The Yarmouk tributary to the Jordan river II: Infrastructure impeding the transformation of equitable transboundary water arrangements

Zeitoun, Mark, Dajani, Muna, Abdallah, Chadi, Khresat, Sa'eb and Elaydi, Heather (2019) The Yarmouk tributary to the Jordan river II: Infrastructure impeding the transformation of equitable transboundary water arrangements. Water Alternatives, 12 (3). pp. 1095-1122. ISSN 1965-0175

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Abstract

This article explores the ways in which key components of infrastructure built on the Yarmouk tributary to the Jordan River induce or impede the transformation of existing transboundary water arrangements. Focussing on the Jordanian-Israeli Adassiyeh Weir and on the Jordanian-Syrian Wehdeh Dam, the article interprets archival documents, official river-gauging data, and interviews through a frame that highlights depoliticisation by hydrocracies within the politics of international infrastructure. The weir is found to be operated in a manner that prioritises Jordan's commitment to Israel when flows are low, and to be designed to bound the volume that Jordan can make use of during low or very high flows. The dam appears oversized but regulates the flow to the downstream weir when its reservoir does not lie empty. The design and operation of the infrastructure is found to partially and selectively depoliticise contentious transboundary water issues in a manner that privileges the more powerful actors. Transformation of the arrangements is impeded as the distribution and use of the flows is not questioned by the water authorities or the international diplomatic community, and alternative arrangements are not considered.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: agreements,international infrastructure,israel,jordan,jordan river,power,syria,transboundary water,treaties,yarmouk,geography, planning and development,water science and technology,political science and international relations,management, monitoring, policy and law ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3305
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Global Development (formerly School of International Development)
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Climate Change
Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Global Environmental Justice
Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Water Security Research Centre
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 12 May 2020 23:59
Last Modified: 29 Jan 2024 02:44
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/75124
DOI:

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