USAID and Water Authority of Jordan Launch Construction of North Shouneh Wastewater Treatment Plant
July 6, 2009
North Shouneh – With support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) and the Municipality of Mu’ath Bin Jabal today launched the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant in the North Shouneh area. The project aims to assist local communities in disposal of their wastewater while providing a sustainable source of treated water for local agriculture. The ceremony, held at the construction site of the new treatment plant, was attended by Minister of Water & Irrigation Engineer Raed Abu Saud, USAID Mission Director Jay Knott, Secretary General of WAJ Engineer Munir Oweis, the Mayor of Mu’ath Bin JabalAli Al Daladgah and other officials.
This new North Shouneh Wastewater Treatment Plant is part of USAID’s Wastewater Treatment Facilities for Small Communities project implemented in partnership with WAJ at a total cost of $26.5 million. Of this amount, USAID has provided $23.75 million to fund 100% of the preliminary studies and design services as well as 85 percent of the construction cost of two wastewater treatment plants – the one in North Shouneh and another one in Shobak. WAJ has funded the remaining 15 percent of the construction cost for a total of $2.75 million.
North Shouneh and Shobak were selected from among 10 communities to pilot this effort. The new small rural communities treatment plants will receive wastewater from cesspits (septage) brought in by tanker trucks. Trucking wastewater to central treatment plant eliminates the need for costly collection infrastructure, serves several neighboring communities at once, reduces financial burdens borne by local households for emptying their cesspits, and is seen as the most practical and viable solution to many rural and small communities without sewer networks. The project will also provide treated wastewater for reuse in a safe sustainable manner for agricultural purposes in the neighboring farms. It is also expected to help create job opportunities and generate income for local communities. In a pioneer step, the respective municipality will handle the operation and maintenance of the facilities, with WAJ monitoring performance and extending technical guidance as necessary.
WAJ and USAID expect this project to serve as a model to be replicated in other small communities in Jordan and, thus, providing a unique opportunity for “decentralization” by helping to develop local capacity to operate and maintain such facilities. These wastewater treatment and reuse facilities will demonstrate the efficiency and cost effectiveness of such appropriate and low maintenance, proven technology.
The North Shouneh wastewater treatment facility, which will be constructed by the Jordanian company Gibraltar Contracting Company for a total of $13.6 million, is slated for completion in September 2010.
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