam (5.0 MCM/a from 2015 on ) -Wadi Kufrinja dam (9.0 MCM/a from 2015 on)

¾ : used for drinking water supply Surface Water Protection – Dams in Jordan

Example Mujib & Wala dams (very large catchment areas)

Total Mujib catchment area: 6727 km² Mujib upstream of dam: approx. 4000 km² Wala upstream of dam: approx. 1500 km² which zoning system ? zone III required ? which restrictions ? how to monitor ? Time of Travel (TOT) in Surface Water and Groundwater Zoning System

Under the typical conditions in Jordan the travel time in surface water is very short ¾ large protection areas

A compromise must be reached so that landuse restrictions are still acceptable

Groundwater has much longer travel times than surface water. Therefore surface water is much more vulnerable to contamination and the protection of surface waters is much more difficult than that of groundwater

Most critical factors in Jordan:

in the Surface Water Path: - high slope gradients - low vegetation cover

in the Groundwater Path: - level of karstification, fracturing

result in relatively fast movement in surface water and groundwater Surface Water Protection – Zoning System

Zone I: buffer zone of 100 m around a reservoir, measured from the highest possible water level. Zone II: buffer zone of 500 m around the dam, measured from the highest possible water level, if slope within this zone is below 2°. If the slope exceeds 2° at a distance of 500 m, zone II will reach to where the slope becomes less than 2°. In the upstream area, zone II will reach until a distance of a maximum of 5 km following the course of the main wadis discharging into zone I. Zone II will also encompass a buffer zone of 100 m to each side from the center of the main wadis discharging into zone I until a distance of 15 km, measured from the highest possible water level, following the course of the main wadis.

Wadi Mujib – Protection Zones & Hazards

Example Mujib & Wala dams

Digital Elevation Model & Catchment Area

vulnerability map Karak - Lajjun Wadi Mujib – Protection Zones & Hazards

Example Mujib & Wala dams

Slopes [deg] Wadi Mujib – Protection Zones & Hazards Guideline for Surface Water Protection Zones

Procedure

• Compilation of International Guidelines • Selection of a suitable Guideline for the Condition in Jordan & Discussion of Restrictions • Preparation of a Draft By-Law • Discussion – Amendment by Surface Water Protection Committee • Signed by Prime Minister • Preparation of a Surface Water Protection Ordinance • Adoption by Minister of Water and Irrigation

¾ By-Law: establishes the legal framework ¾ Surface Water Protection Ordinance: regulates the details e.g. how a protection zone document has to be prepared, which administrative procedure has to be followed, which restrictions have to be implemented, which monitoring measures need to be implemented. Guideline for Surface Water Protection Zones

The Ordinance on the Delineation of a Surface water Protection Zone for a dam consists of the following elements :

• A statement about the legal basis for the issuance of the ordinance, •Thestudy, defining the boundaries of the surface water protection zone, •Theadministrative boundaries of the surface water protection zone, based on the study, •Alist of restrictions for activities and land uses in the different surface water protection zones, •An inventory of all potential sources of contamination for the entire surface water protection zone, to be included in the study, • An analysis of the susceptibility of the water supply source to those contamination sources, to be included in the study, including an evaluation of the degree of threat arising from each potential pollution hazard, •Asurveillance and monitoring scheme for compliance with defined restrictions, •A contingency plan that describes how water supply is planned to be maintained in case of contamination and •Aremedial action plan that describes which measures are going to be implemented to avoid contamination in case of accidental contamination. Concluding remarks Concluding remarks

The main problems in groundwater resources management in Jordan are related to sustainability. Presently more groundwater is abstracted than recharged and protection of this limited resource must be improved. Recommendations in the NWMP, Vol. V: GW Resources (amongst others):

On Groundwater Monitoring e.g. Assessment / review of analytical requirements to develop an appropriate sampling plan Assessment / review of monitoring well locations to ensure that an effective monitoring well network is in place. Implement if necessary refinement for the network depending on the importance of the aquifer and its vulnerability.

On Groundwater Development and Planning e.g. The reduction of groundwater abstraction leads to a deficit in water supply. To bridge this gap, - limited use of fossil groundwater and brackish groundwater - prospection and development of unused gw resources and artificial groundwater recharge for temporarily use - development of sufficient alternative sustainable resources Concluding remarks

On Groundwater Protection e.g. The guidelines for the implementation of groundwater protection areas for all public water supplies are being prepared in Jordan. Implementation of these areas requires not only legal, but also technical and institutional support. Technical support includes carrying out relevant hydrogeological studies, inventory of possible sources of contamination for a groundwater protection area, and groundwater vulnerability assessment.

From NWMP, Vol. II, Planning Framework, Ch. 4.1.4 GW Protection:

With respect to groundwater protection it is recommended to adopt a legally binding regulation, or a guideline, for the delineation of groundwater protection zones. The Ministry of Water and Irrigation should become responsible for defining groundwater protection zones and for the delineation of these zones in the interest of the general public within the scope of its responsibility for the national water resources (BGR, 2002). Guidelines

Groundwater Guidelines prepared for ACSAD :

Vol. 4: GW-Vulnerability Mapping Vol. 5: GW-Protection Zones Vol. 6: Sustainable GW-Resources Management Vol. 7: GW-Monitoring download : www.acsad-bgr.org

Guideline on: Groundwater monitoring for general reference purposes download : www.igrac.nl Water - a fundamental necessity of life