The project, which involves the restructuring and rehabilitation of the water system in one of six designated areas of Greater Amman, is fully financed by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The rehabilitation of Amman's ageing supply network is intended to reduce water losses from the system, which are estimated at more than 55 per cent.

Work is already under way on the upgrade of water distribution facilities and sewerage systems in the five other zones. Germany's Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau (KfW), the Italian government and the World Bank are each financing one of the zones and the European Investment Bank is financing work in the two remaining areas.

There are a total of 15 contracts on the $210 million rehabilitation programme, of which 13 have now been awarded. In July, Italy's EMIT was awarded a $19.5 million contract for the construction of a pumping station and new reservoirs for the Italian-financed portion of the project (MEED 13:7:01).