Snapshot from the field

With the aim of increasing the individual’s share of drinking water, the first phase of connecting home gardens in Damiya to an irrigation water network has been accomplished. The contractor completed digging the canals in preparation to laying down the irrigation pipes.

Damiya is a poverty stricken village and suffers from shortage of water. The homes are connected to the public water network and get supplied by drinking water once a week. However, not only do they use this water for domestic purposes, but they aslo rely on it for all other purposes. They use it to irrigate their home gardens, in their cooling units during the summer, and for their livestock. This not only reduces the individual’s share of water, but also raises their water bills.

Based on the EMPOWERS participatory planning approach, and by facilitating dialogue, Damiya’s community water committee and the staff from the different Balqa Governorate departments together planned, designed and agreed to start implementing the first of their proposed pilot projects. These are a collection of pilot projects, which if implemented would bring them closer to realizing their vision.

With EMPOWERS staff facilitating the discussions, the Jordan Valley Authority agreed and issued licenses to connect Damiya to the King Abdullah Canal (KAC) and use its water to irrigate their home gardens; something which was not allowed before. After the pilot connects the village to KAC, the villagers’ will take the responsibility to connect their home gardens to the main canal. EMPOWERS Partnership provided the main funding for this pilot, while considerable in kind condributions were provided by the Jordan Valley Authority.

As a result, this will not only save drinking water and therefore increase the individual’s share; but it is also expected to decrease their water bills, decrease illegal use of drinking water. It also made possible to utilize home gardens for food production, enhance land productivity, and led to cultivating new arid lands.