After the pumping stations in Jisr al-Shughour stopped working in 2017, the city faced a severe water shortage, making it difficult to supply water to homes. Residents had to rely on tankers to meet their water needs, but these tankers often did not provide safe water.
Abu Ahmed, a resident of Jisr al-Shughour in the Idlib countryside, says, “When the water is cut off in our home, it feels like a heavy burden on my shoulders. I have to leave my work to search for a tanker to fill with water, and I might not even find one available.” Abu Ahmed lives with his wife and children in Jisr al-Shughour, where obtaining drinking water is a constant struggle due to the lack of financial resources, which are barely enough to cover his family’s basic needs, let alone monthly obligations like electricity bills and transportation.
Despite the city of Jisr al-Shughour being surrounded by groundwater and the Orontes River flowing through it, making it a potentially rich source of water, its residents suffer from severe thirst. This paradox has led activists to call it the “city of water with no water.” To address this crisis, WATAN, with the support of international partners and in coordination with local authorities, launched a project in Jisr al-Shughour aimed at providing immediate relief, achieving long-term sustainability, and alleviating the suffering that has persisted for years.
As part of the project, the Water and Sanitation Program team installed a high-capacity water tank that holds 300 cubic meters. They also rehabilitated the city’s water networks to deliver water to remote neighborhoods, benefiting 55,000 people. The field teams provided effective operational support to the stations by installing solar energy systems, consisting of 315 panels with a capacity of 180 kilowatts, to operate two wells out of nine at the station. This initiative reduced operating costs and enhanced the efficiency of the stations by using clean energy, thereby minimizing the breakdowns that occurred when relying on generators or electrical power.
By rehabilitating and installing the necessary stations and electrical transformers, WATAN worked to ensure a sustainable water supply for the city’s residents. They also repaired damaged infrastructure, such as the main water lines leading to remote neighborhoods.
“Thank God, things are much better now. I no longer have to rely on the unsafe water that comes from tankers. Now we receive chlorinated water directly, and I don’t have to leave my job to find someone to bring water to our house,” Abu Ahmed shares.
Despite the ongoing challenges of resource shortages and lack of support and funding, efforts continue to provide sustainable projects wherever possible. Thanks to these efforts, there is hope that the suffering of many will end and that other areas still struggling to provide safe water will benefit from similar positive impacts.