Jordan: Royal Scientific Society, Environment Ministry to monitor water quality

The Ministry of Environment and the Royal Scientific Society (RSS) signed recently an agreement to intensify monitoring of the Kingdom's water resources to prevent pollution.

Under the JD175,000 agreement, RSS laboratories will monitor water quality at 118 sites across the Kingdom in a bid to prevent contamination and ensure the water is in line with the country's standards.

The RSS will test water stored at the country's 10 major dams and 25 bodies of water in addition to 14 underground water sources across 10 governorates.

The society's labs will also monitor industrial wastewater discharged by 40 factories in nine industrial areas as well as 33 sewage treatment plants run by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and 11 operated by the private sector.

At the signing ceremony, RSS President HRH Princess Sumaya said the world shares common challenges in the fields of energy and water, calling for "smart" water management to reduce water loss and maximise the country's surface and underground water resources.

Meanwhile, Minister of Environment Khalid Irani said data collected on water quality would help provide accurate information for lawmakers to develop policies to protect the environment.