Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The Ministry of Water and Irrigation and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a $30 million grant agreement to address water losses in 3 governorates at a cost of $30 million.

The agreement, which targets Zarqa, Madaba and Aqaba governorates, includes an additional USAID grant that was preceded by a $30 million aid by the agency last year for the Jordan Water Company, Miyahuna, to assist it in boosting water supply efficiency, and limiting water loss and violations on the network.

Minister of Water and Irrigation, Hazem Al Nasser, who signed the agreement with USAID's Mission Director for Jordan, Jim Barnhart, said water loss has reached record levels during previous years, as a result of ageing water networks and violations against main and sub networks.

Efforts are focused now on implementing the national water strategy that aims to reduce water losses by 30 per cent by 2025, to ensure that the daily water per capita share reach 105 litres," Al Nasser added, noting that the state bears the burden of the repeated offences against water resources.

Water loss stands at 75 million cubic meters due to violations, the minister said, adding that the government incurs losses worth JD200 million as a result of these violations.