Water Balance of the Upper Jordan River Basin

Sharing water in the Jordan basin has been a key topic in the recent peace talks between Israel and its neighbors. Knowing the quantity of water available is a prerequisite to water sharing. Many different values have been published in recent years. Different sources report Jordan's discharge flow into Lake Kinneret anywhere from 460 to 800 Mm³/year. The aim of this article is to present a water balance for the Jordan basin for a 15-year period. The years 1977–1978 to 1991–1992 were studied for the basin's water budget, as they represent the present day (1998) land use. The results show that Lake Kinneret has a yearly average input (= output) of 770 Mm³. Israel uses some 800 Mcm³/year from the entire Jordan basin, of which 440 Mm³ is used within the basin and the rest outside. There is about 100 Mm³ for future utilization in the watershed. The yearly Jordan's discharge to the Dead Sea is 220–250 Mm³. Reporting by various secondary data sources is compared to primary data findings to illustrate the great variability of data reporting and to provide annual flow estimates, based largely on primary sources, for the Upper Jordan River.     

Study of water quality of springs in Petra region,Jordan: A three-year follow-up

Petra region area was located in south part of Jordan has grown and urbanized rapidly. This area depends on the groundwater as a water resources. This study was undertaken to assess the physical, chemical quality of spring water of Petra region during a 36-months survey (September 2002 to September 2005). The samples were analyzed for temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, major cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, and Na⁺), major anions (Cl⁻, NO⁻ ₃, HCO⁻ ₃, SO²⁻ ₄, PO³⁻ ₄, F⁻) and trace metals (Fe²⁺, Al³⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺ Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Mn²⁺). Water quality for available springs in the study area showed high salinity due to longer period of contact with rocks. The chemistry of spring water samples were alkaline earth waters with prevailing bicarbonate and alkaline earth waters with prevailing bicarbonate chloride. Some springs showed that elevated nitrate, sulfate contents which could be due to percolation from septic tanks, cesspools and irrigational activities. The infiltration of wastewater from cesspools and septic tanks into groundwater was considered the major source of water pollution. The results showed that there were considerable variations among the examined samples with respect to their physical and chemical parameters, which lie below the maximum permissible levels of the Jordanian and WHO drinking water standards. The results indicate that the trace metals of springs water of Petra region do not generally pose any health or environmental problems.     

Evaluating Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Improved Potable Water Quality and Quantity

The present research is about water supply shortages and low drinking water quality in the Municipality of Rethymno during peak water demand periods. More specifically, the aim of this work is to elicit Rethymno residents’ willingness to pay (WTP), by applying the CVM methodology, as the percent over their water bill, for the completion of future projects that the Municipal Enterprise for Water Supply and Sewerage (MEWSS) of Rethymno intends to implement to avoid shortages and improve tap water quality. The current contingent valuation study is performed based on data collected through personal interviews where respondents are asked about their WTP for a given improvement in the water supply. The results point out that female respondents, households with high income, with children, and households which do not use tap water for drinking, are on average willing to pay more. The mean WTP for these future projects was estimated to be 10.64 € (17.67% of the average bill). The mean WTP amount can be useful to decision makers undertaking an environmental cost benefit analysis, where full cost should be recovered. Interviewing people in the context of a valuation scenario, informs them for improvements that will be undertaken from the new projects under consideration and at the same time involves them as users in the decision making process.     

‘Hotel Middle East’: social shocks and adaptation in Jordan’s domestic water sector

While socio-ecological systems are susceptible to social shocks, a theoretical and empirical understanding of social-shock adaptation remains absent from the literature. This article investigates the Syrian refugee crisis in water-scarce Jordan, where historical waves of migration have shaped water governance. Findings suggest that water sector adaptation to social shocks fits within broader adaptation theory, and that frequent refugee crises in Jordan have perpetuated reactive water governance, shaping the sector’s resiliencies, vulnerabilities, and adaptation processes. Through examining adaptation processes in the acute water and refugee contexts of Jordan, we suggest that through planning and preparedness, socio-ecological systems could build resilience to social shocks.     

