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A comparative scenario analysis of WSUD measures for stormwater management in Amman, Jordan

Sharma, Tarini

Abstract

Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. At the same time, it has faced many flash floods due to the topography and rainfall patterns in the region. However, Jordan’s vulnerabilities to these water shocks have been exacerbated due to factors like climate change, rapid urbanization, a huge influx of refugees and the lack of proper management to keep up with these changes. With increased international cooperation, Jordan has committed to achieving various climate goals, however, the implementation of these policies into practice has been a challenge. This Master’s thesis aims to analyse the effects of integrating water-sensitive urban design measures into urban areas in arid and semi-arid climates. This is done by conducting an urban analysis of a catchment in Amman, a developing area called Marj Al Hammam. In this catchment, certain hotspots are identified that are at high risk of flooding, and at the same time present a potential to implement WSUD strategies. Further, three scenarios are envisioned - business as usual, interventions in public spaces and the inclusion of private spaces for stormwater management. While these hotspots vary greatly in their typologies, a common inference was that in the current state, maximum damage would incur due to stormwater runoff. The lack of open public space available according to the current land use plan poses a challenge to integrate WSUD, however, even in the minimal spaces available, its impact is quite apparent in terms of reducing and attenuating stormwater runoff volumes and runoff velocities. Further integrating these measures into private areas, especially rainwater harvesting has a huge impact on the overall system hydrology. Moreover, with strategic storage and treatment, stormwater runoff can be a good source of water supply during the dry periods in Amman. Additionally, these measures come with many ecological and social benefits - improving the microclimate, promoting biodiversity by bringing nature into the city and providing dynamic spaces in the city for people to come together, hence improving the overall quality of stay. The planning and implementation of these measures, however, should be done with stakeholder workshops and public participatory programs. Thus this analysis concludes with recommendations for the further development of the catchment and directs the path to further research on the detailed design of measures, to make Amman a resilient, green, just and inclusive city.

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A comparative scenario analysis of WSUD measures for stormwater management in Amman, Jordan

Author: Sharma, Tarini
Source: https://repos.hcu-hamburg.de/bitstream/hcu/1095/1/2025-01-14_sharma_masterarbeit.pdf
A compa a i e scena io analysis o WSUD measu es
o s o mwa e managemen in Amman, Jo dan
Ta ini Sha ma
REAP Mas e Thesis
A compa a i e scena io analysis o WSUD measu es
o s o mwa e managemen in Amman, Jo dan
Submi ed in ul illmen o he equi emen s o he deg ee:
Mas e o Science
Resou ce E iciency in A chi ec u e and Planning
Ha enCi y Uni e si y Hambu g
Au ho : Ta ini Sha ma (6078153)
Supe iso s: P o esso Wol gang Dickhau (Ha enCi y Uni e si y)
Daniel Schumann-Hindenbe g (Hambu g Wasse )
Da e o submission: 26.06.2024
4
Acknowledgmen s
I wan o ake his oppo uni y o hank P o Wol gang Dickhau o his expe
guidance and eedback du ing his p ojec . Also my deepes g a i ude o Daniel
Schumann Hindenbe g o his cons an suppo , insigh s and eedback h oughou
he a ious s ages o my hesis. I would also like o hank he en i e E1 eam om
Hambu g Wasse o he oppo uni y o wo k wi h hem and lea n so much, e en
beyond he scope o my p ojec . I also would like o acknowledge he suppo
ex ended by Mahmoud Mou sy who g ea ly helped me choose he igh me h-
ods and app oaches o begin my analysis and o p o iding some key esou ces.
Fu he mo e, I would like o hank e e yone who has accompanied me on his
jou ney - my ellow REAP classma es - Kiana Sasani, Dounia Chlyeh, and Aa on
Wieland o lis ening o my endless doub s and complain s and p o iding expe
counsel. A special shou ou o Gab iela Lugones Guzman o being my s udy
pa ne and cons an chee leade , and o No be B inz o his acu e obse a ions
and echnical expe ise. I am also deeply g a e ul o Mal e G ae e o seeing me
h ough his jou ney and suppo ing me h ough his wise counsel and kind deeds.
