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Water project for JordanIntroduction......................................................................................3
General Overview and Rationale.............................................................................................3
Region Relevance....................................................................................................................4
Location Relevance..................................................................................................................4
Place Relevance.......................................................................................................................6
Movement Relevance..............................................................................................................7
Human-Environmental Interaction Relevance..........................................................................7
Budget....................................................................................................................................8
Summary.................................................................................................................................9
References............................................................................................................................10
School of Engineering: Liberty University
GEOG 200: Introduction to Geography
Dr. Erick Ananga
Jun 23, 2025
Table of content:
Introduction
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This project aims to help my country, Jordan, by providing potable water to the
community of Wadi Musa, located in Ma'an, an hour from the capital, Amman. This project will
involve installing solar-powered water purification systems. This area has suffered from water
shortages for years, and residents have been getting their water from trucks and contaminated
sources. This project will benefit 400 people, reducing waterborne diseases and economic
burdens. At the same time, we will build infrastructure to deliver this water using solar energy.
General Overview and Rationale
The Wadi Musa area represents the water safety challenges faced by rural communities
in desert areas. This area is close to Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Access to
water is one of the most difficult challenges for the Bedouin community who live in Wadi Musa,
despite its proximity. The cost of water trucks used by Wadi Musa residents amounts to
approximately 27% of their monthly income, which is prohibitively expensive (The Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan, 2017).
Water supply in Wadi Musa reflects significant regional challenges. Jordan is considered one of
the most water-poor countries in the world, with a water resource of 150 cubic meters per
person per year (Al-Addous et al., 2023). Health research in Jordan indicates that 24% of
children in the area suffer from digestive system diseases due to the undrinkable water.
Economic data also shows that water costs are greater than the budgets of individuals or entire
families
(Abdelhakeem Okour et al., 2025).
The solar water purification systems proposed by us address this urgent need by treating
contaminated and brackish water and providing affordable, potable water. This project builds on
community leadership and harnesses Jordan's abundant solar energy.
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Region Relevance
Ma'an Governorate is the largest administrative region in Jordan and encompasses most
of the desert areas in the Kingdom. Ma'an Governorate is characterized by many features,
including plants that can adapt to water scarcity and hot conditions, such as cacti, as well as an
arid climate. Average rainfall in Ma'an does not exceed 22 mm. The region's geography includes
sand formations that affect water availability, as well as dry riverbeds (Alhasanat, 2014).
Economically, the region has semi-arid characteristics, with industrial development
occurring outside of the phosphate mining associated with Petra. Most of the region's
population work as shepherds, farmers, or tourism-related workers. The region reflects its
Bedouin heritage, as much of its population consists of Bedouins.
Regional Demographics: The population density is among the lowest in Jordan, with
settlements connected by a network of paved roads, but road infrastructure is very limited. Due
to the lack of employment opportunities for young people, the dependency rate is high, which is
why a large percentage of young people move to Aqaba or Amman in search of better
opportunities.
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Location Relevance
(Jordan | Agmtraveller.com, 2025)
The Wadi Musa area possesses a unique and important location, located approximately
16 kilometers north of the archaeological site of Petra. The community is located at latitude 30.4
north and longitude 35.5 east and lies within the transition zone between desert influences and
other factors (topographic-map.com, 2025). This location offers opportunities for young people
through proximity to tourism, while also presenting the challenges of water scarcity.
Settlement in the Wadi Musa area is characterized by the characteristics of clustered
villages: old stone houses close together, containing numerous mosques and small markets. The
situation of the area and its residents is very difficult due to the scarcity of potable water
despite its location above groundwater systems. However, it lacks the infrastructure necessary
to access potable water.
The village is located on the Desert Highway, which connects Amman, the capital, to
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Aqaba as shown in the picture above. This road provides economic opportunities, albeit limited,
through trade and transportation services. This ease has led residents to abandon the old ways
of obtaining water, and nowadays they rely on trucks. Jordan includes many slopes especially in
the Wadi Musa area, which facilitate the installation of solar panels. Old buildings reflect climate
adaptation strategies, such as thick walls and designs that reduce water evaporation and loss.
Place Relevance
Wadi Musa is distinguished by the traditional landscape of the Bedouin people of
Jordan. Ancient Bedouin traditions are challenged by contemporary ones. Islamic traditions,
mosques, and historical ties keep the people strongly connected to the place and to each other,
especially to desert life. The so-called Central Mosque serves as a spiritual and Islamic learning
center, as well as a gathering place and can be used for decision-making.
The built environment demonstrates adaptation to desert or arid conditions. The
buildings are characterized by traditional stone construction, made from local materials,
designed for thermal comfort and complete waterproofing to prevent leakage. Solar panels are
a modern addition, used for generating electricity, and satellites for communication, reflecting
the integration of Bedouin and Jordanian communities (Louderback, 2012).
Water and related activities affect both genders. In Arab and Islamic societies, women
are traditionally responsible for water management in the home, such as cleaning, while men
are responsible for negotiating with water trucks and government officials (Kayser et al., 2019).
In Jordan, the language spoken is Arabic, considered one of the most difficult languages in the
world. It is the primary language of Jordanian society, but there are dialect differences. Religious
practices are practiced every day, and water conservation and community cooperation are in
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line with Islamic principles. The word "waqf" (religious endowment) has a cultural meaning that
provides for infrastructure projects such as the proposed water purification systems (Mustapha,
2025).
Movement Relevance
Water transportation faces challenges, such as trucking and other solutions in the Wadi
Musa area. The area is located on a major road, which facilitates new and healthier methods of
transporting supplies. One of the best ways to transport supplies is to bring them in, compared
to villages further out in the desert. The distance and impact of the decline are considered
relatively small, as the area is only about a 15-minute drive from the archaeological site of Petra
and about an hour and forty-minute walk.
