Mitigating the Risk of Extreme Water Scarcity and Dependency: The Case of Jordan

Mitigating the Risk of Extreme Water Scarcity and Dependency: The Case of Jordan

Jordan faces great internal water scarcity and pollution, conflict over trans-boundary waters, and strong dependency on external water resources through trade. This paper analyzes these issues and subsequently reviews options to reduce the risk of extreme water scarcity and dependency. Based on esti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water (Basel) Vol. 7; no. 10; pp. 5705 - 5730
Main Authors: Schyns, Joep F, Hamaideh, Arwa, Hoekstra, Arjen Y, Mekonnen, Mesfin M, Schyns, Marlou
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-10-2015
Subjects:
Aquifers
Drought
Groundwater
Population growth
Precipitation
Refugees
Rivers
Surface water
sustainability
virtual water trade
water dependency
water footprint
water policy
Water pollution
water risk
water scarcity
water security
Netherlands
Jordan River
Israel
Syria
Dead Sea
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Summary:Jordan faces great internal water scarcity and pollution, conflict over trans-boundary waters, and strong dependency on external water resources through trade. This paper analyzes these issues and subsequently reviews options to reduce the risk of extreme water scarcity and dependency. Based on estimates of water footprint, water availability, and virtual water trade, we find that groundwater consumption is nearly double the groundwater availability, water pollution aggravates blue water scarcity, and Jordan's external virtual water import dependency is 86%. The review of response options yields 10 ingredients for a strategy for Jordan to mitigate the risks of extreme water scarcity and dependency. With respect to these ingredients, Jordan's current water policy requires a strong redirection towards water demand management. Actual implementation of the plans in the national water strategy (against existing oppositions) would be a first step. However, more attention should be paid to reducing water demand by changing the consumption pattern of Jordanian consumers. Moreover, unsustainable exploitation of the fossil Disi aquifer should soon be halted and planned desalination projects require careful consideration regarding the sustainability of their energy supply.
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ISSN:2073-4441
2073-4441
DOI:10.3390/w7105705