Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 3 hrs ago
Jordan mosque reuses ritual washing water to irrigate its garden
At Abu Obeida mosque in Jordan's Jordan valley, water used by worshippers for ritual washing is collected and reused.
Pipes carry it to a treatment unit, where it passes through layers of gravel and sand before flowing to the garden.
The filtered water irrigates trees and flowerbeds, rather than being lost to the sewers or drawn from the municipal supply.
Jordan is extremely water-scarce, and municipal water is rationed in some areas.
Reusing mosque water can reduce pressure on supplies, while showing how a religious practice can support conservation.
The Jordanian Aqua Conservation Association has worked on the issue since 2008, but expansion has been slowed by funding, technical and administrative challenges.
The association and the Ministry of Awqaf have also trained religious leaders and technicians, and the ministry says more than 35 mosques already reuse ablution water for irrigation and cleaning.
Abu Obeida mosque in Jordan reuses water from ritual washing to irrigate its garden.
Pipes carry used water to a treatment unit, where it passes through gravel and sand before reaching the garden.
The project is managed by the Jordanian Aqua Conservation Association and has the Ministry of Awqaf as a partner.
Jordan receives 61 cubic metres of renewable fresh water per person each year, according to the article.
The association says the project has expanded to 18 mosques and schools, while more than 35 mosques are using ablution water for irrigation and cleaning.
- Who
- Abu Obeida mosque in Deir Alla, with a system managed by the Jordanian Aqua Conservation Association.
- What
- The mosque treats and reuses water from ritual washing to irrigate its garden.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- Deir Alla, Balqa, in the Jordan valley, west of Amman, Jordan.
- Why
- To conserve water and reduce reliance on Jordan’s strained municipal supply.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Jordanian Aqua Conservation Association began working on the issue of reusing ablution water.
The Ministry of Awqaf implemented rainwater harvesting projects in more than 50 mosques.
The article reported that the project had reached 18 mosques and schools.
- Water per person
- 61 cubic metres of renewable fresh water annually in Jordan
- Mosques in Jordan
- More than 7,600
- Project reach
- 18 mosques and schools
- Ablution-water reuse
- More than 35 mosques use it for irrigation and cleaning
- Training reached
- 1,200 muezzins, 750 female preachers, 110 imams and 28 technicians
What people are saying
What we wanted to show is that the mosque, which already teaches conservation as a religious value, can practise it too.
Mosques do not use soap during wudu, so there are no chemicals to complicate treatment.
More than 35 mosques are already using ablution water for irrigation and cleaning.