SOCIAL SOUNDNESS ANALYSIS OF THE AMMAN WATER AND SEWERAGE SYSTEMS

Special emphasis is placed on the needs of the urban poor and on the expected health, social and economic implications for the residents of the city. About 35% of the population of Jordan lives within the boundaries of Amman. The city is partially served by water distribution and sewerage networks, but rapid growth and expansion of the city have left many portions unserved by the existing system. The report discusses the effectiveness of the present system, the socioeconomic setting, access and utilization, and existing systems. An effort should be made to regulate the prices being charged by water and sanitation tankers and private well owners. Consideration should be given to allowing payment of connection costs in monthly installments over a period of 12-18 months to be collected with the quarterly water bills. The possibility of increasing the number of sewer connections in the Nadif and Mahatta areas should be reviewed. Educational programs should be conducted in the schools, and the mass media should emphasize the goals of conservation and the judicious use of water. These programs should stress that water is a valuable and scarce resource and that a certain amount of it is necessary for clean and healthy living. The use of water conserving fixtures should be encouraged. The program for detecting and repairing or replacing leaky pipes should be strengthened. It is imperative that strict quality control and continuous testing of the water leaving King Talal Dam, flowing into it, and flowing at selected points along the Seil Zarqa be conducted. The question of water pollution in the Seil Zarqa should also be addressed.