(MENAFN - Jordan Times) A project to install pollution detection devices at the countrys water sources is expected to be implemented before the end of the year, according to the head of the Jordan Europe Wide Enhanced research Links in ICT (JEWEL) project.

"We have already submitted a proposal to the EU to fund the project and we will receive a response in October of this year after which the project will be implemented," Abdul Rjoub, director of the project, said in an interview with The Jordan Times this week.

The project entails installing devices near the countrys dams and underground water sources to detect pollution and notify water authorities, he said.

"The system will send instant messages to those in charge of monitoring the quality of water in case of pollution and before the polluted water reaches the people."

"Jordan has very limited water resources and implementing such a project is essential for the Kingdom," said Rjoub.

JEWEL is an ongoing three-year project that is helping Jordanian researchers and educators with ideas for integrating ICT in key sectors such as water and energy to turn their ideas into project proposals and submit them to the EU for funding.

Eight proposals have been submitted through the project so far, with a total value of JD24 million, Rjoub told The Jordan Times at the "ICT Industry-Academia Bridge the Gap" event in Amman on Sunday.

Jordan is the fourth most water-poor country in the world, with an annual water deficit of approximately 500 million cubic metres.

Approximately 91 per cent of the countrys total area of 97,000 square kilometres is arid, with an annual rainfall average of 50-200 millimetres, while 2.9 per cent of the countrys land is semi-arid, with an annual rainfall average of 400-580 millimetres.

The Kingdoms estimated annual water requirement is around one billion cubic metres, which is expected to reach 1.5 billion by the year 2020.