Economic and social development in the Arab countries depends, to a large degree, on the availability of good quality water and Jordan is no exception.  Jordan lies in the arid to semi-arid zone.  Rainfall is low and unpredictable in the majority of the kingdom.  Jordan has a per capita water supply well below the water poverty line of one thousand cubic meters per capita per annum.  Having hosted several waves of refugees and displaced persons, the population of Jordan is growing at a very high rate.  This, coupled with increased urbanization, improvement of standards of living and the continued demands of irrigation, has led to an increase in the demand for water.  The water supply-demand imbalance is aggravated further by the increase in water pollution both in scale and intensity.  Inefficiency in water use has compounded this critical situation.  The water resources prospects for Jordan and the Arab region beyond the year 2020 seem at best gloomy.  Water shortages will become a major constraint on development in many parts of the Arab world including Jordan.

In view of the above the Ministry of Water and Irrigation has been actively involved in trying to mitigate the situation.  Recognizing the importance of water for all aspects of economic and social development, the Ministry compiled the following Water Sector Planning & Associated Investment Program for the years 2002 -2011 that recognizes the needs for both immediate and long-term solutions.

This volume is the result of the efforts of many people to whom great thanks a debt of gratitude are due.  I want to thank with particular acknowledgment the Senior Ministerial Advisor as well as the Director of the Projects & Finance Administration and that administration’s staff for their primary roles in the formulation of this book.  The invaluable contributions of the Secretary Generals of MWI, WAJ, and JVA as well as the many engineers, directors and assistants whose input and reviews have been indispensable must also be noted. 

I am really proud to have probed and discovered what potential our staff has, and what they can deliver once they have the will and the drive. This volume is evidence of their collective work and group effort. I only hope that their performance in the plan implementation will be as commendable as their effort in its preparation.

I also want to thank the staff of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and the donor agencies who contributed to the success of the Donor Conference.