Jordan Complains of Syrian Water Mismanagement

The Media Line- April 27, 2009
For the second time in less than a month, Jordanian officials will complain to Syria over the usage of the water from the Yarmouk River, which, according to Jordanian officials quoted by the Jordan Times, constitutes a violation of signed agreements.

The Jordanians are upset that Syria is allowing water from the river to be used in farming on the Syrian side, which has decreased the amount of water available for cultivation of crops in Jordan, and the amount of water that is stored in vital dams, the paper reported.

Under the agreement signed between the two countries, Syria’s share of water from the Wahda Dam, which is built on the river, is 21 billion cubic feet (bcf) for agricultural purposes, provided that the dam operates at full capacity of 3,850 billion bcf.

For the first time since the dam was completed two years ago, it holds only one fifth of its total capacity and thus the Syrian share would be lowered to 3.5 billion bcf. But according to the Jordanians, Syria is now pumping more that its allocated share of water.

The Yarmouk River is an offshoot of the Jordan River, originating in the Golan Heights and forming a boundary between Syria and Jordan for some 24 miles before becoming the border between Jordan and Israel.

Jordan is one of the 10 most water-deficient countries in the world, and 92 percent of the country is desert. It is estimated that some 65% of the country’s water resources are used for agriculture, which only contributes 3% of the country’s gross domestic production.

Read original article

Source:  The Media Line