The Water Authority of Jordan is extending coverage of wastewater treatment beyond the major cities and towns, to smaller and previously unserved communities. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is supporting an innovative project which promotes local-level management of wastewater treatment and reuse facilities in North Shuneh and Shobak. The Small Communities Project, will design, supervise construction and provide support for initial management of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), receiving wastewater from cesspits (septage) brought in by tanker trucks. Trucking wastewater to central treatment plants eliminates the need for costly collection infrastructure, can serve several neighbouring communities at once and is seen as the most practical and viable short-term solution to many rural communities without sewer networks. The project also will develop local capacity for operation and maintenance and provide treated wastewater produced by the plant for reuse in a safe and sustainable manner for agricultural purposes, generating income for local communities. The project aims to serve as a model to be replicated by other small communities in Jordan.

See also: IRC - WASPA: Wastewater Agriculture and Sanitation for Poverty Alleviation

Contact: Osama Abu Rayyan, Small Communities Project, ECODIT, tel.: +962-6-568-2296/7, oaburayyan@ecodit.com

Source: Pat Bakir, RIAL Project, Jordan, 3 Jan 2006

Tags: sanitation, water resources management