Ammon News - The Jordan Water Company (Miyahuna) has signed a $22.6 million grant agreement with the United States Agency for International Cooperation (USAID) for the third phase of a nationwide project to reduce water loss to 25 percent by 2040.
Signed by Director-General of Miyahuna Mohammad Ouran and USAID representatives in the presence of Water Minister Mohammad Najjar, the deal seeks to decrease water loss, raise the efficiency and performance of water sources and develop water supply infrastructure, especially in areas served by Miyahuna, in the Amman and Zarqa governorates.
Najjar said the government realizes the challenges of water, climate change and dwindling potable water supplies due to poor rainwater seasons, adding that the water sector had "an ambitious" plan to curb water loss by 25 percent by 2040.
The total value of USAID donations under the agreement is $22.6 million, which is added to Miyahuna's contribution of $2.4 million to meet the project's goals and achievements in the next four years, Najjar explained.
The deal aims to rehabilitate water networks in Amman and Zarqa, as well as insulating water lines, pressure monitors, leak detectives and detecting illegal links.
Under the agreement, Miyahuna will prepare a thorough plan for the infrastructures of the Central Region's governorates, which will be used as a reference in future planning to accommodate rasing demand for water until 2040.
Through Miyahuna's financing, a campaign will be launched in Amman and Zarqa to fix or replace water meters through a previous USAID-funded survey.
USAID, in coordination with the Ministry of Water, has been providing technical support to enhance the performance of water companies, cut down water loss and upgrade the infrastructure to achieve a sustainable, flexible water sector in the Kingdom.