As water demand in Jordan continues to increase, stress on the country’s natural water resources continues to grow as well, widening the gap between supply and demand. As Jordan can no longer depend only on its natural water resources, it is necessary to look for alternative sources of water.

Rapid population growth in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s drove the Jordanian government to implement a strategy of food security, which in turn led to a sharp rise in water use in the government-supported agricultural sector.