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The Zarqa River is the second largest tributary of the lower Jordan river, after the Yarmouk River. It is the third largest river in the region by annual discharge, and its watershed encompasses the most densely populated areas east of the Jordan river. It rises in springs near Amman, and flows through a deep and broad valley (the biblical Jabbock River) into the Jordan, at a point 1090m lower.

Watershed and flow

The river is perennial, but with a very low base flow of about 2-3 mcm during the summer months, and as much as 5-8 during the rainy winter months. Irregular floods after rain storms may increase the flow to as much as 54mcm. The total basin area is 3,900 square km, the largest in Jordan. The King Talal Dam was built across the lower Zarqa in 1970, and created a reservoir with a capacity of 55 mcm, later (1987) increased to 86 mcm. the resevoir supplies water for municipal use in the Amman region.

Environmental concerns

The Zarqa river is highly polluted.. In many areas, raw sewage flows untreated directly into the river through dry riverbeds (wadis), contaminating it and creating a stench which has been a cause of numerous complaints, particularly during the summer months. . The river flows through an industrialized area that is home to more than 52% of Jordan's industrial plants, including the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company. Coupled with over-extraction of water from the underground aquifer and the naturally low base flow of the Zarqa, this has created a major problem, described as one of Jordan's "environmental black spots" and has made rehabilitation of the Zarqa a top priority for the Jordanian Ministry of the Environment. The restoration project is estimated to cost $30 million dollars.

References

1. ^ Zarqa River
2. Middle East Patterns, Colbert C. Held, Mildred McDonald Held, p.291 Westview Press, 2000
3. GIS-hydrological models for managing water resources in the Zarqa River basin, N. Al-Abed, F. Abdulla and A. Abu Khyarah, Environmental Geology, Volume 47, Number 3 / February, 2005
4. Roadmap for Restoration of the Zarqa River Laid Out
5. Ministry Pledges to Put End to Zarqa River Pollution
6. Jordan Times, 18 August 2008, Local, international experts to examine polluted Zarqa River
7. Jordan: USD30 million estimated cost for Zarqa River Basin Restoration

• Environment of Jordan
• Rivers of Jordan