Jordan Basin water resources Flashcards
Basic facts
The Jordan Basin is in the Middle East. The River Jordan rises on the border of Syria and Lebanon, and flows south to the Dead Sea.
The basin has an area of about 18 000 km²- about 40% is in Jordan, with smaller proportions in Syria, Israel, Lebanon and the disputed territory of the West Bank.
Climate of The Jordan Basin- cause of water scarcity
The area is arid, with an average annual precipitation of 380 mm. Rainfall varies, with many southern areas receiving less than 100 mm each year. Temperatures are high-the annual average is 18 °C, but summer temperatures are often above 30 °C. In some areas, around 70% of rainfall is lost to evaporation.
Geology of The Jordan Basin- cause of water scarcity
Much of the rock in the Jordan Basin is limestone, which is relatively permeable. This means that water infiltrates fairly quickly, reducing runoff and river discharge.
People contributing to water scarcity-River discharge
River discharge in the southern part of the basin has decreased due to damming, diversion and groundwater abstraction further north. For example, in 1964 Israel completed a water diversion scheme called the National Water Carrier, which uses canals and pipes to divert water from the Sea of Galilee to irrigate farmland and provide water for cities such as Tel Aviv. This has lowered the River Jordan’s discharge by around 25%.
People contributing to water scarcity-developing country
The countries in the Jordan Basin are developing economically-this involves increases in industrial activity and wealth. This increases energy use, and producing energy increases water use.
People contributing to water scarcity.-Population
Over 7 million people live in the basin, and the population is growing. This is increasing demand for water.
People contributing to water scarcity-civil war
Civil war in Syria since 2011 has caused an influx of refugees into Jordan, putting more pressure on water supplies. Refugees are concentrated in small areas, e.g. the Zaatari Camp - some people are concerned that inadequate water treatment in these areas may pollute groundwater and rivers, reducing water availability.
People contributing to water scarcity-Infrastructure
Much water infrastructure (e.g. pipes) leaks, either because it is old and worn, or because it has been damaged.
Water shortages
Water shortages are common, e.g. in 2016, some villages in the West Bank had no water supply for two weeks, while more than 80% of rural households in Jordan run out of water at least once a month. Water is sometimes available to buy from private sellers, but it is expensive and the quality isn’t always high. Shortages can affect people’s health and wellbeing.
conflicts and land disputes
Conflict and land disputes have also made it hard for countries to establish water treatment plants- this means that waste water is often pumped directly into watercourses, decreasing the amount of drinking water available. Pollution of watercourses also affects human health-for example, in 2013, residents of Bruqin in the West Bank suffered from respiratory illnesses and skin problems when their homes were flooded with sewage and industrial waste after heavy rainfall.
1998 to 2012
From 1998 to 2012, the region experienced its most severe drought in 900 years. This caused huge reductions in agricultural yields, e.g. less than 1% of cereal crops in Jordan were harvested from 1998 to 2001. This threatened farmers’ livelihoods and left around 25% of the population vulnerable to food insecurity.
Dams
Many dams have been constructed in the basin- in 2005, construction finished on the Wahdah Dam e.g. on the Yarmouk River (a major tributary of the River Jordan) to supply water to Jordan. Dams and reservoirs supply 90 million cubic metres of water to Jordan each year-e.g. water is transferred to Amman (the capital city of Jordan) and other areas by the King Abdullah Canal. However, water diversion has meant that the River Jordan has lost 95% of its natural water flow.
rooftop tanks
In Jordan, the Jordan Water Strategy started in 1998, and has been extended until 2025. Water supply is intermittent, so part of the strategy is to fit rooftop tanks on homes to store water. Another method involves using treated wastewater for irrigation, so more high quality water is available for domestic use. The Jordan Water Strategy has increased water security over 90% of Jordan’s residents now have access to mains water and effective sanitation systems. However, water supply is still fairly infrequent, and groundwater reserves are still being over-exploited.
Israel-Desalination
About 50% of Israel’s drinking water now comes from desalination plants, and there are plans to increase this to 70% by 2020. However, some areas of Israel are a long way from desalination plants, so a lot of water is still taken from the Sea of Galilee.
Israel-agricultural technology
Israel is using new agricultural technology to reduce water use while maintaining crop yields. For example, drip irrigation uses up to 75% less water than flood irrigation-water is piped directly to each plant, reducing evaporation losses. New varieties of crops have also been developed that need less water, e.g. dwarf wheat.
