Project Deliverable: D08.1
Case Study Report: Aqaba, Jordan
Programme name: / Sustainable Management of Scarce Resources in the Coastal Zone
Program Areas: / A3, (d)
Project acronym: / SMART
Contract number: / ICA3-CT-2002-10006
Project Deliverable: / D08.1 Case Study Report: Aqaba, Jordan
Related Work Package: / WP 08 Regional Case Study: Jordan
Type of Deliverable: / Aqaba (Jordan) Case Study Final Report (draft)
Dissemination level: / RE, Public
Document Author: / Muhammad Shatanawi & Zain Al-Houri, Jordan
Edited by: / Muhammad Shatanawi and Sawsan al-Naber
Reviewed by: / Muhammad Shatanawi
Document Version: / R 1.0
Revision history:
First Availability: / 6/6/2005
Final Due Date: / 31/5/2005
Last Modification:
Hardcopy delivered to: / Dr. Cornelia Nauen
European Commission, Research Directorate General
SDME 1/02
B-1049 Brussels, Belgium

43

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2

I. INTRODUCTION 3

II. DATA BASIS 9

III. MODELING TOOLS 30

IV. DISSEMINATION AND EXPLOITATIONS 64

V. CONCLUSION 65

VI. REFERENCES 68

VII. APPENDICES 71

I. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Objectives

The overall objective of the SMART project is to develop, implement and test a new, participatory but scientifically sound and rational approach to planning and management of the coastal zone that can help to reconcile conflicting demands on scarce water. In essence, the project is concerned with testing a strategy for solving water demand conflicts.

The development of this approach begins with the integration of three primary components, a socioeconomic framework, and two quantitative analysis tools: WaterWare and TELEMAC. Later, a third tool (LUC model) was added that deals with land use changes. The resulting methodology will simulate scenarios for the assessment of water supply and water demand with reference to Integrated Coastal Zone Management methods. Together, these models aim to integrate environmental impacts, costs, access, and equity, in a systemic way. Their outputs will be assessed by a rule-based expert system and used to formulate recommendations for conflict resolution that favor sustainability over time. The participation of selected stakeholders from water management institutions is foreseen in testing the approach and in identifying best water management practice. This SMART methodology has been be applied to five case studies in the Mediterranean coastal zone in the countries of Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Tunisia.

This report describes the application of the SMART project on the Jordan case study that deals with the management of water resources in the Aqaba Area. The location of the case study within Jordan is presented in Fig.1.

1.2. Description of the study area

Jordan is a semi-arid country situated near the southern coast of the Mediterranean and is located between latitudes of 29o N to 32o N and longitudes of 25o E to 39o E. The country is bordered by Syria to the North, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf of Aqaba to the south, Israel and Palestine to the west and Iraq and Saudi Arabia to the East. The total area of Jordan is about 89,342 km2; out of which 560 Km2 as inland water mainly the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba.

The Mediterranean climate prevails over the country which is characterized by long dry hot summer, a rainy winter and relatively mild and short spring and fall seasons. The average precipitation rate is 93.6 mm that varies from a little over 600 mm in north western mountains to less than 50 mm in the east southern desert. About 83.8% of Jordan receive less than 200 mm. The total average amount of rain that falls is about 8,424 million cubic meters (MCM) while the renewable water resources can reach about 935 MCM. The total water quantity used in 2003 is 812 MCM distributed as 513 MCM for agriculture, 262 MCM for domestic and 37 MCM for industry. The limited water resources coupled with expanding population have created a sever water supply-demand inbalance. Due to that the per capita share of water has dropped to less than 170 m3/ capita/year and it could reach less than 90 m3 by the year 2020 if regulatory and augmentation measures are not taken. According to the Water Stress Index (WSI), Jordan is classified in the category of “Absolute Water Scarcity”. The water problem is not only limited to shortage of water but the quality issue is rising. These problems are most pronounced in the south eastern part of the country where the Gulf of Aqaba is located. To solve the problem of water, non-renewable groundwater from nearby Disi Aquifer is being transported to Aqaba.

