PMU /WSAU Workshop
"Performance Indicators and Regulatory Issues"
The Programme Management Unit through its Water Sector Audit Unit (WSAU) conducted a workshop on Monday, August 10th 2009, to discuss its Performance Indicators scheme as well as other regulatory issues with several stakeholders.
The sessions of the workshop aimed at discussing the following subjects: the Performance Indicators (PIs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and associated data and variables, the definition of "System Input" and its component, Financial Indicators, the business plans for Miyahuna and Aqaba Water Company (AWC), and the concepts of Benchmarking.
The workshop was attended by representatives from water sector administrations, Miyahuna and Aqaba Water companies, the Water Demand Management (WDM) Project, the IT Master Plan, several PMU staff, as well as IPA short-term experts.
Discussions and deliberations emphasized the need for reaching common understanding on the PIs system currently under development and implementation by the PMU/WSAU, as well as its requirements in terms of data and information. In addition, water companies received guidelines on developing their business plans and the principles for establishing benchmarks were illustrated.
PMU Stakeholders Workshop
"Towards A Quality Water Service .. And Beyond"
On Wednesday, May 20th 2009, the PMU held a stakeholders workshop at the La Royal Hotel, Amman entitled, “Towards A Quality Water Service .. And Beyond ”.
The objective of the workshop was to consult with stakeholders on the status of development of the water services and on the work of the Water Sector Audit Unit (WSAU), as well as to present the road ahead towards further service improvement and regulation.
Among the participants were representatives from the water sector entities, donors and other funding agencies involved in the sector, several Government of Jordan agencies concerned with the water/wastewater business, and several regulatory commissions of various sectors. Journalists from prominent Jordanian media were also present.
H.E. Eng. Munir Oweis, the Secretary General of the Water Authority of Jordan, delivered an opening speech on behalf of H.E. Eng. Raed Abu Soud the Minister of Water and Irrigation. After welcoming all participants, Eng. Oweis drew attention to the various challenges facing the water sector in Jordan and the efforts exerted by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and all partners to overcome such challenges with an objective to reach finest management practices of water resources, and towards realizing the ultimate goal of making water of sufficient quantities and excellent quality available and accessible to the diverse types of consumers. Eng. Oweis also reported on the status of several strategic mega-projects that will supply the country with significant additional quantities of water and contribute to alleviating the rising water shortage problem.
In addition, Eng. Oweis expressed his admiration for the PMU and described its contributions to the water sector in the past as well as its more recent role in promoting water administrations in governorates to work under commercial principles, and advancing the private sector participation in managing water operations and services in these governorates. He also highlighted the PMU's leading role in developing performance monitoring practices of water administrations and companies. A significant milestone in that direction was establishing the Water Sector Audit Unit (WSAU) in 2008 as a first step towards building a full-fledged water regulator in the near future.
Eng. Oweis expressed his appreciation to European Union and other international donor agencies for their continuous support to the water sector in general, and to the PMU in particular.
H.E. thanked as well all ministries and Government of Jordan agencies attending the workshop, and expressed keenness to further cooperation and collaboration with them.
Technical sessions started with a presentation by the PMU Director Eng. Mohammad Najjar in which he outlined the latest PMU developments and accomplishments in implementing Al-Meyyah Programme with the objectives of furthering the commercialization of water services and promoting regulation practices. The presentation described the current PUM organization structure necessary for realizing these objectives, which operates through two main entities: the Projects and Business Development Unit (PBDU) and the Water Sector Audit Unit (WSAU).
Afterwards, under the title "Protecting Interests of Water Customers – The Water Sector Audit Unit (WSAU)", the WSAU Director Ms. Sahden Nouri delivered a presentation on the objectives and responsibilities of Unit, and provided a briefing on its current status and Business Plan as well as it plans for the future.
