249
(IPCRI 2010 ). Though politically easier to implement and less costly than other
bulk water projects, the option is not technically feasible due to the Mediterranean’s
depth. Studies on how to overcome this diffi culty and cost comparison with conveyance by transport or bag from the Manavgat are proposed.
15.4 Conclusion
Taken together, the above options for water solutions, if implemented, could assist
Jordan to close the medium and long-term defi cits projected in this chapter, conserve low-cost renewable resources for medium-long term use, protect aquifers,
enhance adaptive capacity against climate change and fi nd a bulk-supply solution
as an alternative to a mega RSDS Conveyance Project. They involve: (a) demand
and supply-side improvements at home – reduction and more effi cient use of
groundwater, conservation of these low cost renewable resources for mediumlong term use, increased wastewater treatment for agricultural use and non-revenue water reduction; (b) building a desalination plant in Aqaba; (c) access to
higher volumes of surface water from Syria and Israel and the conveyance of bulk
supplies from Turkey. A pessimistic scenario would be one where Jordan fails to
reach a favourable deal in the next couple of years with Syria on Yarmouk waters
and no regional bulk-supply project, via imports from Turkey, is developed by
2025/2026.
Realistically, there is no set of local and regional policies that can guarantee the
delivery of water to Jordan at affordable prices over the long term in suffi cient quantity for it to fulfi l its economic aspirations. Many factors beyond Jordan’s control
will inevitably infl uence prospects and access to water will remain highly political –
domestically and regionally. What is clear is that fi nding a path to future water
security will depend on Jordan accelerating a nationwide coordinated approach to
parallel political, economic and water reforms and on a new imaginative regional
diplomacy that boosts indispensable cooperation over water, economic and trade
issues – the two are linked. International donors can be expected to support their
strategic ally in its endeavour. The policy options discussed in this chapter could
improve Jordan’s water sector sustainability and through making additional supplies available relieve the pressures of water scarcity until long-term bulk supplies
are found. The need to fi nd a solution to the Arab-Israel confl ict and to assist Syria
move to a peaceful transition that would permit hundreds of thousands of refugees
in Jordan to return will be determining factors.
Open Access This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution
Noncommercial License, which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in
any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
15 Jordan’s Shadow State and Water Management: Prospects for Water Security…
(IPCRI 2010 ). Though politically easier to implement and less costly than other
bulk water projects, the option is not technically feasible due to the Mediterranean’s
depth. Studies on how to overcome this diffi culty and cost comparison with conveyance by transport or bag from the Manavgat are proposed.
15.4 Conclusion
Taken together, the above options for water solutions, if implemented, could assist
Jordan to close the medium and long-term defi cits projected in this chapter, conserve low-cost renewable resources for medium-long term use, protect aquifers,
enhance adaptive capacity against climate change and fi nd a bulk-supply solution
as an alternative to a mega RSDS Conveyance Project. They involve: (a) demand
and supply-side improvements at home – reduction and more effi cient use of
groundwater, conservation of these low cost renewable resources for mediumlong term use, increased wastewater treatment for agricultural use and non-revenue water reduction; (b) building a desalination plant in Aqaba; (c) access to
higher volumes of surface water from Syria and Israel and the conveyance of bulk
supplies from Turkey. A pessimistic scenario would be one where Jordan fails to
reach a favourable deal in the next couple of years with Syria on Yarmouk waters
and no regional bulk-supply project, via imports from Turkey, is developed by
2025/2026.
Realistically, there is no set of local and regional policies that can guarantee the
delivery of water to Jordan at affordable prices over the long term in suffi cient quantity for it to fulfi l its economic aspirations. Many factors beyond Jordan’s control
will inevitably infl uence prospects and access to water will remain highly political –
domestically and regionally. What is clear is that fi nding a path to future water
security will depend on Jordan accelerating a nationwide coordinated approach to
parallel political, economic and water reforms and on a new imaginative regional
diplomacy that boosts indispensable cooperation over water, economic and trade
issues – the two are linked. International donors can be expected to support their
strategic ally in its endeavour. The policy options discussed in this chapter could
improve Jordan’s water sector sustainability and through making additional supplies available relieve the pressures of water scarcity until long-term bulk supplies
are found. The need to fi nd a solution to the Arab-Israel confl ict and to assist Syria
move to a peaceful transition that would permit hundreds of thousands of refugees
in Jordan to return will be determining factors.
Open Access This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution
Noncommercial License, which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in
any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
15 Jordan’s Shadow State and Water Management: Prospects for Water Security…