Aerial view of water treatment facility with solar panels and surrounding desert landscape.

Building a sustainable water future for Jordan

We helped the U.S. Department of State secure Jordan’s water future through infrastructure upgrades that strengthen resilience against scarcity.

Client

U.S. Department of State

Location

Jordan

Practices

Water Reclamation Water Reuse Water Engineering Water

Markets

International Development

Connect with an expert

Jeff Montera, PMP

Director of the International Development Group

Advancing water security through infrastructure

As one of the world’s most water-stressed countries, Jordan faces severe shortages worsened by drought, population growth, and climate change. The country has implemented multiple critical water and wastewater system upgrades to enhance reliability, strengthen resilience, and protect public health.

Delivering reliable potable water

The Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project now provides desalinated water to millions of Jordanians.

Water reuse at work

The new plant’s wastewater serves as an alternative source for agricultural irrigation, boosting economic vitality.

Desalination to supply Amman

One of the most significant elements to Jordan’s water transformation is the Aqaba Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project. Desalinated sea water from the Gulf of Aqaba will be treated at a 300 MCM per year capacity plant featuring a 450 kilometer conveyance system. The project will supply Amman and governorates along the conveyance route with 250 million cubic meters (MCM) per year, with the remaining 50 MCM per year planned for Aqaba and the south Wadi Araba area.

To support the Ministry of Water and Irrigation with the planning and procurement of the project, CDM Smith has provided technical, financial, and legal services as the U.S. Department of State's implementing partner for this build-operate-transfer 30-year concession contract. In support of this effort, CDM Smith prepared a concept design and feasibility cost estimate to determine the viability and bankability of treating seawater and a conveyance system from Aqaba to Amman. The project has also taken on climate change priorities to limit greenhouse gas emissions from the power consumption by introducing a renewable energy generation facility as part of the scope.

Sanitation for Aqaba's growing population

The North Aqaba Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is another upgrade completed under the U.S. Department of State. Originally constructed in 1986 with enough capacity to receive 9,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day, Aqaba Water Company expanded and rehabilitated the plant in 2021 to accommodate the sanitation needs of Aqaba’s growing population and to enhance sanitation services for residents of the Aqaba Governorate. CDM Smith supported the construction of the new facilities and the rehabilitation of the existing wastewater treatment plant. The new expansion can accommodate an extra 28,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day—40,000 cubic meters in total. The plant now has enough capacity to safely manage sanitation services for 150,000 people in the Aqaba Governorate.

The new facility includes a combination of solar power and biogas produced through the wastewater treatment process. These green alternatives are elevating the plant’s ability to meet energy demands of the new expansion, including the energy needed to pump treated water for reuse. By preventing the contamination of Jordan’s precious freshwater sources, this initiative is protecting public health and environmental standards while lowering operating costs.

Upgrading the Tafileh WWTP

The U.S. Department of State, the Government of Jordan, and CDM Smith also made strides to accommodate the sanitation needs of Tafileh’s growing population by replacing the existing Tafileh WWTP with a higher-capacity, more efficient plant for residents of the Tafileh Governorate. The original WWTP was constructed in 1989 with enough capacity to receive 1,600 cubic meters of wastewater per day, but the new plant has allowed for waste processing capacity of 5,000 cubic meters per day with the potential to expand to 7,500 cubic meters per day. The new plant’s capacity tripled from about 25,000 to over 78,000 people. This treated wastewater serves as an alternative water source for agricultural irrigation, allowing potable surface and groundwater sources to be used for drinking.

Providing freshwater wells in Dair Alla

CDM Smith is also supporting U.S. Department of State's Water and Wastewater Improvement Efforts for Dair Alla, a district in Balqa Governorate in the Jordan Valley with no wastewater pipeline networks, by providing well drilling contract tender evaluation and pre-contract services. To increase the availability of much-needed fresh water, the team is rehabilitating groundwater wells, upgrading a desalination water treatment plant and building a water transmission system serving 17 localities. These additions to Dair Alla will allow for an influx of fresh water available, keeping pace with the growing demand driven by population increases.

Building a sustainable water future for Jordan

Client

Location

Practices

Markets

Connect with an expert

Advancing water security through infrastructure

Delivering reliable potable water

Water reuse at work

Client

Location

Practices

Markets

Connect with an expert

Improving energy efficiency

Safeguarding for the future

Desalination to supply Amman

Sanitation for Aqaba's growing population

Upgrading the Tafileh WWTP

Providing freshwater wells in Dair Alla

Curious to learn more?

Jeff Montera, PMP

Other projects in this region

Mallee Salinity Study

Wastewater, Biosolids, and PFAS Characterisation Program

Shoal Bay Waste Management Audit Project

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