Management of Water Resources, the Challenges of Developing Countries (Case of Jordan)

被引:0
作者
Abu-Rukah, Yousef [1 ]
机构
[1] Yarmouk Univ, Dept Earth & Environm Sci, Irbid, Jordan
来源
PROGRESS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, VOL II, PTS A AND B | 2009年
关键词
water resources; developing countries; Jordan;
D O I
暂无
中图分类号
X [环境科学、安全科学];
学科分类号
08 ; 0830 ;
摘要
The gravest environmental challenge that Jordan faces today is the scarcity of water. Indeed, water is the decisive factor in the population/resources equation. Whereas water resources in Jordan have fluctuated around a stationary average, the country's population has continued to rise. A high rate of natural population growth, combined with periodic massive influxes of refugees, has transformed a comfortable balance between population and water in the first half of this century into a chronic and worsening imbalance in the second half. The situation has been exacerbated by the fact that Jordan shares most of its surface water resources with neighboring countries, whose control has partially deprived Jordan of its fair share of water. Current use already exceeds renewable supply. The deficit is covered by the unsustainable practice of overdrawing highland aquifers, resulting in lowered water tables and declining water quality. The distribution of rainfall in time and space is regular, due to topographic features. Rainfall various from 500 mm to less than 50 mm. The quantity of average rainfall which falls on Jordanian territories was calculated to be 8.425 MCM / yr, whilst it ranges between 6.235 MCM in dry years, and 10.630 MCM in wet years of which 92.2% evaporates back to the atmosphere, and the rest flows in rivers or wadis as flood flows, and recharge to groundwater. Groundwater consumption for all purposes amounted to 484.207 MCM in 1997 as shown below: -177.557 MCM for drinking. purposes -35.343 MCM for industrial purposes. -266.189 MCM for irrigation purposes. -5.118 MCM for pastoral purposes. Water demand in Jordan is rapidly increasing due to increased demand for development and the high rate of growth in population (more than 3.5%). Groundwater is used by industry, and agriculture throughout the country. Legislation relating to the environmental protection and conservation of water resources is included in the "Water Authority's law of 1983", regulation N(o). 26/1977 on groundwater monitoring and standard specification N(o). 202. Enforcement of the regulations is entrusted to Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ). All major industries are required to have appropriate waste treatment facilities. The volume of private groundwater abstraction for industry, and for agriculture is increasing, and there is concern that resources are being depleted; accordingly controls have been introduced. Well drilling licenses are issued only by WAJ for specific volume of water to be extracted per year. The number of new licenses granted has greatly decreased over recent years and cover an area of more than 80% of the country.
引用
收藏
页码:930 / 936
页数:7
相关论文
共 8 条
[1]  
ALTANI R, 1994, WATER SOURCES ITS US, P1
[2]  
*BGR WAJ, 1995, GROUNDW ABSTR N JORD
[3]  
HEGAZEINS S, 1991, GROUDWATER RESOURCES, P213
[4]  
*J YARM AGR RES DE, 1997, GROUNDW HASH KINGD J, P1
[5]  
MASAD AR, 1987, ANN FACULTY ARTS
[6]  
SOGREACH J, 1989, HYDRAULIC ANAL UNPUB, P23
[7]  
*WAJ, 1994, ANN REP 1993 WAT AUT, P1
[8]  
*WAJ, 1993, ANN REP 1992 WAT AUT, P1