Ammon News - The Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have signed an agreement valued at $11 million to reduce water loss in Maan Governorate, southern Jordan.

The agreement is the third phase of the 5-year $152 million worth Fixed Amount Reimbursement Agreement (FARA), which aims to rehabilitate, develop and improve the main and subsidiary water networks in Maan, with $1 million contribution of WAJ.

During the signing ceremony, attended by Water Minister Mohammad Najjar, WAJ Secretary-General Bashar Bataineh indicated that efforts are being exerted to upgrade and expand Jordan’s water networks, increase the availability of drinking water, and provide sustainable services for citizens.

"FARA project is one of the integrated cooperation programs with the USAID to modernize and rehabilitate networks in several areas of the Kingdom, including the governorates of the south, Balqa and other areas," he added, noting that the project will evaluate the water challenges in Maan, and provide smart water meters compatible with the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.

Bataineh added that FARA also includes building a water conveyance system with different lengths, upgrading the sub-networks, installing higher accuracy smart water meters and control valves, and replacing existing pumps with pumps of high efficiency and adequate capacity, all of which will eventually build a better complaint management system and provide better services.