Jordan to host 6th International Water Association Conference

SYDNEY - Jordan is set to host the 6th International Water Association (IWA) Conference slated for 2011, organizers announced on Wednesday, while local officials expressed hope the event will highlight the Kingdom’s severe water shortage.

The IWA Conference, held every two years, is a global event that gathers hundreds of water experts from different countries.

Public, private and civic institutions will take part in the event and exchange scientific and professional experiences.

IWA approval for Jordan to host the international water event comes in recognition of its water conservation and efficiency programmes and projects, officials said Wednesday.

Jamal Hijazi, director of the water demand management unit at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, underscored the importance of hosting the global water conference in Jordan.

“The conference will give policy makers and Jordanian water experts the opportunity to cement cooperation with donor organizations and advanced countries to implement water-saving ventures,” said Hijazi, who is heading the Jordanian delegation at the 5th IWA Conference on Efficient Use and Management of Urban Water, which concluded yesterday.

He noted that the conference will present an opportunity for sharing expertise with countries advanced in water conservation and efficiency programmes, which will help improve water use in Jordan, currently facing a water shortage, blamed on climate change.

The Kingdom, which is categorised as the fourth poorest nation in the world in terms of water availability, suffers an annual water deficit of 500 million cubic metres.

An arid country, more than 70 per cent of the Kingdom’s area receives less than 100mm of rainfall annually. Consequently, water is the most critical natural resource, as virtually all aspects of sustainable economic, social and political development in the country depend on the availability of an adequate water supply.

Hijazi noted that the ministry will benefit from the experiences of different countries in conservation and efficient use of water by drawing up water-demand management programmes and formulating strategies for applying best practices in this field.

He added that the participation of representatives from several donor countries and agencies will increase financial support to water conservation projects.

Demand on water in Jordan, with a per capita share of 145 litres per day, is increasing due to population growth coupled with industrial and tourism sector growth.

The Ministry of Water and Irrigation has explored all available water sources, but is struggling to cope with the rising demand, given the limited resources.

Meanwhile, more than 200 experts in water demand management, who took part in the 2009 conference, called for supporting and improving water efficiency and conservation methods, describing them as the “quickest and cheapest” mechanisms, in light of climate change and the impact of the world economic crisis.

Mohamed Chebaane, chief of party of the USAID-funded IDARA project, reviewed Jordan’s experience in improving water-use efficiency and the country’s water situation.

In a paper he presented at the conference, prepared in cooperation with Ministry of Water and Irrigation Secretary General Maysoun Zu’bi, Chebaane showcased the national strategy on water-demand management.

The strategy includes specifications of water-efficiency devices and appliances, the water and wastewater code as well as water-demand management best practices.

He highlighted the need to expedite drafting a water law that supports efficiency and conservation projects.

By Hana Namrouqa