Illegal water use in Jordan

Illegal water use in Jordan is the different ways in which people illegally use water outside Jordan's regulatory framework such as by taking groundwater without permission, making illegal connections to city water pipes, tampering with main lines, and taking water from canals without a licence. Those actions have major effects, as Jordan face severe water shortage. Research shows that the country now has only about 60–65 cubic meters of renewable water per person each year, one of the lowest levels in the world.

Background

Jordan faces extreme water scarcity, with each person having access to less than 100 cubic meters of renewable water per year, wjicj is far below the international water poverty line. Urban households receive piped water only one or two days a week, a rationing system shaped by the country's dry climate, limited surface flows, overdrawn aquifers, and rapid population growth, including the growing number of refugees. Those conditions, climate change, and agricultural demand have caused a developed underground market for water. Meanwhile, nearly half of the country's water is lost as non revenue water (NRW) because of leakage, billing gaps, and illegal use.

The government aims to address that by cutting NRW to below 25% by 2040 with support from international partners such as the IFC and utilities like Miyahuna, which work to improve efficiency and service delivery.

Illegal wells and over pumping

Since the late 1990s, drilling new wells has been restricted in Jordan, but illegal new wells are still drilled, and existing wells are overused.

Illegal connections and meter tampering

There are several illegal connections to municipal networks that divert water to other uses and cause lower water pressure for those using legal connections.

Diversion from canals

The King Abdullah Canal is the largest irrigation canal system in Jordan and runs through the Jordan Valley. There are regular reports of illegal offtakes, vandalism and theft of canal equipment.

Trade in unlicensed tanker water

There is a big unregulated water truck market carrying underground water from villages to the cities, where households pay several times more than the normal piped water price.

Scale and impacts

In 2013, a campaign against water theft was launched by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI). In the first few years thousands of illegal facilities were dismantled, hundreds of wells were sealed and well drilling equipment was confiscated. In spite of those efforts, hundreds of illegal wells continued to be sealed and tens of thousands of violations detected in 2023-2024 along the King Abdullah Canal.

It is estimated by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation that in 2022, Jordan lost about 9.6 million m³. Illegal connections to water sources raise water loss and costs over repair works, depress network pressure, and undermine utility finances. That affects mainly cities that have np regular water supply.

The water truck market shows larger social problems, as families that get very little piped water (less than about 40 liters per person per day) depend greatly on tankers and pay nearly five times the piped water price, which causes issues of fairness and affordability.

Legal framework and penalties

Jordan’s Water Authority Law has made it a crime to take water without permission, damage the network, or make illegal connections. People who break the law can face prison and fines, with sentences reported from a few months to several years. Authorities stress that tough punishments are needed to protect water resources.

Enforcement campaigns

Since 2013, joint teams from MWI, the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ), and security services have carried out routine sweeps to remove illegal connections, seize tanker trucks operating without permits, and close unlawful wells. Reported enforcement milestones include the removal of more than 24,000 illegal fixtures by 2016, over 30,000 violations being addressed by 2017, more than 1,300 illegal wells sealed by the end of 2022; and at least 201 illegal wells being sealed in 2023–2024 along with more than 35,000 violations detected along the KAC in that period.

Triggers

According to experts, the problem is caused by several triggers: severe water shortages and irregular city supply, big profits from selling stolen or illegally pumped water, poor metering and weak networks, and the wide reach of tanker delivery. They also note that overcharging and organized theft grow easily when penalties and monitoring are weak.

Government and donor responses

Government plans, such as the National Water Strategy 2023–2040, focus on cutting water losses, shutting down illegal wells, improving groundwater checks, and modernizing pipes and billing systems.

International partners like USAID, IFC, and KfW help by funding better meters, pressure control, pipe repairs, and stricter enforcement. They are also supporting upgrades to parts of the King Abdullah Canal to reduce losses and move water more efficiently.

See also

• Water supply and sanitation in Jordan
• Climate change in the Middle East and North Africa
• King Abdullah Canal
• Aqaba–Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project
• Red Sea–Dead Sea Water Conveyance