Mercy Corps: Jordan's Aging Pipes Lose Enough Water for 2.6 Million People

New report details impact of Syrian refugees on growing water crisis, recommends urgent and coordinated infrastructure investments

News provided by

Mercy Corps

Mar 10, 2014, 10:42 ET

WASHINGTON, March 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Syrian refugees are placing acute new pressures on the water resources of Jordan, which already faces a water crisis due to declining supplies and out-of-date infrastructure. As detailed in a new Mercy Corps report, "Tapped Out: Water Scarcity and Refugee Pressures in Jordan," the nation's aging water infrastructure leaks 76 billion liters per year: enough water to support 2.6 million people, or one-third of Jordan's population.

"We must act quickly and decisively to make the smartest investments," says Neal Keny-Guyer, chief executive officer of Mercy Corps. "By stepping up donor governments' coordination of investments in infrastructure, governance and conservation, it's possible to both meet today's water demands and build sustainable water systems for Jordan's future generations."

Even before the influx of 600,000 Syrian refugees, Jordan was on track to exhaust its fresh water supply as early as 2060. Now depletion has accelerated, water tables are falling and salinity levels are rising, rendering what remains less and less drinkable. In the face of mounting challenges, the government of Jordan has proven unable to meet rising needs. Refugees lack basic conservation habits, and large amounts of untreated human waste threaten to contaminate some of Jordan's dwindling water supply.

"In refugee-affected areas, water shortages have already hit emergency levels. Eighty liters of water per person are required to satisfy basic needs, but in some communities, the average supply has dropped to as low as 30 liters," says Keith Proctor, senior policy researcher at Mercy Corps and author of the report. "Understandably, Jordanians' patience is beginning to wear thin, not only with refugees, but also with their government."

Mercy Corps recommends three fundamental actions to alleviate today's pressures with an eye toward long-term sustainability:

Invest in long-term development: Focus on upgrading and maintaining existing water infrastructure.
Bridge the governance gap: Increase the resources and expertise of Jordanian agencies responsible for water management and distribution.
Address conflict and conservation: Target interventions to ease host-refugee tensions and change water-usage habits among refugees.

Read or download the full report.

About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global humanitarian agency saving and improving lives in the world's toughest places. www.mercycorps.org.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110818/DC54665LOGO-a

SOURCE Mercy Corps