Over 4.66 mcm of water entered Jordan dams following rainfall

Jordan

Published: 2018-02-18 16:03

Last Updated: 2024-03-18 10:37


King Talal Dam in the hills of northern Jordan. (JordanTimes)
King Talal Dam in the hills of northern Jordan. (JordanTimes)

Over 4,66 million cubic metres (mcm) of rainwater have entered Jordan’s 14 major dams after heavy rainfall on Saturday and Sunday, according to officials at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation.

The ministry confirmed that efforts to increase the storage capacity of the dams achieved remarkable success, especially after storage capacity of Wadi Shuayb was increased to reach 1,7 mcm. Even with the 300,000 cubic meters increase the dam reached 100 percent of its capacity. Waleh and Mujib dams also reached their maximum capacity.

The highest amount of rainfall recorded during the last 48 hours was in Ajloun Governorate with 62.8 millimetres (mm) and the lowest in Aqaba 1.6 mm. The other governorates received the following rainfall: Jerash 39.6 mm, Balqa 37mm, Irbid 36.8 mm, Amman 34.8 mm, Madaba 33.7 mm, Karak 23.8 mm, Tafilah 14.2, Mafraq 10.3 mm, Zarqa 7.5 mm, and Maan 2.7 mm.

Despite the recent rainfall, 2018 has seen less rain and stored less water in comparison to last year.

Since the beginning of the rainy season in November, 67.6 percent of the average annual rainfall has been recorded. In contrast, 70 percent of the average annual rainfall had been registered this time last year.

The kingdom’s 14 dams store around 133 mcm of water as of February 18, 2018, comparing to the 163 mcm a year ago.

Jordan’s 14 dams include King Talal Dam, Wadi Al Arab Dam, Sharhabil Dam, Kafrein Dam, Wadi Shuaib Dam, Karameh Dam, Tannour Dam, Waleh Dam, Mujib Dam, Wihdeh Dam, Kufranja Dam, Wadi Zarqa-Ma'in Dam, Al-Lajoun Dam and Karak Dam.

The Kingdom uses dams as the main method to secure water needs. It relies mainly on rainwater as only 1.1 percent of its total area receives an average of 400-600 millimetres of rain per year, according to the ministry.