Las bu no he leas , I wish o exp ess my g a i ude o my lo ing pa en s and sis e
Cha u o hei cons an suppo wi hou which I could no be he pe son I am o-
day.
5
Abs ac
Jo dan is one o he mos wa e -sca ce coun ies in he wo ld. A he same ime, i has
aced many lash loods due o he opog aphy and ain all pa e ns in he egion.
Howe e , Jo dan’s ulne abili ies o hese wa e shocks ha e been exace ba ed due
o ac o s like clima e change, apid u baniza ion, a huge in lux o e ugees and he
lack o p ope managemen o keep up wi h hese changes. Wi h inc eased in e na-
ional coope a ion, Jo dan has commi ed o achie ing a ious clima e goals, how-
e e , he implemen a ion o hese policies in o p ac ice has been a challenge. This
Mas e ’s hesis aims o analyse he e ec s o in eg a ing wa e -sensi i e u ban design
measu es in o u ban a eas in a id and semi-a id clima es. This is done by conduc -
ing an u ban analysis o a ca chmen in Amman, a de eloping a ea called Ma j Al
Hammam. In his ca chmen , ce ain ho spo s a e iden i ied ha a e a high isk o
looding, and a he same ime p esen a po en ial o implemen WSUD s a egies.
Fu he , h ee scena ios a e en isioned - business as usual, in e en ions in public
spaces and he inclusion o p i a e spaces o s o mwa e managemen . While
hese ho spo s a y g ea ly in hei ypologies, a common in e ence was ha in
he cu en s a e, maximum damage would incu due o s o mwa e uno . The
lack o open public space a ailable acco ding o he cu en land use plan poses
a challenge o in eg a e WSUD, howe e , e en in he minimal spaces a ailable,
i s impac is qui e appa en in e ms o educing and a enua ing s o mwa e un-
o olumes and uno eloci ies. Fu he in eg a ing hese measu es in o p i a e
a eas, especially ainwa e ha es ing has a huge impac on he o e all sys em
hyd ology. Mo eo e , wi h s a egic s o age and ea men , s o mwa e uno can
be a good sou ce o wa e supply du ing he d y pe iods in Amman. Addi ionally,
hese measu es come wi h many ecological and social bene i s - imp o ing he
mic oclima e, p omo ing biodi e si y by b inging na u e in o he ci y and p o iding
dynamic spaces in he ci y o people o come oge he , hence imp o ing he o e -
all quali y o s ay. The planning and implemen a ion o hese measu es, howe e ,
should be done wi h s akeholde wo kshops and public pa icipa o y p og ams.
Thus his analysis concludes wi h ecommenda ions o he u he de elopmen o
he ca chmen and di ec s he pa h o u he esea ch on he de ailed design o
measu es, o make Amman a esilien , g een, jus and inclusi e ci y.