Chemical Evaluation of Ma’an Sewage Effluents and its Reuse in Irrigation Purposes

The present study investigates the chemical composition of Ma’an Wastewater Treatment Plant in south Jordan. Samples of effluent of this plant were collected over 1 year period. All samples were analyzed for pH, conductivity, major ions (Cl⁻, , , , , Na⁺, K⁺, Ca^2 + and Mg^2 +) and trace metals B, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb. The pH value ranges from 6.79 to 8.15 with a median value of 7.39 ± 0.32. The water quality was characterized by its high salinity hazard (C3) and low sodium hazard (S1) which can be considered as marginal for human consumption. Moreover, concentrations of trace metals in treated wastewater were found to be low and within guidelines for irrigation water due to low level of industrialization activities in the study area. Generally, the result of this study suggests that the treated wastewater is suitable for irrigational purposes, while these effluents can be considered as possible additional resources for irrigation in Jordan.     

Integrating a Climate Change Assessment Tool into Stakeholder-Driven Water Management Decision-Making Processes in California

There is an emerging consensus in the scientific community that climate change has the potential to significantly alter prevailing hydrologic patterns in California over the course of the 21st Century. This is of profound importance for a system where large investments have been made in hydraulic infrastructure that has been designed and is operated to harmonize dramatic temporal and spatial water supply and water demand variability. Recent work by the authors led to the creation of an integrated hydrology/water management climate change impact assessment framework that can be used to identify tradeoffs between important ecosystem services provided by the California water system associated with future climate change and to evaluate possible adaptation strategies. In spite of the potential impact of climate change, and the availability of a tool for investigating its dimensions, actual water management decision-making processes in California have yet to fully integrate climate change analysis into their planning dialogues. This paper presents an overview of decision-making processes ranked based on the application of a 3S: Sensitivity, Significance, and Stakeholder support, standard, which demonstrates that while climate change is a crucial factor in virtually all water-related decision making in California, it has not typically been considered, at least in any analytical sense. The three highest ranked processes are described in more detail, in particular the role that the new analytical framework could play in arriving at more resilient water management decisions. The authors will engage with stakeholders in these three processes, in hope of moving climate change research from the academic to the policy making arena.     

用可持续发展思想 研究解决北方缺水问题

北方水资源短缺问题，引起了全社会的广泛关注。为贯彻落实江泽民总书记关于南水北调工作的指示精神，水利部决定先开展北方地区水资源总体规划工作，可用持续发展的思想研究解决北方缺水问题，为南水北调工程的论证奠定基础，目前，第一阶段的工作进展顺利，各单位承担的专题研究已取得一些初步成果。     

Multicriteria Analysis For Water Productivity in the Jordan Valley

Abstract

Multiple variables associated with agricultural sector, including crop water consumption, salinity tolerance, marketing, evapotranspiration and other factors related to industrial sector, were incorporated into a multi-criteria analysis (MCA). The MCA utilized Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) which resulted in the prioritization of water use for management in the Jordan Valley. The inputs to the MCA were generated through metrological variables for the Jordan Valley for the period 1980 to 1999. Soil data and crop data were evaluated using the EVAPOT program, the KCISA program, and the ISAREG model to estimate reference evapotranspiration, crop coefficiency, crop water requirement, and calculations of water productivity for agricultural and industrial sectors. The results of the MCA make recommendations for enhancing long-term sustainability of water resources in the Jordan Valley, while allowing for water utilization and economic growth. The MCA ranked the date palm as the highest priority crop with respect to the goal of sustainable agricultural use of water. Apparel manufacturing was the most sustainable industry. Overall, the industrial sector seems to perform better with regards to water productivity than the agricultural sector. It can be concluded that the MCA tool and ISAREG model are potentially positive contributions to the process of decision- making for selection and ranking of alternatives for help in solving problems that include conflicting criteria.     

