Water Supply-Demand Management and Cr(VI) Contamination: A Participatory Approach

Zarqa River Basin in Jordan was selected for CrITERIA project to represent a semi-arid case study of Mediterranean region. The paper demonstrates a participatory approach of integrating stakeholders'experience and their active involvement in water supply-demand management and Cr(VI) contamination. Issues related to prioritization of water supply-demand were identified, and the opinions of stakeholder were ranked according to their role in securing water supply and quality. The most important issue was the Cr(VI) sources and impacts on water supply. Analysis of water samples from the basin was conducted and evaluated between the years 2016-2019. Findings showed that Cr(VI) was below the allowable limits (< 5 μg/l) which would not cause hazardous effects due to administration measures and enforcement of the environmental law. Stakeholders agreed that water management issues was the major issue representing 86% of the opinions, water supply of 82%, water demand of 77% and water quality of 68%.