Kiera Jefferson
The Jordan River, one of the world's most sacred and holiest rivers, has been infiltrated by contaminants, causing adverse health effects on the surrounding population. The river's pollution is caused by a combination of factors, including population growth, regional politics, and climate change. The riparian states of Jordan, Israel, and Palestine have all contributed to the issue by diverting water for their own use, resulting in a dramatic decrease in flow and severe water stress in the region. Syria has also played a role by constructing numerous dams along the river and its tributaries. Additionally, agricultural practices, such as the use of insecticides and irrigation projects, have led to chemical runoff, further polluting the river and reducing the availability of clean water.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for pollution | Dams, diversion canals, large-scale irrigation projects, sewage, saline flows, agricultural runoff, insecticides, and climate change |
| Countries involved | Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon |
| Water scarcity | The Jordan River Basin suffers from acute water scarcity, with the flow declining from 1.3 billion cubic meters a year to 70-100 million cubic meters a year |
| Population growth | Jordan's population has grown from around 1 million to more than 10 million, increasing the demand for water |
| Environmental impact | The Jordan River is sacred and has cultural significance, but it is now a shallow stream due to drought, water withdrawal, and pollution |
| Health impact | High levels of salt and sewage in the water can cause neurological disorders, kidney failure, edema, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and salt poisoning |
| Water treatment | Jordan's strategy includes reclaiming wastewater and building desalination plants, but only 15% of the population is above the World Bank threshold for "water scarcity" |
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What You'll Learn
Dams and irrigation projects
The Jordan River is an important water source for Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. However, the river has faced significant pollution and deterioration due to multiple nations' dams, canals, and hydrology projects.
Syria, in particular, has constructed over 40 dams along the Jordan River and its tributaries, impacting water flow and quality. Additionally, Israel has built a major dam that diverts water from the Sea of Galilee for agricultural purposes. These dams and diversion canals have contributed to the reduction in water flow in the Jordan River, with environmental activist Francesca de Châtel noting that the flow has diminished to about one-tenth of its historical value.
The construction of dams and irrigation projects has had a detrimental effect on the river's ecology and the communities that depend on it. The decreased water flow has led to a decline in water quality, with raw sewage, saline flows, and agricultural runoff polluting the remaining water. This pollution has rendered the river undrinkable and contributed to water scarcity in the region.
The riparian states, including Jordan, Israel, and Palestine, have witnessed a significant increase in their populations, leading to a surge in water demand. This heightened demand, coupled with the reduced water flow due to dams and irrigation projects, has further exacerbated the water scarcity issue in the Jordan River Basin.
To address the water scarcity and pollution challenges, various strategies have been proposed and implemented. These include pumping and desalination projects, wastewater reclamation, and the construction of desalination plants. However, despite these efforts, Jordan still faces water scarcity, with only 15% of its population living above the World Bank threshold for water scarcity.
The Jordan River's deterioration due to dams and irrigation projects highlights the complex interplay between environmental, social, and political factors. It underscores the urgent need for sustainable water management practices and cooperation among the involved nations to protect this vital shared resource.
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Sewage and agricultural runoff
The Jordan River has been a source of water for the countries in its basin for many years. However, the quality of water in the river has deteriorated severely in recent decades. The lower Jordan River consists primarily of untreated sewage and agricultural runoff, which has led to high salinity and pollution rates.
Sewage dumping has played a significant role in the degradation of water quality in the Jordan River. Gaza's practice of dumping sewage into the ocean has polluted the water in surrounding aquifers and water systems. The volume of dumped waste has increased over the years, and it is estimated that if this practice continues, the main coastal aquifers will be irreversibly damaged.
Agricultural practices have also contributed to the pollution of the Jordan River. Farmers in the Jordan Valley use insecticides to protect their crops, which contaminates the runoff that flows back into the rivers and lakes. Israel's National Water Carrier and Jordan's King Abdullah Canal are two major distribution systems that carry water to areas in need, but they are greatly polluted by this runoff. As a result, approximately 70% of freshwater resources in the Jordan Valley are contaminated by these biological pollutants.
In addition, the use of desalination plants to generate usable water has also added pollutants to the region's climate. The decrease in water availability from local springs has also led to a decline in agricultural productivity, as more water is needed for mass food production to support the growing population.
The combination of sewage dumping, agricultural runoff, and other factors such as climate change and hydrology projects has led to a severe deterioration of the lower Jordan River. The regional organization EcoPeace Middle East estimates that of the 1.3 billion cubic meters of water that historically flowed into the lower section of the river annually, about 96% has been diverted by national authorities.
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Water scarcity and overuse
The Jordan River Basin suffers from acute water scarcity. The riparian states of Jordan, Israel, and Palestine have all been labelled as water-stressed, with the river being a critical shared resource. The river's flow has declined dramatically due to a sharp increase in demand from population growth, with Jordan's population, for instance, growing from around one million to over ten million. Climate change has also played a role, with higher temperatures causing increased evaporation and more frequent droughts.
The river's water quality has deteriorated due to pollution from upstream withdrawals, dams, diversion canals, and large-scale irrigation projects. Syria, in particular, has constructed over 40 dams along the Jordan River and its tributaries. The river has also been affected by agricultural runoff, with insecticides and other chemicals contaminating the water. This has resulted in high salinity and sewage intrusion, rendering the water undrinkable and causing health issues such as neurological disorders, kidney failure, and liver diseases.