动态规划方法在都江堰毗河供水工程规划中的应用

在都江堰毗河供水工程规划工作中,采用了多目标动态规划法建立了大系统的数学模型,并综合使用了权重法、约束法、层次分析法将多目标动态规划模型转化为单目标动态规划模型,首先求解不同的拟定渠首规模对应的最优解,再综合分析最优解集的变化趋势,进而得到渠首的最优规模以及各囤蓄水库和总干渠规模的最优解,成果合理,为今后复杂的大型灌区规划工作提供了借鉴和参考。     

Use of climate scenarios to aid in decision analysis for interannual water supply planning

This work addresses the issue of climate change in the context of water resource planning on the time scale of a few years. Planning on this time scale generally ignores the role of climate change. However, where the climate of a region has already shifted, the use of historical data for planning purposes may be misleading. In order to test this, a case study is conducted for a region, the Australian Capital Territory, where long term drought is raising concerns of a possible climate shift. The issue is cast in terms of a particular planning decision; the option to augment water supply in the next few years to hedge against the drought persisting. A set of climate scenarios are constructed for the region corresponding to the historical climate regime and to regimes where progressively greater levels of change are assumed to have already taken place (5%, 10%, 20% reductions in mean rainfall). Probabilities of the drought persisting are calculated for each of the scenarios. The results show substantial increases in the probability of the drought persisting for even moderate reductions in mean rainfall. The sensitivity of the decision to augment supply to the scenario results depends ultimately on the planners tolerable thresholds for the probability of the drought persisting. The use of different scenarios enables planners to explore the sensitivity of the decision in terms of their risk tolerance to ongoing drought and to their degree of belief in each of the scenarios tested.     

Integration of Reservoir Volume Estimates into Water Resources Decision Making

Abstract

Engineers have long sought a tool that would improve the reliability of planning estimates for water storage volumes, especially under tight financial constraints. Three tributaries on a desert wadi in Jordan were investigated to learn about the possibility of groundwater artificial recharge using flood water retention structures. For each tributary, calculations were made without the assistance of surveying equipment and manpower to present to the authorities for a rapid decision to proceed with preliminary and final design of such water storage structures. Each tributary was visually observed and rough measurements taken to estimate lake volumes of dikes at different heights, ranging from 2 m to 10 m. The resulting volumes were calculated based on differing slopes of dike sides and effective lengths of profiles. These planning level estimates were presented to government decision makers and were subsequently compared to exact volume calculations from detailed topographical surveys. The percentage difference between planning and final volume calculations ranged from one to fifteen percent. In addition to the obvious conclusions that final volume calculations are more reliable, and that any planning level estimates must be done carefully, the following finding appears valid: under strict financial constraints that developing countries like Jordan are experiencing and under certain assumptions, planning level estimates can be used as an initial tool to estimate water storage volumes for small dikes with acceptable accuracy.     

水土保持措施减水减沙研究概述

人类活动对河川径流、泥沙的影响程度不断加剧,过度的垦荒、放牧、砍伐森林等破坏自然环境的行为,使一些流域水土流失面积不断增加.以我国长江流域为例,50年代水土流失面积为36.38万km2,占总面积的20.2%,到80年代,水土流失面积增加到56.24万km2,占总面积的30%以上.研究水土保持措施对水沙变化的影响并预测未来水沙变化趋势,是水土保持科研的一个重要方面,同时也是下游水利工程的泥沙淤积研究、河道冲淤研究以及水土流失区农林业发展规划研究的重要组成部分.在参考大量文献资料的基础上,综述了国内外水土保持措施对水沙影响分析研究的现状、方法、成果概况及存在问题,并提出了今后研究中应注意的一些问题.

     

Application of System Dynamics with Impact Analysis to Solve the Problem of Water Shortages in Taiwan

The major two concerns for planning a successful water strategy in Taiwan are the modification of water shortages and a total financial cost, construction, and operating costs. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to formulate an appropriate strategy to seek a balance between mitigating water shortages and total financial cost. Accordingly, we propose a process for combining a system dynamics approach and impact analysis to evaluate water strategy systematically and quantitatively. Water shortages and total financial cost are referred to, as governments are responsible for the management of regional water resources. System dynamics is one approach that can help decision makers build a simulation model of a complex water supply system. The value of a water shortage and total cost to all possible planning strategies for future water demand can be obtained from system dynamics model simulation. The content of proposed impact analysis is used to design indexes that are able to indicate (1) the severity of a water shortage and (2) total financial cost. Examining the performance of proposed indexes, we can understand the interactive impact between these two objectives in every strategy and then select appropriate strategies. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed methodology is verified by solving a problem of water shortage and total financial cost in central Taiwan.     