Wadi Musa currently relies on water trucked in from sources in the Amman area, which
can create an unhealthy, unreliable, and, most importantly, expensive supply chain. Because of
these interactions, we see how dependent the residents of Wadi Musa are on economic
decisions that impact the availability and cost of clean water.
Methods of communication or information delivery in the Wadi Musa area occur
through television, landlines, and travel. This infrastructure facilitates any project and support,
unlike isolated areas such as rural areas. The delivery of materials for the solar water project will
benefit from Jordan's import infrastructure, especially in the Aqaba region. These machines and
equipment will be shipped from Asia (Mustafa Al Kuisi et al., 2024).
Human-Environmental Interaction Relevance
The people of Wadi Musa have learned and accepted that water scarcity has become a
normal part of their lives (Klassen, 2020). The residents of Wadi Musa have used both new and
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traditional technologies to cope with the desert conditions. They have developed smart
technologies to reuse winter water, and they have also been able to herd animals and even
protect against desertification.
We are seeing that due to temperature changes and unexpected rainfall, which have led
to water shortages, climate change has become very evident, and its impact has become
significant for the residents of Wadi Musa (Bjerkestrand, 2023). Traditional methods, such as
trucking and agriculture, which require less water, are still helping the area, but they now
require more water because they are no longer sufficient to meet the needs of the region. Solar-
powered systems for making water potable are very suitable and perfectly suited to the
environmental conditions. Sunlight in Jordan is suitable for providing potable water around the
clock, meeting demand, and reducing environmental impact (Goosen et al., 2023).
Groundwater can be utilized, but the problem is that groundwater contains minerals that
are unsuitable for use. The project includes treating groundwater to remove salt and filtering it
in a healthy and proper manner at the lowest cost.
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Budget
:
Summary
This geography project plan is a successful and low-cost solution to the water problem in
the village of Wadi Musa in Jordan using a solar water purification system. The geographic
analysis provided insight into the location and region, which all contribute to water loss.
We saw that the Wadi Musa region faces challenges and problems typical of remote
desert areas. The hot weather and the distance from cities all contribute and affect water
scarcity in the village of Wadi Musa. However, because all the people stand together, and their
interest in the village, and its great resources, these are all factors that contribute to the
project's success.
the solution that has been presented is very appropriate. It uses the technology that
fits this project. Most importantly, it includes the local population to improve access to potable
water. The project also considers the effects of high temperatures and climate variations,
making it adaptable to different regions in Jordan. Also, this project is unique due to its low
costs, its potable water and health outcomes. The participation of the people of Wadi Musa in
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this project is important because it will ensure its sustainability. The future benefits include
water conservation, environmental benefits through reduced greenhouse gas emissions from
trucking, and, most importantly, access to more water.
References
Abdelhakeem Okour, Ziad Al-Ghazawi, & Muntaha Gharaibeh. (2025). Diarrhea Among Children
and the Household Conditions in a Low-Income Rural Community in the Jordan
Valley. Jordan Medical Journal, 46(2).
https://archives.ju.edu.jo/index.php/jmj/article/view/3177
Al-Addous, M., Bdour, M., Alnaief, M., Rabaiah, S., & Schweimanns, N. (2023). Water
Resources in Jordan: A Review of Current Challenges and Future Opportunities. Water,
15(21), 3729. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15213729
Alhasanat, H. (2014). Flash Flood Assessment for Wadi Mousa City-Jordan. Procedia
Economics and Finance, 18, 675–683. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2212-5671(14)00990-3
Bjerkestrand, S. F. (2023, May 26). Jordan’s Bedouins take on the struggles of climate change.
Www.aljazeera.com. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/26/jordans-bedouins-
takeon-the-struggles-of-climate-change
Goosen, M., Mahmoudi, H., Alyousef, Y., & Ghaffour, N. (2023). Solar desalination: A review of
recent developments in environmental, regulatory and economic issues. Solar Compass,
5, 100034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solcom.2023.100034
Jordan | agmtraveller.com. (2025). Agmtraveller.com. https://agmtraveller.com/jordan.php
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Kayser, G. L., Rao, N., Jose, R., & Raj, A. (2019). Water, sanitation and hygiene: measuring gender
equality and empowerment. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 97(6),
438–440. https://doi.org/10.2471/blt.18.223305
Klassen, H. (2020). Water Scarcity in the Jordan River Valley. Ballard Brief.
https://ballardbrief.byu.edu/issue-briefs/water-scarcity-in-the-jordan-river-valley
Louderback, M. (2012). Stone and architecture : in the mountainous regions of Jordan and Syria.
Www.academia.edu.
https://www.academia.edu/80123583/Stone_and_architecture_in_the_mountainous_re
gio ns_of_Jordan_and_Syria
Mustafa Al Kuisi, Azzam, N. A., Tasneem Hyarat, & Farhan, I. (2024). Flood Hazard and Risk
Assessment of Flash Floods for Petra Catchment Area Using Hydrological and Analytical
Hierarchy (AHP) Modeling. Water, 16(16), 2283–2283.
https://doi.org/10.3390/w16162283
Mustapha, Z. (2025). International journal of economic perspectives. Ijeponline.org.
https://ijeponline.org
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. (2017).
https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/Jordan%20BUR1.pdf topographic-
map.com. (2025). Wadi Musa topographic map, elevation, terrain. Topographic
Maps. https://en-gb.topographic-map.com/map-pqmqgt/Wadi-Musa/?
center=34.59888%2C40.03418&zoom=6&popup=32.49311%2C36.45264
