Sanitation Solutions for underserved Communities in Jordan


Switzerland will build a decentralised wastewater treatment plant in Azraq. Proven Swiss know-how in wastewater management will be applied to increase the efficiency of the treatment plant and to demonstrate how wastewater can be converted into physical and financial resources. The chosen approach for reducing freshwater consumption in agriculture by replacing it with safely treated waste water, in one of the most water-scarce countries, will be promoted based on the implementation of this flagship project.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Jordan
Water
nothemedefined
Water resources conservation
Water sanitation
Water sector policy
01.06.2023 - 31.05.2026
CHF  4’055’000
Background Jordan suffers from a critical shortage of water and meeting public demand has become a source of national concern. In most small towns and villages, households are not connected to Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs) and sewage flows into leaking septic tanks and then into the ground, polluting groundwater and threatening public health. To meet the ever-increasing demand for water and to reduce environmental and health risks, Sustainable Sanitation Solutions using reclaimed water as a non-conventional water resource for irrigation need to be considered. Jordan’s Ministry of Water and Irrigation is currently developing action plans and policies to optimize the use of unconventional water resources and there is political willingness to develop the reuse of reclaimed water.
Objectives Jordanian authorities and local communities are more resilient to water and sanitation challenges by adopting sustainable sanitation solutions to mitigate the environmental and health risks associated to poor sanitation settings, and protect groundwater by using unconventional water resources.
Target groups

Public authorities:

-    Azraq Municipality and community members;

-    Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MoWI);

-    Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ);

 

Local community:

-    Azraq community, around 16,600 individuals;

-    Local farmers.

 

Medium-term outcomes

1)    Treatment: Local authorities in Azraq efficiently and safely manage a decentralized wastewater treatment system to mitigate the risk of the current poor sanitation system.

2)    Reuse: Local community and/or municipality in Azraq use reclaimed water as unconventional sources of water for irrigation purposes to reduce pressure on freshwater resources.

3)    Dissemination: Jordanian Authorities, local community, and key actors in the sanitation field use the sustainable sanitation solution implemented in Azraq as reliable and feasible solution to be adopted in other similar context.

Results

Expected results:  

1.1)    Functional facilities for the treatment of wastewater and the disposal/distribution of reclaimed water have been put into service.

1.2)    WWTP is functional and cost recovery system is in place to operate and maintain the system by the operator.

1.3)    A quality control system for wastewater treatment and reuse/disposal is in place.

1.4)    Local community in Azraq are sensitized about the WWT impact and participating in the project steering. 

2.1)    Azraq community, farmers and other key stakeholders use reclaimed water.

3.1)    A Technical Steering Committee (TSC) has been established and used to promote knowledge exchange.

3.2)    Policy recommendations for implementing sustainable sanitation solutions have been presented to the relevant authorities. 

3.3)    Replication of the project’s approach is facilitated.


Results from previous phases:  

-    Location identified

-    Surveying and topography study completed

-    Soil investigation and geotechnical study completed

-    Hydrological and floods study completed

-    Treatment plant conceptual design


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
Swiss Non-profit Organisation
  • Other international or foreign NGO North
  • SKAT Foundation


Other partners
Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)
Coordination with other projects and actors SDC and ACTED will coordinate with Jordanian authorities at different levels, local community, and other active actors in the field. Steering committee with representatives from key stakeholders and local community will be formed and met frequently during the project implementation to ensure high level of coordination and knowledge dissemination.
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    4’055’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’000’000
Project phases Phase 2 01.06.2023 - 31.05.2026   (Current phase) Phase 1 01.07.2017 - 31.01.2023   (Completed)