News.Nov 09, 2021

Floods to avert droughts in Jordan using the force of nature

A new water harvesting structure brings greater hope than just preventing future droughts. It symbolises the role of water to achieve multi-level governance, reconnect with nature, and nurture a growing population of refugees in Jordan, that rely on 14% of its water resources.

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Lotten Hubendick (Water Resources)
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Lotten Hubendick
Programme Officer,
Water Cooperation and Diplomacy
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Radhika Gupta
Communications Manager,
Communications

On 5 February 2021, when a flash flood hit the Azraq basin of Jordan, it was welcome as it filled a newly built water harvesting structure with 65000 cubic meters of fresh water in less than three hours. That is an equivalent of nearly 800,000 Jordanians’ daily consumption of water. The Managed Aquifer Recharge harvesting structure made from surrounding mud, is seamlessly integrated into its environment. It is a pilot to decentralize solutions to avert the risk of droughts across Jordan; emerging from a series of collaborative efforts at the national level for water management.

From top-down to bottom-up

In 2016, the GoAL-WaterS programme, in collaboration with the Jordan Ministry of Water and Irrigation began a monumental process to design a national framework as a response to prepare for drought events. “After nearly two years of work we succeeded in establishing a clear institutional setup for drought management,” said Sami Tarabieh, Projects Coordination Specialist at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Jordan.

A part of this success is the establishment of the Drought Management Unit, fed by multiple processes of exchange in knowledge, technical expertise and dialogue at national and regional levels in the Middle East and North Africa.

A vulnerability assessment in four major water basins of the country identified Azraq water basin at the highest risk of drying out its ground water table. Tarabieh explained that even though the assessment was led by national experts, the results were verified by local stakeholders and water users in the region. “To complete this story, we had to bridge the upstream policies and institution to the local level.”

Using existing forces of nature to recharge groundwater

The Ministry of Water and Irrigation together with UNDP, the Inter-Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Management, and the Azraq municipality developed a collaborative framework to create nature-based-solutions in response to drought mitigation. Nature-based-solutions are carved from an existing environment to restore ecosystems that benefit both society and biodiversity. Surveys indicated six most suitable sites to construct Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) structures to capture flood water flowing from the highlands into the groundwater system, before getting evaporated in the low-lying wadis or valleys. Tarabieh said that, “Flash floods are a common occurrence over thousands of years, given the topography of the region. But rapidly changing landscapes and extreme rainfall events due to impacts of climate change, are causing the floods to divert from historic pathways, and disrupt the urban and populous areas of Jordan.”

MAR’s design was greatly boosted by the local community. “People started to lead our experts in the field. They began to draw the entire drainage system for us and highlighted a depression in the land. So, we selected this site because nature announced it to us,” added Tarabieh. The intervention required minimal excavation and the floods allow the soil from MAR to be redistributed.

Tarabieh sees the role of local communities as integral to the success of the MAR project and drougt prevention. “Even science needs validation. And when traditional knowledge validates science, then risks are minimized.”

“Even science needs validation. And when traditional knowledge validates science, then risks are minimised.”

Sami Tarabieh, UNDP Jordan

Ongoing peace with refugees depends tackling future droughts

Jordan is the second most water scarce country in the world, and current trends imply that by 2025, it could fall in the absolute worst category of countries facing water shortage. The vulnerability assessment found that droughts could drive a majority of the population towards the capital city of Amman. But Amman’s population already relies on the Azraq water basin, which additionally supports its own people, agriculture, wetlands and biodiversity.

A view of Amman city, with the Jordanian flag
Amman’s population relies on the Azraq water basin, which additionally supports its own domestic use, agriculture and the region’s wetlands and biodiversity. (Source: Shutterstock)

A growing concern is that recurring droughts could exasperate ongoing regional political unrest, and slow down climate action.

Currently, 14 percent of Jordan’s water resources are shared with a growing Syrian refugee population, according to Tarabieh. Despite this, Jordanians and Syrians share a close bond, and Tarabieh describes this as “unique even at the global level”. He remarked that, “A higher portion of the population is living among host communities rather than in refugee camps. We carry shared values, which brings us closer.”

An early response to droughts will be especially crucial to maintain this harmony and peace, among other factors encompassing social and environmental wellbeing.

Zaatari village Syrian refugee camp in Aman city Jordan shutterstock (small)
14% of Jordan’s water resources are shared with Syrian refugees. Despite this, Jordanians and Syrians share a close bond. (Image: Zaatari village Syrian refugee camp in Amman city / Shutterstock)

Monitoring will determine replication

The groundwater recharge in the mudflat area was about 3 percent owing to physical properties that hinder flood water from seeping through mud layers. MAR has increased the rates to more than 55 percent. An ongoing monitoring programme recommends two additional floods to assess the overall improvement in recharge rates.

“Of the 3 million cubic meters of water that passes Azraq valley, MAR has obviously retained a fractional amount, but it is important enough for us to monitor its potential for replication across extremely drought prone areas in Jordan,” Tarabieh said.

A number of factors will determine the success of the MAR structure including if local residents fill up their tanks, or if they bring their cattle to drink water. Tents have already been set up for recreation during summer months and there are plans to plant native trees to improve vegetation on-site. The impact on migratory birds will also be a key determining factor, “Azraq will be home for these birds come October. Will it benefit them, we’ll have to see.”

People under a tent discussing around the MAR project
So far water management has been centralized in Jordan, and MAR project can demonstrate the potential new role of municipalities. Credit: INWRDAM

Tarabieh awaits something bigger – lessons on expanding the governance system to represent local actors. “So far water management has been centralized in Jordan, and we are hoping the MAR project can demonstrate the potential new role of municipalities.” The water harvesting structure brings hope not only for preventing droughts, but also symbolises the role of water in reconnecting with nature and enriching social ties.

GoAL-WatERS Programme in Jordan

The Managed Aquifer Recharge water harvesting structure emerged from the GoAL-WatERS (Governance, Accountability and Leadership/Learning in Water for Equity, Resilience and Sustainability) programme. The programme supports national and local authorities, and partners to improve water governance. GoAL-WatERS activities are implemented through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country offices or partners, and strategically coordinated by the UNDP-SIWI Water Governance Facility at SIWI.

Learn more about GoAL-WatERS in Jordan
A vulnerability assessment in four major water basins of the country identified Azraq water basin at the highest risk of drying out its ground water table. Image: Jordan River flowing to the Dead Sea, Shutterstock
A vulnerability assessment in four major water basins of the country identified Azraq water basin at the highest risk of drying out its ground water table. Image: Jordan River flowing to the Dead Sea, Shutterstock