To address water scarcity, Jordan has implemented strategies such as the Disi Water Conveyance Project, which pumps water from the Disi Aquifer, and the construction of desalination plants. However, these efforts have not been sufficient, and only 15% of Jordan's population lives above the World Bank threshold for "water scarcity". The country is heavily dependent on water from the Jordan River and is at risk of becoming the first country to lose all sources of freshwater.
The complex politics of the region have hindered cooperation on water issues. While Jordan and Israel have an active Joint Water Committee and have cooperated on cleaning the Lower Jordan River, there is no permanent agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on critical water issues. This has contributed to a deep imbalance in relations and has made Palestine completely dependent on Israeli policies.
The Jordan River Basin is in trouble, and a new plan is needed to address water scarcity and overuse. This plan must consider the growing populations, climate change, and challenging politics of the region. Without intervention, the river is at risk of drying up altogether.
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Political and territorial disputes
The Jordan River Basin is shared by the Kingdom of Jordan, Palestine, and Israel. The riparian rights to the river are also shared by Lebanon and Syria, although Israel, as the occupying authority, has refused to give Palestine access to water resources. The scarcity of water in the region has been a source of political and territorial disputes, with many Palestinians seeing insufficient water access as one of the most tangible inequities of the occupation.
Water politics in the Jordan River Basin refers to political issues of water usage, competing claims, and riparian rights to surface water along transnational rivers, as well as the availability and usage of groundwater. Water scarcity in the region has been exacerbated by natural processes such as desertification, population growth, poor infrastructure, water pollution, and the misuse of water resources.
The Arab–Israeli conflict, including the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, has been largely influenced by water politics, with the Jordan River Basin being a significant source of tension. In 1953, Israel began constructing a water carrier to transfer water from the Sea of Galilee to the populated center and agricultural south of the country. In response, Jordan and Syria planned to dam the Yarmouk River, the largest tributary of the Jordan River, leading to military clashes. This dispute was partially resolved by a US ambassador, who allocated 40% of the river's water to Israel and 60% to Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. However, in 1981, Israel annexed the Golan Heights and changed the agreement to double its water intake.
The 1964 Jordan River Diversion Plan was a strategy implemented by the Arab League to redirect the Jordan's headwaters and frustrate Israel's National Water Carrier project. This plan further intensified tensions, with Israel viewing the diversion of the Jordan River as a provocation and a threat to their sovereignty. Israel's subsequent attacks on the diversion project contributed to the deterioration of Arab–Israeli relations leading up to the 1967 Six-Day War.
While there have been efforts to rehabilitate the Lower Jordan River, the absence of a permanent agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on critical water issues has led to a deep imbalance in relations and the complete dependency of Palestine on Israeli policies. The division of the river into upper and lower sections by international bodies, such as the U.N.'s ESCWA, has also obscured the sources of pollution and diversion. Israel's withdrawals of upstream water have impacted downstream water quality and quantity, resulting in severe stress in Jordan and the Palestinian territories.
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Climate change and drought
The Jordan River Basin, which includes the Jordan River, is suffering from acute water scarcity. The river's flow has declined from 1.3 billion cubic meters a year to just 70-100 million cubic meters a year. This reduction is due to a dramatic increase in demand driven by population growth and climate change.
Jordan, a crucial US ally, has accepted over 760,000 registered Syrian refugees since 2011, and its population growth has increased water demand by about $600 million annually over the past 20 years. The end of the Syrian civil war upstream could also mean a return to farming and even more demand for water.
The Jordan River is an essential water supply for the societies living along its banks, and its drying up would be devastating to the region. The river is also important for the irrigation of crops and the tourism industry, as many religious people come to "walk where Jesus walked" and be baptized in the same river where Jesus is said to have been baptized.
Hydrologists and climate scientists predict that if humans continue to burn fossil fuels at an ever-increasing rate, rainfall will diminish by 30%, average temperatures will rise by 4.5°C, and the frequency of droughts will increase threefold, recurring almost every year. As Jordan is already one of the most water-poor nations in the world, the future is challenging.
Israel and Jordan have collaborated on water-sharing agreements and conservation efforts, including a partnership to clean up downstream sections of the river. However, the absence of a permanent agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on critical water issues has led to a deep imbalance in relations and complete dependency of Palestine on Israeli policies.
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Frequently asked questions
The Jordan River has been polluted by sewage, saline flows, and agricultural runoff.
Human activities such as dam construction, diversion canals, large-scale irrigation projects, and the extraction of water for agriculture and mining have reduced the river's flow and deteriorated water quality.
The pollution in the Jordan River has led to various health issues, including neurological disorders, kidney failure, edema, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and salt poisoning. Sewage pollution has caused diarrhea, kidney disease, hepatitis, and liver diseases.
Environmentalists are working to save the river through emergency measures such as building pipelines, reservoirs, and dams, as well as pumping water from the Sea of Galilee into the river. Efforts to rehabilitate the Lower Jordan River and increase water supplies through pumping, desalination, and wastewater reclamation are also underway.
