ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the balance between Jordan's population and available water resources. It begins by looking at the kingdom's population and demography, then reviews the topography, climatic zones and associated precipitation, evaporation and evapotranspiration, and surface-water and groundwater basins with their indigenous and exogenous renewable yields. The precipitation balance among surface runoff, groundwater recharge, green-water retention, and evaporation is addressed, with loss to evaporation calculated at about 80% of precipitation. Overabstraction from renewable aquifers and the use of fossil, nonrenewable aquifers are assessed. The chapter ends with projections of future water demand and the prospects of meeting this demand.