Later, The PMU/WSAU technical Monitoring Manager Eng. Walled Sukkar conducted a presentation titled “Improving Service Management Tools: Water Service Performance Indicators and Benchmarking”, which focused on the Performance Indicators and Benchmarking system that has been developed as an essential tool for performance monitoring of water utilities. After an explanation of the need and some recap on the history of its development, the presentation described the broad content of the system, outlined some performance monitoring examples and comparisons, and elaborated on the current status and future plans for rolling-out the system into other water utilities.
After the break, the Miyahuna Monitoring Manager Eng. Jamal Naouri made a presentation with the title "Monitoring Water Services In Amman Towards Improved Service Quality and Efficiency". Eng. Naouri listed several key lessons learned from the Amman Management Contract, LEAM (1999 – 2006), elaborated on the background and current status of the Jordan Water Company, Miyahuna, and conducted some comparative analysis between the two stages.
Next was a technical presentation by Eng. Sulttan Mashaqbah from As-Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant Project with the title "Benefits of Public private Partnership In Water Service Management". The objective of the presentation was to discuss monitoring project performance in As-Samra Project, and emphasis its environmental benefits.
The final session was a presentation on the Projects and Business Development Unit (PBDU) by its Director Eng. Bassem Telfah. Eng. Telfah described the objectives and responsibilities of the Unit as well as its role in relation to donor activities. The presentation also illustrated its current projects and future plans.
The workshop was concluded with some time for open discussions. The PMU director reiterated his appreciation of the support provided by the European Union and other international donor agencies, and emphasised the need for further cooperation and collaboration between all stakeholders and commitment to hard work towards achieving improved and sustainable water and waste water services.
Network Pressure Management
Effective Pressure Management for Technical Water Loss Reduction in Ail Al-Basha
A PPP-Project was signed in November 2006 and was completed in August 2008, in partnership of GTZ, VAG Company and WAJ/PMU.
The overall goal of the project was to reduce technical water losses in the network of Ain Al Basha distrait/ Balqa GWA, by means of effective pressure management and increased capacity of staff in charge of network operation.
Project Activities:
- Production and test of the complete pressure reduction system (valves, pressure management equipment) in Germany.
- Installation of pressure reduction system in the project area.
- Provision of a network database program and technical specification.
- Collection and documentation of network flow and pressure data.
- On-the- Job training for operation personnel on pressure management.
- Development of training modules for operation, maintenance and repair of valves and conduction for training courses in coordination with WAJ.
- Documentation of water loss reduction attributed to the pressure management.
Contribution of WAJ:
- Accomplishment of civil works as well as mechanical works by the installation of valves and provision of necessary tools and instrument for the construction works.
- Support t the project missions through Balqa GWA and PMU teams.
- Appointment of direct counterparts to support the technical and administrative aspects and internal coordination of project.
- Provision of office space for the data control and training facilities.
The forth Joint coordination committee for the capacity Development project for Non-Revenue water Reduction was held on January 29, 2008 at the PMU meeting room under the chairmanship of HE Secretary General of WAJ. The meeting finalized the terminal evaluation of the project conducted jointly by a Japanese Terminal Evaluation Team organized by JICA indicated that the project has made good achievements in developing WAJ capacity for non-revenue water reduction.
Ceremony for Winners of National Essay of Non-Revenue Water Reduction
As a component of the Capacity Development Project for Non-Revenue Water Reduction public awareness campaigns were organized jointly by Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The campaigns started from pilot areas of six middle and southern governorates in the form of workshops for students and teachers and public hearings for general people. These campaigns introduced NRW to them which is a new concept in the country.
Following the campaigns in pilot areas a national level essay contest was organized in late 2007. After publicizing the contest through 9 workshops held throughout the country and through the project Web site and posters prepared specifically for the purpose, essays were invited from grade 9 students from all over the Kingdom. Even though the topic NRW was a new and challenging for most of them and despite busy period at the year end, over 1000 students participated in the contest. A committee comprising of members from the Ministry of Education and WAJ evaluated the essays based on the set criteria.
This ceremony has been organized to present award to the top 102 students. The winners represented all governorates but over 75% of them are female. In addition to the students, six schools will also be awarded in this ceremony, selected based on their water and NRW activities.
