The procedures for drilling and licensing water wells for the private sector in the Jordan Valley regions have contributed to strengthening water resources and increasing drinking and irrigation water allocations, following a previous Cabinet decision approving them. Based on the decision of the Board of Directors of the Water Authority, which includes allowing the drilling, rehabilitation and operation of new existing and scattered wells, with the aim of providing additional water sources alongside existing sources and enhancing water supply.
The Secretary-General of the Jordan Valley Authority, Hisham Al-Hayseh, said on Saturday that the Jordan Valley Authority is working within its strategy to diversify water sources, noting that procedures had previously been carried out to grant licenses for saline wells, which are wells with a maximum depth of 150 meters, and that these have contributed to creating an additional source for farmers, in light of the Authority’s direction towards expanding and sustaining the agricultural area.
Al-Hayseh explained that the procedures were simplified after studying the water basin in cooperation with the German entity “BGR”, which is studying the possibility of withdrawal without excessive pumping of the water basins, indicating that every two agricultural units, with a minimum of 50 dunams, were allowed to share one well.
He added that a large number of farmers who met the conditions applied for the licenses, with the number of licenses granted reaching about 400 well licenses, noting that many farmers implemented these wells and benefited from them in providing an additional water source in addition to the water provided by the Jordan Valley Authority from the King Abdullah Canal, which positively impacted the increase in agricultural area and the optimal use of all irrigated areas by farmers.
He stressed that the main objective of granting the licenses was to support farmers and enable them to fully utilize the arable land within their agricultural units, explaining that this step contributed to providing permanent water quantities throughout the year, in addition to their allocated water quotas, thus enabling them to have a permanent water source.
He pointed out that these measures also contributed to controlling illegal wells and reducing violations, as there is no longer any justification for violating the law, and they also facilitated the authority’s procedures in controlling violations and unlicensed wells.
Al-Hayseh explained that the measures also reflected on improving the quality of crops, agricultural products, and water quality, pointing to the efforts of the Agricultural Lending Corporation, which cooperated with the Jordan Valley Authority and water user associations to provide direct support for drilling wells and using water-saving technologies.
He explained that the Jordan Valley Authority operates according to the concept of the “water footprint,” which is based on making the best use of every cubic meter of water, as it is a high value that must be used efficiently, whether through irrigation efficiency, the quality of crops, or agricultural patterns that generate financial income that improves the economic situation of farmers and provides job opportunities.
Al-Hayseh pointed to a field visit conducted by the Authority to lands known as “Al-Kattar” in the Jordan Valley region, which were previously classified as unsuitable for agriculture. However, the efforts of various parties, opening the door to investment, and simplifying procedures contributed to the beginning of the agricultural exploitation of these lands by companies and individuals, in addition to drilling wells in them, which contributed to increasing the agricultural area, achieving food security, and providing economic income and job opportunities.
He stressed that the diversity of water sources facilitates water use and gives farmers in the Jordan Valley and Wadi Araba greater ability to continue farming on a wider scale and with high irrigation efficiency.
Regarding the assessment of the water situation after the end of the winter season, Al-Hayseh described the current season as exceptional, noting the achievement of excellent water quantities in the dams allocated to the agricultural sector, which bodes well for a good agricultural season for farmers in the Jordan Valley.
He added that farmers are being supplied with water within the allocated quotas and according to needs, stressing that a plan has been prepared for the summer season that ensures the distribution of water fairly and with high efficiency, making the current agricultural season a promising and reassuring one for farmers.
Regarding the role of the National Water Carrier Project, Al-Hayseh said that the project, which is being implemented under the directives of His Majesty the King and with the commitment of the government, is a vital national project, as the estimated quantities of water in it amount to about 300 million cubic meters.
He pointed to the statements of the Minister of Water and Irrigation, who confirmed that there is a direct positive impact of the project on the agricultural sector, through the reuse of between 180 and 200 million cubic meters of water for agricultural purposes.
He explained that the water sector is currently working on establishing new treatment plants and expanding existing ones, in addition to studying water lines and networks connected to the King Abdullah Canal along the Jordan Valley, with a length of 110 kilometers, to accommodate the expected additional water quantities.
Al-Hayseh stressed that the project will provide additional water quantities for farmers, and will also contribute to creating a new source of water that reduces excessive pumping on groundwater basins, stressing that the national water carrier has significant and positive implications for the agricultural and water sector in Jordan.