水文化视角下的滕州市城河水利风景区规划探讨

本文基于水利风景区建设中缺乏对水文化的挖掘、表现形式单一等问题,从规划的角度出发,对水利风景区与水文化及其关系进行解读,提出了有效利用和展示水文化特色的规划策略,并以滕州市城河水利风景区为例,探讨了水文化在水利风景区规划中的应用。     

Assessment of the Impact of Potential Climate Change on the Water Balance of a Semi-arid Watershed

With a yearly precipitation of 200 mm in most of the country, Jordan is considered one of the least water-endowed regions in the world. Water scarcity in Jordan is exacerbated by growing demands driven by population and industrial growth and rising living standards. Major urban and industrial centers in Jordan including the Capital Amman are concentrated in the northern highlands, mostly contained within the boundaries of the Zarqa River Watershed (ZRW). The ZRW is the third most productive basin in the greater Jordan River System. King Talal Dam was built a few kilometers upstream of the Zarqa-Jordan confluence to regulate its input mostly for the benefit of agricultural activities in the Jordan Valley. Concerns regarding the sensitivity of the ZRW to potential climate change have prompted the authors to carry out the current study. The methodology adopted is based on simulating the hydrological response of the basin under alternative climate change scenarios. Utilizing the BASINS-HSPF modeling environment, scenarios represent ing climate conditions with ±20% change in rainfall, and 1°C, 2°C and 3.5°C increases in average temperature were simulated and assessed. The HSPF model was calibrated for the ZRW using records spanning from 1980 through 1994. The model was validated against an independent data record extending from 1995 through 2002. Calibration and verification results were assessed based on linear regression fitting of monthly and daily flows. Monthly calibration and verifications produced good fit with regression coefficient r values equal to 0.928 and 0.923, respectively. Assessment based on daily records show much more modest r value of 0.785. The study shows that climate warming can dramatically impact runoffs and groundwater recharge in the ZRW. However the impact of warming can be greatly influenced by significant changes in rainfall volume.     

Groundwater Depletion in the Jordan Highlands: Can Pricing Policies Regulate Irrigation Water Use?

Jordan is one of the countries with the scarcest water resources in the world. The aquifers of the Lower Jordan River Basin, a region of prime importance for the country, are exploited well beyond their sustainable rate. In 1997, Jordan’s officials designed a new water strategy, with emphasis on demand-management instruments. Water pricing policies, and notably the bylaw no. 85 of 2002, were deemed to assist in controlling agricultural groundwater abstraction with the ambitious task of taking the abstraction rate close to the annual recharge. While much hope has been placed in such strategies, this paper argues that substantial increases in volumetric charges would not result in major water savings but would further decrease the income from low-value or extensive crops. A shift towards high-value crops would raise water productivity but would also entail a transfer of wealth to the government and to wealthier entrepreneurs. It is therefore essential that negative incentives be accompanied by positive measures offering attractive alternatives (market opportunities, subsidies for modernization, technical advice, etc.) and exit options with compensation. Prices are unlikely to enable regulation of groundwater abstraction and significant reduction will only be achieved through policies that reduce the number of wells in use, such as buying out of wells.     

北京市温榆河水环境现状及治理对策研究

温榆河流域水环境现状已成为制约该地区及北京市经济、社会和环境协调发展的瓶颈.从温榆河流域水质现状、污染源分布及污染成因分析入手,以流域水体功能恢复为总体目标,提出了流域污染物总量控制方案.研究得出了温榆河水环境治理的主要对策:污染源头削减、污水处理基础设施建设、河流生态修复和环境监测及相应保障措施,为北方地区其他流域水环境综合整治提供了技术依据和参考.