By : JD
Jordan Daily – Jordan signed a € 97.24 million deal on Thursday with a local contractor to rehabilitate water networks in the Balqa governorate, funded by a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and self-financing.
The project aims to improve the water supply in 17 areas in Deir Alla and Al-Karama districts, reduce water losses, provide drinking water to citizens and lower operating costs, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation said in a statement.
The studies, design and supervision are financed by a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the statement said.
The project will also enhance the service level for citizens in these areas by switching to natural flow pumping, which will extend the network lifespan and increase the efficiency and fairness of water distribution, Water Minister Raed Abu Al-Saud said.
He said the ministry and the Water Authority were working to overcome the effects of rising water demand in all regions of the Kingdom and to complete the projects according to modern systems and high quality standards.
The works include the implementation of transmission lines and distribution networks, a main pumping station, three small pumping stations, household connections, new tanks and a monitoring and control system, he said.
The project consists of seven packages, including drilling 16 wells, rehabilitating a desalination station and implementing networks, tanks and pumping stations, he added.
The minister praised the support of the European Union, especially the EIB, and USAID for providing the necessary financing for water and sanitation projects.
The EIB representative, Suad Farsi, expressed her satisfaction with the cooperation between the bank and the water sector, saying that the project would improve the water supply for local communities.
The Water Authority’s Secretary-General, Wael Al-Duwairi, said the package would be implemented by Fuad Abu Hamdan Company according to the highest specifications and on time.
