189
© The Author(s) 2016
R.F. Hüttl et al. (eds.), Society - Water - Technology, Water Resources
Development and Management, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-18971-0_13
Chapter 13
Water Resources, Cooperation and Power
Asymmetries in the Water Management
of the Lower Jordan Valley: The Situation
Today and the Path that Has Led There
Christine Bismuth
Abstract This chapter aims at providing an overview of the uses and the state of
the water resources in the Lower Jordan Basin. The years 2007/2008 serve as a base
line to describe the specifi c situation, marked by a succession of drought years
during the fi rst decade of the twenty-fi rst century. An overview of the major treaties
and agreements between the riparians and implications on the water management
situation is presented. The nature of the relations between the different parties is
analysed.
Keywords Water resources • Lower Jordan Basin • Yarmuk • Dead Sea • Red Sea •
RSDS Conveyance Project • Water uses • Water balance • Water confl ict • Israel •
Jordan • Palestinian Territories
13.1 Water Resources of the Lower Jordan Basin
The Red Sea–Dead Sea (RSDS) Conveyance Project is the latest attempt to widen
the range of available solutions to overcome the water stress in the Lower Jordan
Basin and to stabilise the level of the Dead Sea. One of the major arguments for the
RSDS Conveyance Project from its supporters is that no other options for longlasting solutions are available. This argument is contested by most of the environmental protection groups, who fear the associated risks of the project for the Arava
valley, the Dead Sea and the Red Sea itself. Those groups push for more water
conserving solutions.
C. Bismuth (*)
Interdisciplinary Research Group Society - Water - Technology ,
Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities ,
Jägerstraße 22/23 , 10117 Berlin , Germany
Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences ,
Telegrafenberg , 14473 Potsdam , Germany
e-mail: bismuth@gfz-potsdam.de
© The Author(s) 2016
R.F. Hüttl et al. (eds.), Society - Water - Technology, Water Resources
Development and Management, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-18971-0_13
Chapter 13
Water Resources, Cooperation and Power
Asymmetries in the Water Management
of the Lower Jordan Valley: The Situation
Today and the Path that Has Led There
Christine Bismuth
Abstract This chapter aims at providing an overview of the uses and the state of
the water resources in the Lower Jordan Basin. The years 2007/2008 serve as a base
line to describe the specifi c situation, marked by a succession of drought years
during the fi rst decade of the twenty-fi rst century. An overview of the major treaties
and agreements between the riparians and implications on the water management
situation is presented. The nature of the relations between the different parties is
analysed.
Keywords Water resources • Lower Jordan Basin • Yarmuk • Dead Sea • Red Sea •
RSDS Conveyance Project • Water uses • Water balance • Water confl ict • Israel •
Jordan • Palestinian Territories
13.1 Water Resources of the Lower Jordan Basin
The Red Sea–Dead Sea (RSDS) Conveyance Project is the latest attempt to widen
the range of available solutions to overcome the water stress in the Lower Jordan
Basin and to stabilise the level of the Dead Sea. One of the major arguments for the
RSDS Conveyance Project from its supporters is that no other options for longlasting solutions are available. This argument is contested by most of the environmental protection groups, who fear the associated risks of the project for the Arava
valley, the Dead Sea and the Red Sea itself. Those groups push for more water
conserving solutions.
C. Bismuth (*)
Interdisciplinary Research Group Society - Water - Technology ,
Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities ,
Jägerstraße 22/23 , 10117 Berlin , Germany
Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences ,
Telegrafenberg , 14473 Potsdam , Germany
e-mail: bismuth@gfz-potsdam.de