The area of the Zarqa River Basin is about 3,900 km². The mean annual rainfall for the watershed is about 300 mm, and the mean annual stream flow is about 63 million cubic meter (MCM). The Zarqa River is perennial with typical monthly flows of 2 to 3 MCM during summer and 5 to more than 8 MCM during winter. The Zarqa River is controlled by the King Talal Dam which provides a storage capacity of 86 MCM. Connected through a canal and pipes to the King Abdullah Canal, the River provides irrigation for a further 8,400 hectares of land. Withdrawals for water supply from aquifers in the upper Amman-Zarqa groundwater basin have reduced the natural base-flow of the Zarqa River. The flow characteristics have been further modified by the discharge to the river of treated domestic and industrial wastewater that compose nearly all of summer flow and substantially degrade the water quality

        The Amman-Zarqa area is the most densely populated area in Jordan. It includes about 65% of the total population of Jordan and more than 90% of the small-medium scale industries in the country.  With the high population growth and high demand for natural resources, especially water; the Basin is subject to increased exploitation of its natural resources to an irreversible state unless a strategic management plan is implemented in the coming decades.

Problem Statement:

         Basically all environmental components are at risk in the Amman-Zarqa Basin. In a complex and viscous circle of interconnectedness, many developmental impacts are degrading the environmental and social conditions in the area.

          Air pollution is high in close vicinities of industrial areas.  Water is being highly pumped for agriculture, drinking and industrial uses. Wastewater from partially operated treatment plants is causing severe pollution to surface and groundwater resources. Solid waste management is a big challenge in a heavily populated and industrialized region. Natural resources are increasingly exploited for development activities. Land use plans are not taking into consideration environmental impacts and the loss of the scarce vegetation cover is ever increasing.  Linked to increasing poverty and degraded livelihood conditions, the environmental impacts are magnified.

           This situation has undermined the quality of life of residential communities in the area. It has also negatively impacted on the competitiveness of the business environment. The close interface between residential and industrial activities in the area has also created tensions between residential communities, government and industry regarding future development in the area.

Industrial Pollution:

         Industries in Zarqa cover a wide range of sectors, including food sector, chemical, construction, textiles, leather, pulp and paper, medical sector and the main oil refinery. Most of these industries, however, are small to medium size.

           The industries in Zarqa produce industrial wastewater of low to high pollution loads. They vary in their wastewater treatment and discharge methods.

          To ensure compliance with national standards and adequate environmental performance, the Ministry of Environment conducts environmental monitoring and inspection for industries in Zarqa. The wastewater quality is monitored through certified laboratories in the Water Authority and the Royal Scientific Society (RSS). Monitoring records are documented and used for environmental compliance and enforcement by the Ministry of Environment.

        The Environmental Protection Law no 1 for 2003 provides the MoEnv with the legal support to close down factories that do not comply with the national standards.  During July 2004 the MoEnv has used the law to temporarily close down several violating industries until they comply with the national regulations in terms of environmental performance.

Khirbet As Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant ( KSWWTP)

      Most of the industrial facilities in Amman- Zarqa basin are linked to the public sanitary network which flows into the Khirbet As Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant (KSWWTP).

       The KSWWTP is heavily overloaded with influent domestic wastewater in the Amman Zarqa basin containing high organic loads, plus industrial wastewater containing chemical and organic pollutants. The KSWWTP receives domestic wastewater from about 2 million inhabitants in Jordan making its current “reception rate” about 235% of its design carrying capacity.

       Due to the high hydrological and organic load on the KSWWTP the performance of the plant has been deteriorating over the years resulting in lower effluent quality. The industrial wastewater inflow to the KSWTP is increasing the severity of the problem, since the original KSWWTP carrying capacity is not suitable for treating industrial wastewater.

        The resulting environmental impacts along the Zarqa Basin include the following:

1-     The deterioration of the groundwater quality in Zarqa basin due to infiltration of wastewater from KSTP to a level that is unsuitable for irrigation.

2-     The increase in polluted swamps along the Zarqa river course leading to the increase of insects and disease transmitting vectors.

3-     The presence of Ammonia and low levels of dissolved oxygen in the effluents of the KSTP has killed many aquatic life forms in the Zarqa River including amphibians.

4-     The high level of nutrients in the water has resulted in the increase of algal blooms and pollution.

5-     The severe deterioration of the water quality in King Talal Reservoir downstream from the KSTP - due to the above-mentioned causes - to a level that threatens unrestricted irrigation.

6-     The increase in soil salinity in the Zarqa basin and the deterioration of agricultural productivity.

7-     The decrease in investment opportunities and poverty alleviating chances, as well as low tourism potential.  

Current Response Actions:

       The Ministry of Environment (MoEnv) - in association with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MoWI) and the Zarqa Chamber of Industry - has developed a feasibility study for the establishment of a Centralized Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant (CIWWTP) in Zarqa to provide a comprehensive system for industrial wastewater treatment and to reduce the costs of establishing individual plants in factories. The establishment of the CIWWTP will release pressure on the KSTP and enhance the quality performance of the KSWTP especially after the capacity expansion project for KSWWTP to be implemented by the MoWI.

      The KSWWTP expansion and updating plan which is currently around US $ 170 million public-private partnership based on the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) system. The plan will help the KSWTP to increase its capacity to treat high amounts of wastewater with a particularly high organic load.

     The proposed expansion of the KSWTP will not allow for the proper treatment of industrial wastewater since it will not remove industrial pollutants such as heavy metals and high levels of dissolved solids (TDS). The industrial effluents contribute to about 10% of the total salinity reaching the KSWTP. Given the evaporation rate of the existing pond system at KSWTP, the cumulative effect of the industrial wastewater is magnified. The only solution to this problem is the release of pressure from industrial wastewater by constructing the CIWWTP.