AMMAN — The Ministry of Water and Irrigation said on Thursday that it is using artificial intelligence (AI) and modern monitoring systems to detect violations involving water networks and pipelines.

 

Ministry spokesperson Omar Salameh said that AI technology had delivered positive results in some areas of Amman, helping improve water supplies and reduce violations, Al Mamlaka TV reported.

 

He said that monitoring devices and sensors track water withdrawals and detect unusual changes in consumption or water flow, enabling technical teams to locate faults and respond more quickly.

 

"Tampering with or damaging the devices undermines the systems’ effectiveness and requires the relevant authorities to repair, replace or upgrade the equipment, incurring additional costs," he said.

 

Salameh stressed that field monitoring remains essential, with mobile teams monitoring water pipelines around the clock despite the extensive networks, much of which runs underground.

 

Reaching a site where a violation has been detected can take one to two hours, giving those responsible time to complete their activities before technical teams arrive, particularly when several people are involved, or others are keeping watch over the site, he added.

 

The ministry will continue to strengthen field and technical monitoring to protect main water pipelines and sources, reduce water losses and violations and improve the efficiency of water supplies, Salameh said.

 

Violations involving main water pipelines pose a major challenge to Jordan’s water sector, depleting resources, placing technical and financial burdens on the ministry and relevant authorities and affecting supplies to residents amid the Kingdom’s water scarcity, Salameh said.

 

He added that the ministry was continuing enforcement campaigns across the Kingdom to address such violations. Recent cases involving main water pipelines were detected in Sahab as part of ongoing efforts to curb the practice and protect water resources.