Keywo ds:
wa e sensi i e u ban design, esilien ci y, lash loods, s o mwa e managemen ,
ainwa e ha es ing, educ ion o uno olumes and discha ge a es

Table o Con en s
Acknowledgmen s ................................................................................................................................ 6
Abs ac .............................................................................................................................................. 7
Lis o Tables ....................................................................................................................................... 12
Abb e ia ions ...................................................................................................................................... 12
Glossa y ............................................................................................................................................ 13
Chap e 1: Amman’s U ban wa e s: Issues and Oppo uni ies .......................15
1.1 In oduc ion o he p ojec ........................................................................................................ 15
1.2 The con adic ions o Amman’s Wa e scapes ............................................................................. 16
1.3 P oblem s a emen ................................................................................................................... 18
1.4 Wa e Sensi i e U ban Design .................................................................................................. 19
1.5 CapTain Rain .......................................................................................................................... 20
1.6 Resea ch ques ion and objec i es ............................................................................................. 21
1.7 Scope and limi a ions .............................................................................................................. 22
Chap e 2: Resea ch Me hods and App oaches .............................................25
2.1 Chap e s uc u e and esea ch low ........................................................................................ 26
2.2 Li e a u e e iew ..................................................................................................................... 26
2.3 U ban Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 26
2.4 Scena io C ea ion .................................................................................................................. 28
2.5 Quali a i e and quan i a i e analysis ........................................................................................ 29
2.6 Fo mula ion o Recommenda ions ........................................................................................... 32
Chap e 3: Amman’s Wa e scape: Policies, Challenges, and Global Lessons ..35
3.1 Na ional con ex .................................................................................................................... 35
3.2 U banisa ion in Jo dan ........................................................................................................... 35
3.3 Amman’s con ex ................................................................................................................... 36
3.4 Clima e ................................................................................................................................. 36
3.5 Clima e change impac s on Jo dan ......................................................................................... 38
3.6 Wa e ................................................................................................................................... 39
3.6.1 Wa e supply in Jo dan .................................................................................................. 39
3.6.2 Access o wa e and i s consump ion ............................................................................... 39
3.6.3 Was ewa e .................................................................................................................. 41
3.6.4 S o mwa e (and he lack o i ) ........................................................................................ 41
3.6.5 WSUD and he Challenges o i s implemen a ion in a id and semi-a id a eas ..................... 41
3.7 Planning In Amman: Policies and S akeholde s ......................................................................... 42
3.8 Lessons lea ned om Pilo p ojec s in Amman and p ojec s om a ound he wo ld ...................... 45
Chap e 4: Designing wi h Na u e: Amman’s WSUD Toolki ..........................51
4.1 In oduc ion ........................................................................................................................... 51
4.2 De ining he planning goals .................................................................................................... 52
4.3 Measu es and hei desc ip ions .............................................................................................. 52
Chap e 5: Scena ios in Focus: Analysis o WSUD o Amman .......................65
5.1 U ban Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 65
5.1.1 Figu e G ound Map .................................................................................................... 66
5.1.2 Building Classi ica ion Map ........................................................................................... 67
5.1.3 Residen ial Classi ica ion Map ........................................................................................ 68
5.1.4 Landuse Map ............................................................................................................... 69
5.1.5 De elopmen Map ........................................................................................................ 70
5.1.6 Public-P i a e classi ica ion Map ..................................................................................... 71
5.1.7 Open Space Classi ica ion Map ..................................................................................... 72
5.1.8 Hyd aulic Map .............................................................................................................. 73
5.1.9 Iden i ica ion o Ho spo s ............................................................................................... 74
5.2 Ho spo Analysis .................................................................................................................... 76
5.2.1 Ho spo A: Public A ea .................................................................................................. 76
5.2.1.1 Desc ip ion ....................................................................................................... 76
