Maintenance for "Al-Wahidi Dam" in Ma'an to increase its storage capacity
Amman2 min read
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The Jordan Valley Authority is carrying out maintenance work on Al-Wahidi Dam, which is considered the largest water dam in Ma'an Governorate, as part of a strategic plan to prepare for the current winter season, as these works focus on removing sediments and silt from the dam's reservoir.
According to the dam director, Engineer Suhaib Al-Obaidat, these works are being carried out through a contract with a local contractor to remove about 200,000 cubic meters of sediments present in the dam's reservoir, in order to increase the storage capacity for rainwater from the rainy season and utilize it.
Al-Obaidat said that the importance of the dam, which has a storage capacity of 750,000 cubic meters, lies in protecting the areas of Ma'an Governorate from floods, in addition to its role in recharging groundwater wells and springs in the region, and utilizing it for agricultural purposes for neighboring residents.
Al-Obaidat added that the Jordan Valley Authority attaches great importance to dams through periodic monitoring and maintenance work, confirming that the dam's spillway channel was expanded in previous years, and that mitigation basins and barriers were constructed to reduce the volume of flood runoff, in addition to building stone traps in the upper area to reduce sediments and the intensity of floods flowing into it.
Al-Obaidat dispelled the fears of neighbors and residents regarding the possibility of the dam overflowing in the event of increased rainfall, noting that the dam's structure is safe and has not witnessed any subsidence or changes since its construction in 2011, pointing out that the site is subject to periodic inspections by specialized committees.
He explained that the past years have witnessed large amounts of rainfall, which were accommodated by the dam, noting that the dam will undergo, as part of the Jordan Valley Authority's strategic plan, continuous maintenance work to remove sediments and ensure the optimal flow of rainwater into it.
