Jordan struggles with dry dams, water deficit

Jordan is facing an “unprecedented” drought crisis as a number of its dams dried up due to the scarcity of rainwater, which prompted the kingdom to knock on Israel’s door to buy additional quantities of water to meet the current water deficit of 40 million cubic meters.
This picture shows a view of the reservoir of the Mujib Dam, the main water supply to Amman, in Madaba governorate, Jordan, April 20, 2021.
This picture shows a view of the reservoir of the Mujib Dam, the main water supply to Amman, in Madaba governorate, Jordan, April 20, 2021. - Khalil Mazraawi/AFP via Getty Images
MohammadErsan.jpg
Mohammad Ersan
@JournalistErsan

AMMAN, Jordan — Farmers in the Jordan Valley are haunted by the specter of drought as the water level of King Talal Dam, the kingdom’s largest dam, reaches dangerous low levels.

The dam irrigates 80% of the agricultural areas and units in the Jordan Valley, and the farmers’ concerns are justified after six dams in Jordan have dried up due to the scarcity of rainwater.

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