Entry from Directory of Selected Jordanian Water-related Projects

TITLE:	Water Quality Improvement and Conservation Project (WQIC)
PROBLEM:	This project, funded by USAID, focuses specifically on the Zarqa River Basin. This watershed is the source of water for the city of Amman, as well as the King Talal Reservoir (KTR), which provides water for the Jordan Valley, the country’s largest source of agricultural exports. Inadequate wastewater treatment and industrial effluent have caused serious pollution of the reservoirs water, which threatens public health and agriculture.
OBJECTIVES:	1. Promote more effective and efficient use of scarce water supplies. 2. Improve the overall management of Jordan’s water resources. 3. Reduce or prevent watershed pollution. 4. Increase public awareness of water conservation.
APPROACH:	WQIC has four water resource management components: monitoring; pollution prevention and cleanup; irrigation; and education. The water resource management component related to monitoring involves water data collection, analysis and assessment of water resources. To achieve this, WQIC considered the following tasks: 1. Water quality monitoring; 2. Management Information System for the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI); 3. Refurbishment of the Central Laboratory of the Water Authority of Jordan, which monitors the water quality throughout the country.
BEGINNING DATE:	1993
ENDING DATE:	1998
COMMENTS ON DATES:
CURRENT PROGRESS OR INTERIM RESULTS:	1. Water Quality Monitoring: This task, originally focused on the Zarqa River Basin, has been expanded to include all water monitoring systems in Jordan. WQIC assessed the available water quality monitoring equipment and, in 1994, prepared a draft report which recommended improvements. A review of country- wide water monitoring facilities, which included recommendations for upgrades and establishment of new monitoring systems, was completed in April 1995. Detailed monitoring plans for the Zarqa Basin are also being developed. 2. Management Information System (MIS): The purpose of this task is to develop a comprehensive information system to be used throughout the Ministry of Water and Irrigations operations. Following a 1994 - needs analysis, WQIC identified five potential MIS designs, two of which were identified for specific consideration. In April 1995, WQIC began a detailed engineering design. WQIC has procured ORACLE data base software to develop an MIS. 3. Central Laboratory upgrade: WQIC prepared an assessment of the Water Authority’s Central Laboratory, which included an evaluation of equipment, space, personnel needs, and quality assurance protocols. Recommendations were made on how to upgrade the laboratory. WQIC is funding the laboratory’s upgrading, and procurement of critical equipment has begun. Since the laboratory lacks the space for the recommended upgrades and equipment, WQIC submitted a design for a new laboratory to the MWI in August 1995. USAID authorized a nation-wide assessment of practices and conditions at Jordan’s water quality laboratories. This assessment will establish a baseline for consistency in analytical procedures and quality assurance practices for all laboratories. USAID plans to finance $850,000 in equipment procurement and related studies in support of this assessment.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR NAME:	Mr. Dario Dal Santo
ADDRESS:	Ministry of Water and Irrigation Shmeisani, Amman - Jordan
TELEPHONE:	(+) 962 - 6 - 699344
TELEFAX:	(+) 962 - 6 - 699344
E-MAIL:

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