Development of a GIS model for water accounting in Jordan: focus on irrigation and energy usage in the water sector

Abstract: With a water availability of less than 100 m3 per capita and year, Jordan is suffering extreme water-scarcity. To its intrinsic limited water resources more pressure is being added every year as a result of socioeconomic factors, such as the accelerated population growth, and a reduction of rainfalls and increase of evaporation as consequence of climate change. What is more, the poor condition of the water system together with a considerably high water consumption for irrigation are not helping in such drastic situation. In a country with scarce surface water, groundwater is the main resource. As a result, Jordan’s aquifers are being over abstracted and, consequently, depleted every year. Wastewater treatment arise as a solution as wastewater can be reused for irrigation, reducing the consumption of natural resources that can be, then, employed for domestic consumption. However, only 64% of people in Jordan is connected to the sewerage system, narrowing the amount of wastewater. Water shortages are the direct consequence of all of this, limiting the agriculture development and reducing quality of life. Urgent action is required in the country to mitigate the effects of water scarcity and optimize the resources. What is more, the incredibly high energy consumption of the water system is adding more pressure to the energy system, which relies mostly on energy imports such as fossil fuels. Thus, the water scarcity problem should be assessed considering its synergies and trade-offs with the energy system. Thus, the aim of this thesis is to create a Geographic Information System (GIS) model in which the water consumption was obtained and divided by sector with a resolution of 1 km2 . To do so, the population and water consumption per capita was taken into account for the domestic water consumption, while the evapotranspiration of the irrigated cropland in Jordan was calculated to ultimately obtain the water consumption in the agriculture sector. Then, taking advantage of the potential of a GIS model, the water consumption obtained in every spot was divided by source. Afterwards, the energy consumption of the water system is obtained. Lastly, three scenarios were built and simulated in order to analyze the consequence of the Jordan’s Ministry of Water and Irrigation policies, set to fight against water scarcity. The results showed that, although a mitigation of water scarcity and reduction of natural resources depletion can be achieved, even more strict action is required in order to reach a sustainable water sector, eliminating water shortages and reducing the pressure on the natural resources.