King Talal Dam : Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

King Talal Dam

Dam in northern Jordan

Dam in Jerash Governorate

32°11′24″N 35°48′05″E / 32.19000°N 35.80139°E / 32.19000; 35.80139StatusOperationalConstruction began1972Opening date1978Owner(s)Jordan Valley AuthorityDam and spillwaysType of damEarthfillImpoundsZarqa RiverHeight106 meterReservoirCreatesKing Talal ReservoirTotal capacity86,000,000 m³ (69,721 acre⋅ft)Active capacity78,000,000 m³ (63,236 acre⋅ft)Power StationTurbines2 x 2 MW Francis turbinesInstalled capacity4 MW

The King Talal Dam is a large dam in the hills of northern Jordan, across the Zarqa River. The dam was started in 1971, with the original construction being completed in 1978 at a height of 92.5 meters. The original dam cost $46 million and was partially funded by a $16.8 million loan from the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development and a $5.6 million grant from the Abu Dhabi Fund. Energoprojekt of Yugoslavia was the consultant and Planum of Yugoslavia was the contractor.^[1]

In 1984, to meet the country's increased water demands, work to raise the dam to a height of 106 meters was begun, a project that was completed in 1988. The dam is named after king Talal of Jordan. The main purpose of the dam is to store winter rains and treated wastewater from Amman and Zarqa treated in the As Samra plant for irrigation in the Jordan Valley. The dam irrigates about 17,000 hectares and supports the livelihood of 120,000 people.^[2]

References

^ Rami George Khouri: The Jordan Valley - Life and Society below Sea Level, Longman, London and New York, 1981, p. 145.
^ Haddadin, Munther. "The Socio-Economic Role of The King Talal Dam in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan". Presentation at the World Commission on Dams Regional Consultation, Cairo, Egypt, 8–9 December 1999. Retrieved 11 November 2013.