The Gulf of Aqaba is one of the two northward branches to the Red Sea, shared between four countries, namely; Egypt from the west, Saudi Arabia from the east and Jordan and Israel to north. The Gulf is a semi-enclosed body of water with 180 Km long and width that ranges from 26 Km in the middle to about 6 Km at its southern mouth at the strait of Tiran. The water depth in the Gulf can reach a maximum of 1828 m with an average depth of 800 m. The usual features are due to the fact that the Gulf is situated in the middle of the Syria-Africa Rift Valley, which extents from the Ghab Valley in Syria to the Rift Valley of East Africa passing through the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, Wadi Araba and the Gulf of Aqaba

The Jordanian shoreline is about 26 Km in length that hosts the city of Aqaba. Aqaba, being the only sea port of Jordan, is located at the most south-western part of Jordan and is about 330 Km south of Amman. The coordinate of Aqaba city are 34o:57′ to 35o:09′ E longitudes and 29o:19′ to 29o:43′ latitudes.

The climate of Aqaba region is arid with an average precipitation of 35 mm and the mean daily air temperature ranges from 14 oC in winter (January) to an average maximum of 32oC in the Summer (August). The prevailing winds are from north with occasional winter storm winds blowing from the south. The average relative air humidity ranges from 30 to 35 percent. The surface water temperature of the Gulf varied from 20oC in February to 27.3oC in September while the marine temperature is constant at 21.5oC below a depth of 200 m. The salinity of the sea water ranges from 40.3 to 41.6 Kg per cubic meter. The prevailing wind speed ranges from 2 m/s to 7 m/s with occasional gust during the few storms. Tides are semidiurnal with tide height ranging from 0.3 to 1.0 m.

The semi enclosed characteristics of the Gulf of Aqaba have led to its rich biodiversity. The Gulf hosts an extraordinary diversity of coral and related marine life. There are over 120 scleractinian coral species and 10 soft specific of coral that have been observed. The reefs which fringe the Gulf of Aqaba coast line host more than 1000 species of fish. Sea grasses exist in the immediate vicinity of the coral reefs. Providing and important feed for fish, shrimp and other invertebrate and serving as host organisms for many species of micro and macro algae. Marine mammals in the Gulf include sea cows and dolphin. Sea turtles are observed in the Gulf waters.

Corals depend on two principal environmental elements: clear water free from sediments, and steady, slow currents to carry off waste and provide nutrition. In this regard, The Gulf of Aqaba is exceptionally well suited for mature coral reef ecosystem. The deep still waters of the Gulf allow sediment to settle, and the bright sunshine penetrates the water as far as100 meters. As a result, coral formation-both reef building and soft coral is extensive and unusually deep in the Gulf. The slow, circular currents of the Gulf of Aqaba provide abundant nourishment without endangering coral polyps, and the high levels of dissolved oxygen in the warm waters allow luxuriant coral growth.

The semi enclosed characteristic of the Gulf results in limited water exchange with the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. The residence time for shallow water is one to two years, while the lower mass of water experiences a three year average residence time. Also the semi enclosed nature of the environment of the Gulf of Aqaba causes the sea to particularly susceptible to pollution. Marine pollution sources include urbanization, industrialization, aquatic tourism, oil spills, solid waste, waste oil contamination, phosphate dust, air pollution from land transportation, chemical pollution from industries, thermal pollution from power plant, return flow from irrigation, pollution of the shallow, brackish water aquifer and sewage from the municipal sewage treatment ponds. If these activities are not controlled in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner environmental degradation will worsen .

The city of Aqaba has been taken considerable attention from the Government since the establishment of the country in 1921. In 1939, one berth port was built in Aqaba as a military supply base during the Second World War II. In 1952, Jordan took an economical decision in putting the basis for establishing a commercial port to receive imports, to cargo the export and to employee the local workforce. The Aqaba Port Authority was in charge of these responsibilities. The name of the institutions had passed through several changes ending in 1978 by establishing the Port Corporation (APC) which was in charge of construction, operation and maintenance of Aqaba port facilities. These facilities occupy now nearly 30% of the Jordanian Gulf of Aqaba shoreline. Along with other institutional development in the country, the Aqaba Region Authority (ARA) was established in 1984 under ARA law no. 7 of 1987. The law stated that ARA is responsible for the coordination of social and economical development in the region of Aqaba. It also give ARA the mandate of formulating necessary policies, plans, regulations and programs in collaborating with other public and private agencies such as APC which is a key partner to ARA.

