Dr. Hamad Kasasbeh

Jordan is often described as one of the most water-poor countries in the world, and this is an undeniable reality. Yet the problem does not stop at scarcity alone. The more important question today is: how do we use the limited water we have? Does every drop translate into real value in agriculture, industry, services, and people’s daily lives? From this perspective, water becomes an economic issue, not merely a service or environmental file.

From here, Jordan does not have the luxury of treating water as an abundant resource. Every cubic meter has a cost, and every weakness in management affects both the economy and citizens. If the country suffers from severe scarcity, logic requires that this resource be managed with greater precision. Therefore, it is not enough to ask: where do we get water from? We must also ask: how do we reduce losses? And how do we increase the return from the water already available?

This question becomes even more important when we look at water that is lost through networks, or water that does not turn into service or production. Such water represents an economic loss, not merely a technical problem. Similarly, directing water toward low-value uses means that the country is not receiving a suitable return from a scarce resource. Therefore, discussing efficient water use is not about accusing anyone of waste; rather, it is about searching for smarter management of an extremely sensitive resource.

This idea becomes clearer in agriculture. Agriculture is important for food security, society, and the economy, and it should not be treated merely as a burden. However, in a water-scarce country, agriculture requires more careful choices: what should we grow? How should we grow it? And how much value do we produce from the water used? The goal is not to reduce the importance of agriculture, but to make it smarter through higher-value crops, more efficient irrigation, and stronger links to food processing and exports.

But efficient water use does not stop at agriculture alone. Hotels, factories, cities, and farms all need water, but the real difference lies in how it is managed. One facility may consume large amounts of water without sufficient control, while another uses technology, reuses water, and reduces losses. Therefore, the question must be present in every sector: how can we maintain services and production without increasing pressure on resources?

To make this discussion more practical, Jordan can begin by measuring the return from every cubic meter of water. This measure should not look only at the quantity used, but also at the income, jobs, food security, and added value it generates. If a certain use consumes a lot of water while producing a limited return, it should be reviewed. If another use consumes less water and creates greater impact, it should be encouraged and expanded.

From this standpoint, reducing water losses should be treated as an economic priority, not only a technical one. Every cubic meter saved from leakage, weak networks, or poor measurement is an additional resource without the need for a new source. This requires investment in networks, meters, monitoring, technology, and demand management. Jordan needs new water sources, but it also needs to protect what it already has from being lost.

In this context, the importance of major projects such as the National Water Carrier cannot be ignored, as it represents a strategic project to strengthen Jordan’s water security. However, important as it is, this project will not eliminate the water gap on its own; rather, it will reduce it and give Jordan more room to maneuver. Therefore, increasing water quantities must go hand in hand with reducing losses, improving network management, and raising the value of every cubic meter that reaches people and productive sectors.

Because water management is closely linked to operating costs, this file cannot be separated from energy and technology. The cost of pumping, transporting, and treating water is tied to energy, and any improvement in energy efficiency is reflected in the cost of water. Technology can also help detect leaks, improve irrigation, monitor consumption, and guide decision-making more effectively. Therefore, the water file should not remain separate from policies related to energy, agriculture, industry, and innovation.

In addition to local solutions, Jordan can benefit from the experience of countries that have succeeded in managing water efficiently, especially in reducing losses, reusing water, and rationalizing consumption. The goal is not to copy other experiences as they are, but to choose what suits Jordan’s reality and apply it gradually. Water management is no longer only a matter of resources; it is also a matter of knowledge, technology, and smart partnerships.

In the end, Jordan will remain a water-limited country, but that does not mean it must remain limited in opportunity. The real challenge is not scarcity alone, but how we deal with it. If Jordan can reduce losses, improve the efficiency of every cubic meter, and direct water toward higher-value uses, water scarcity can turn from a heavy constraint into a driver of efficiency and innovation. The real question is not only: where do we get water from? It is also: how do we make every drop of water more valuable?