Vulnerability of Groundwater System in Central Jordan Valley/Pollution Indicators and Decontamination Process
More than 60% of the water demand in Jordan is covered by groundwater. Due to the accelerated population growth
and development in all sectors including agriculture, more water has been pumped and more fertilizers have been supplied
to the natural system. In the Jordan Valley; Agriculture is practiced along the year according to the agro climatic
conditions as well intensive patterns of farming are carried out to satisfy the growing food demand in Jordan. Thus,
Groundwater quality analysis proved that groundwater quality is relatively polluted with respect to and salinity.
The pollution hot spots are mapped to be the vulnerable areas according to the considered variables (Geology, topography,
land use ?etc.). Within this work groundwater quality was evaluated according to the global standards to be moderately
polluted and not drinkable in more than 50% of the analyzed samples. The groundwater vulnerability map indicates
that the pollution sources in the study area are mainly due to the agricultural return flow. To assure safe water
supply for rural farmers a solar still was designed and implemented in the area for two months. The discharged water
from the still proved to be suitable for drinking with no
NO3
?
NO3
? content and economically it can be handled by locals.