Realizing the importance of Aqaba being at the cross-road of Africa, Asia and Europe and its location among four countries, the Government of Jordan has declared Aqaba region as a special zone duty free area. As a result of that ARA was replaced by Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) Under low No. 32 of 2001. ASEZA associated to the Prime Minister and administered and supervised by a Board known as the "Board of Commissioners", which composed of six full-time members, including the Chief Commissioner and the Vice-Chief Commissioner who appointed by a decision of the Council of Ministers upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister for a renewable four-years term, provided that such decision shall be endorsed by a Royal Decree. The Authority has a juridical personality with financial and administrative autonomy. The Authority becomes the legal and factual successor of the Aqaba Region Authority and the Municipality of Aqaba. All rights and obligations of the Aqaba Region Authority and the Municipality of Aqaba transferred to the ASEZA. ASEZ is Jordan’s gateway to global commerce and a premier tourist destination. The Aqaba Special Economic Zone is emerging as a major duty-free economic development node for tourism, recreation services, professional services, multi-nodal transportation and value-added industries in the Middle East. Situated on the northern tip of the Red Sea on the Gulf of Aqaba, the ASEZ covers approximately 375 square kilometers, and extends to the land borders of Saudi Arabia, and Israel and the territorial waters of Egypt (Figure2). Aqaba offers global business opportunities in a competitive location with high- quality lifestyle. Businesses in Aqaba can benefit from the many incentives and facilitation offered by the ASEZA such as: streamlined and simplifies business registration and licensing; simplified foreign work permits and visa regime; no social services tax; Exemption from sales tax on the final consumption of all goods, except for a 7 % sales tax in certain items; no annual land and building taxes on utilized property; exemption from custom duties on all imports to the ASEZ except cars; no restriction on foreign currency and no repatriation of capital and profits and much more. A Qualified Industrial Zone within the ASEZ allows products manufactured therein to benefit from duty-free and quota-free access to the United States. Other trade agreements with the United States, European Union and some Arab countries bring similar benefits to Industries manufactured in Jordan

The main economical activities in Aqaba are associated with the port, some industries, tourisms and re-export activities. The port is the largest employer in the region with over 5000 workers as compared to 1700 workers in industry and about 800 workers in the tourism sector. The revenue exceeding 200 million JD. Along with that, tourism is a key force in Aqaba growing that generates and estimated revenue of 40 million JD.

Aqaba economical growth over the past three decades has been accompanied by a parallel growth in population. Since 1972, Aqaba has been expanded from a small town of 19,000 to a city of 89,000 inhabitants at the end of 2004. By the end of 2005, the city is predicated to reach a population of 91.200. Beyond that, the region’s planner anticipated that the coastal population can reach to approximately 250,000 by the year 2020. If growth goes at high level this can be reached taking into account current plans for resort hotels and vacation communities development as well as expansion in the industrial and commercial activities.

The different kinds of economical development will of course increase demand for water. At the present water supply to Aqaba is derived from the aquifers of the Red Sea basin and from the adjacent non-renewable Disi Aquifer system. The Government has allocated 17.5 MCM of water from Disi and about 2.5 MCM from other aquifers. The current water consumption in the region is estimated at 14.5 MCM plus 2 MCM of treated wastewater which is used for irrigating some 200 ha of palm farms, the Green belt and the airport aforestation project. The effluent from newly built treatment plants is expected to reach 7 MCM by the year 2020 and will be used for irrigating landscape areas, palm farms and newly developed forest areas. In the future, demand for water will increase to reach about 33.5 MCM on the average by the year 2020.