Jordan and the US government signed an agreement Tuesday on water management. 

The Jordan Valley Authority and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a $10.45 million agreement to upgrade a 12-kilometer (7.5-mile) northern stretch of Jordan’s King Abdullah Canal. The goal of the upgrade is to reduce water losses, improve overall water efficiency and update infrastructure. USAID will contribute $9.5 million to the project, while the Jordan Valley Authority will contribute $950,000, Jordan’s official news agency Petra reported. 

Why it matters: Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. Jordan's desert climate is one reason, but there are also serious issues with water management in the Hashemite kingdom. In 2021, 65 liters (17 gallons) of water were lost per person every day in Jordan. The government-owned news outlet The Jordan Times reported last year that an average of 48% of water in Jordan was lost. 

There are several reasons for the water loss. The Jordanian government often attributes the problem to theft. A USAID report from 2021 also noted leaks and metering errors as reasons.