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As climate heats up, affecting Jordan’s already exhausted water resources, expanding wastewater treatment provides one opportunity to increase water availability for irrigation that consumes about one half of the country’s total water supply, the United Nations said.

Jordan is the second most water scarce country in the world, with its annual renewable water resources are less than 100m3 per person, significantly below the global threshold of severe water scarcity of 500m3 per person.

Climate change, among other challenges- population growth-, is projected to stress Jordan’s limited water resources, negatively impacting the county’s agriculture, with the rural poor and the rural poor women and girls the most likely to bear the brunt of these impacts.

In a policy brief, issued by the world body on Monday, titled "Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems (DWATS) as a Climate Change Adaptation Option for Agriculture in Jordan", the UN said, in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Jordan has put forward the use of non-conventional water resources as an adaptation option, with the expansion of decentralized wastewater treatment as one of the country’s goals in its 2008-2022 Water Strategy.

Jordan already operates 34 wastewater treatment plants that provide 14 percent of total water supply, and treated wastewater reused in agriculture accounted for about 25 percent of the total amount of water used for irrigation.
To ensure successful expansion of decentralized wastewater treatment systems in Jordan, the UN recommends:
Continue to include DWATS as a technology option in national adaptation and water policy reviews and reforms.
Explore various ownership models for DWATS facilities, including a mix of public and private.

Investigate and trial de-risking of DWATS investments through various finance options involving local and international entities.

Review standards for treated wastewater to ensure adequate levels quality of DWATS water supply.

The brief launched today is the third of a series of policy briefs that aim to inform decision making and ensure synergy with other national and international frameworks. The release of the policy brief coincides with the World Water Day (WWD) annually observed on 22 March.