Drone detects water theft from Disi pipeline, man arrested

AMMAN — A man was caught red-handed on Tuesday stealing water from a Disi Pipeline after tampering with one of the valve chambers alongside the line and diverting water into his tanker in Jafer area, the Water Ministry announced.

The water theft was uncovered by a  drone deployed by the Water Ministry in cooperation with King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB), the ministry said in a statement. 

Upon detecting the violation, the Water Ministry immediately coordinated with the Public Security Directorate through the operations and control centre, the Royal Badia Forces and the Royal Department for Environment Protection.

An investigation is still ongoing to uncover the details of the case, the ministry said, citing an official source as saying that the aerial surveillance in the desert area of Jafer confirmed the attack through a live feed.

The video showed the man parking his water tanker near one of the vents designated to reduce pressure alongside the pipeline, and used special tools to open the valve chambers, causing a huge water large leak, which he used to fill his water tanker, the source said.

The source added that a raid was conducted on the site where the man was apprehended and referred to the prosecutor general, according to the statement. 

The aerial surveillance has helped prevent reduction to the water share allocated to certain areas. It has also contributed in preventing water supply disruptions in other areas as the violation was caught swiftly, the statement said.