Improving water supply in the governorates of , Ajloun and

To meet ever-increasing water demand in Jordan, the project aims to withdraw water in the Jordan Valley, treat it and pump it via the Wadi al Arab to supply the governorates of Irbid, Ajloun and Jerash. A climate change adaptation project.

CONTEXT This project is carried Water scarcity is a major barrier to Jordan’s development. The out with the support water supply in the north governorates is mainly provided by of the European Union pumping from local aquifers, which are exploited beyond their potential for sustainable renewal. The massive influx of refugees from the Syrian crisis, most of whom live in the area, 11/10/2015 31/10/2018 has seriously aggravated this overexploitation and contributed Project start Project end to the deterioration of the service, which is likely to cause date date tensions between refugees and host populations. The Government has planned to increase the volume of water Irbid transferred to the north governorates by extending the Disi Location water pipe, which supplies , to the city of Water and Sanitation (ongoing AFD financing) and up to Mafraq. For the other three sector(s) governorates (Irbid, Ajloun and Jerash), it wants to mobilize an additional volume of water from the King Abdullah Canal, which Loan brings together water in the Jordan Valley from the Yarmouk financing tool(s) River and highlands and water from Lake Tiberias, bought from Israel in the context of regional agreements: the purpose of 43 000 000 USD this project. soit 39 108 187 EUR Financing amount

24 months DESCRIPTION Duration of funding

This project will contribute to the following objectives: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Water Authority of Jordan Meet the increase in demand related to population growth, Beneficiaries especially the influx of refugees. Reduce the overexploitation of surface aquifers. This overexploitation is caused by the increase in demand. Prepare transboundary water transfers in the context of regional water exchange agreements and the “Red Sea-Dead Sea” project.

The project will withdraw 30 million m3 of raw water a year from the Jordan Valley, treat it and pump it, via the Wadi al Arab, to supply the governorates of Irbid, Ajloun and Jerash. It includes:

1. Water abstraction in the King Abdullah Canal at the Wadi al Arab (in the north of the Jordan Valley). 2. The purification of the abstracted water, requiring advanced treatment: the water treatment plant will account for approximately half of the investment. 3. The conveyance of the water up to the Zabda reservoir, on the outskirts of Irbid, i.e. a distance of 30 kilometers and 825 meters of height differences, requiring four pumping stations.

The total investment cost is estimated at USD 112m, which will be financed by the European Investment Bank, AFD and the European Union with a grant from the NIF (Neighbourhood Investment Facility). AFD’s financing concerns 38% of the total project cost.

IMPACTS

Increase in the drinking water supply of the north governorates.