Facing water scarcity, Jordan is preparing to launch one of the largest engineering projects in the Middle East. It involves the installation of a 438-kilometer underground aqueduct to transport desalinated water from the Red Sea to Amman, the Jordanian capital. The project, announced as the National Water Carrier Project, includes a desalination plant, pumping stations, and reservoirs to ensure the transport of the resource across the entire territory. Some of the difficulties faced by the engineers in charge of the construction are related to the difference in elevation at which the water will have to be moved. The most difficult areas, where the most research is being devoted, are those that exceed 1,100 meters above sea level. In total, the desalination plant will have the capacity to produce 300 million cubic meters of drinking water per year. Of this volume, approximately 250 million will be allocated to the capital, Amman, while the other 50 million will supply Aqaba. The megaproject is expected to be completed by 2030 with financing from the European Bank (illustrative image) (Photo: Generated with AI). Another challenge is related to the disposal of brine, a saline waste generated during the desalination process. This material must undergo proper treatment before being returned to the sea, otherwise the consequences could be very serious for the region's marine ecosystems. By 2030, the Jordanian government expects this infrastructure to cover 40% of national demand. In addition, a 281-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant will be added to the hydraulic works, with the aim of supplying approximately 30% of the energy needed for the water desalination and transport system. The total estimated budget for this project is 4.3 billion dollars. This project was carefully designed by environmental specialists and government officials, since although Jordan has other natural water sources, its ecosystems become drier year after year. In an attempt to avoid depleting natural resources and to give future generations more chances of survival, the country seeks to invest as much as possible to provide quality drinking water to all its inhabitants.