The Audit Bureau report, for the year 2021, revealed, on Wednesday, that the Ministry of Water had referred a bid, with a value of about 15 million dinars, to drill water wells in the Al-Shidiya / Al-Hasa project, only to find that the water was unfit.

According to the report, after the laboratory results of the water quality in the awarded bid with a value of 14.864 million dinars, funded by a grant of 90 percent for a period of 660 days from the date of commencement 7/2/2019, and under the supervision of the Water Authority, it was found to be invalid.

The report said that the aim of the project is to develop groundwater in each of the Qarnoub and Rum basins in southern Jordan, by digging 7 groundwater wells up to a depth of 1,200 meters, to produce 20 million cubic meters of water annually.

He added that after examining the results of laboratory tests for water quality and the radioactive quality of drinking water, it was found that it was invalid and in conformity with the guidelines of the World Health Organization and the Jordanian Institution for Standards and Metrology.

The report indicated that if the extracted water was treated by mixing it with clean water, it would need large quantities, equivalent to 24 liters per liter of extracted water, which is difficult.

And if the water is treated in the stations, the waste resulting from the treatment contains high radioactive concentrations, and requires advanced technical means to get rid of it, noting that the Atomic Energy Commission is the only entity authorized to treat radioactive waste resulting from any activities, according to the report.

The report showed that the process of treating water extracted from wells in desalination plants is aimed at treating salts and other minerals, and not in order to treat radioactive sandwiches, since radiation treatment requires different technical methods, which leads to a significant increase in the cost of water.

The report indicated that the issue of the bid is under consideration by the Public Prosecutor of Integrity and Anti-Corruption, and it is still under follow-up.