Amman, August 15 (Petra) - Disi Water Conveyance Project, which was launched 14 years ago at a cost of approximately $1 billion to alleviate the water crisis and scarcity in Jordan, has faced a "major" challenge in the form of repeated attacks on the pipeline infrastructure.
According to figures from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, a total of approximately 14,000 attacks were recorded since 2014 until mid-August of this year.
Jordan News Agency (Petra) tracked the attacks on the Disi water pipeline and recorded the statistics in the Ministry of Water's figures, which showed a total of 13,796 attacks. The year 2025 saw the highest number of attacks, with 1,802.
Based on the ministry figures, every 1% of water loss wastes about 5 million cubic meters of water, while encroachments on water pipelines and sources constitute more than 70% of total water loss.
The Ministry of Water's efforts, implemented daily as part of its strategic plans to reduce water loss, enjoy "paramount significance".
"A 1% loss reduction translates to saving approximately 5 million cubic meters of water, which is a sufficient amount to cover the annual needs of about 81,000 individuals, assuming a per capita drinking water allocation of approximately 62 cubic meters per year," he pointed out.
In a statement to "Petra," Omar Salameh, the ministry's Assistant Secretary-General and Spokesperson stated hardly a day lapses by without detecting encroachments on water sources or distribution networks across the Kingdom, particularly on the Disi water pipeline.
He added that approximately 70% of water loss is attributed to theft and encroachments on water mains, noting that these practices deprive citizens of their right to access water.
So far, he said the ministry has uncovered "numerous" cases of water theft on the public network, as the stolen water was resold to individuals, companies, or factories for illicit profit.
He stated that every cubic meter of stolen water deprives a household of their share or delays their water supply.
This theft ultimately makes the affected citizen the party who pays the price for these violations by being deprived of their right to water, he pointed out.
Salameh indicated that the ministry's efforts to combat these violations have led to collection of fines exceeding JD8 million from violators and perpetrators.
Meanwhile, he affirmed the ministry pays "significant" sums to carry out maintenance and repair works of damage caused by these violations, adding that these amounts could have been better allocated to developing water sources and improving drinking water services.
He noted that the ministry is working to secure the Disi water pipeline by using the latest methods and technologies.
With continued violations, he said these attacks require ongoing efforts to cut their severity and number and strengthen protection of Jordan's water sources and networks.
//Petra// AG