5.2.1.2 Iden i ica ion o ypes o su aces and a eas ....................................................... 76
5.2.1.3 Concep ual design o WSUD measu es o Scena ios 2 and 3 .............................. 78
5.2.1.4 Quan i a i e Analysis ......................................................................................... 80
5.2.1.5 Fu he design ecommenda ions ........................................................................ 85
5.2.2 Ho spo B: Royal Village P ojec ...................................................................................... 88
5.2.2.1 Desc ip ion ....................................................................................................... 88
5.2.2.2 Iden i ica ion o ypes o su aces and a eas ........................................................ 88
5.2.2.3 Concep ual design o WSUD measu es o Scena ios 2 and 3 .............................. 90
5.2.2.4 Quan i a i e Analysis ......................................................................................... 94
5.2.2.5 Fu he design ecommenda ions ........................................................................ 96
5.2.3 Ho spo C: Residen ial A ea ........................................................................................... 99
5.2.3.1 Desc ip ion ...................................................................................................... 99
5.2.3.2 Iden i ica ion o ypes o su aces and a eas ....................................................... 100
5.2.3.3 Concep ual design o WSUD measu es o Scena ios 2 and 3 ............................. 101
5.2.3.4 Quan i a i e Analysis ........................................................................................ 104
5.2.3.5 Fu he design ecommenda ions ....................................................................... 105
Chap e 6: Fu u e Ho izons: Concluding Insigh s o Amman’s S o mwa e ....109
6.1 Summa y o esul s ................................................................................................................. 109
6.1.1 Compa a i e analysis o ............................................................................................... 110
6.1.2 Compa a i e analysis o ............................................................................................... 111
6.1.3 Compa a i e analysis o ............................................................................................... 112
6.2 Recommended measu es o he ca chmen .............................................................................. 113
6.3 Fu he Resea ch .................................................................................................................... 113
6.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 114
Appendix .....................................................................................................116
Re e ences ...................................................................................................125
Lis o Figu es
Figu e 1: On 5 Feb ua y 2021, a lash lood in Jo dan’s Az aq basin illed a newly cons uc ed Managed Aqui e Recha ge
wa e ha es ing s uc u e wi h 65,000 m³ o esh wa e in unde h ee hou s, equi alen o nea ly 800,000 Jo danians’ daily
consump ion, showcasing a pilo ini ia i e using local mud o decen alize d ough isk managemen solu ions h ough na ional
collabo a i e wa e managemen e o s. ....................................................................................................................15
Figu e 2: Dis ic ulne abili y o D ough ....................................................................................................................16
Figu e 3: Dis ic ulne abili y o Floods ......................................................................................................................17
Figu e 4: An u ban space in eg a ed wi h WSUD measu es. .........................................................................................19
Figu e 5: Concep ual amewo k o he in eg a ed ulne abili y analysis o lash loods o CapTain Rain. .......................20
Figu e 6: Chap e s uc u e and Resea ch Flow ...........................................................................................................27
Figu e 7: The h ee scena ios de ined. ........................................................................................................................28
Figu e 8: In ensi y-Du a ion-F equency (IDF) cu es o Na’u S a ion. ...........................................................................29
Figu e 9: Map o Jo dan wi h i s neighbou ing coun ies and main ci ies .......................................................................35
Figu e 10: Mon hly clima ology o a e age minimum, mean and maximum su ace ai empe a u e and p ecipi a ion 1991-
2020 in Jo dan .........................................................................................................................................................36
Figu e 11: In e nal Koppen clima e classi ica ion in Jo dan ..........................................................................................37
Figu e 12: The physio-mo phological zones o Jo dan ................................................................................................. 37
Figu e 13: A e age ain all in Jo dan .........................................................................................................................38
Figu e 14: Ci y Resilience F amewo k .........................................................................................................................42
Figu e 15: The imeline o di e en plans o clima e change adap a ion in Jo dan .......................................................44
Figu e 16: Me hods o in eg a ed app oach o build esilience agains lash loods .......................................................45
Figu e 17: Wa e Ha es ing Sys ems Ins alla ion ........................................................................................................46
Figu e 18: Al Zohou G een T iangle Pilo P ojec ........................................................................................................47
Figu e 19: In eg a ed WSUD in inne dike dis ic s .......................................................................................................48
Figu e 20: The Ben hemplein wa e squa e as empo a y wa e s o age acili y, a is ’s imp ession o he scene du ing a down-
pou ( op) ; The Ben hemplein a e a showe (bo om le ) and on a sunny day (bo om igh ) .......................................49
Figu e 21: The cascading e ec in a s o mwa e chain in a esiden ial ( op)and comme cial (bo om) a eas. The wo diag ams
shows how linked sequences o ea u es can cap u e ain all and elease i back in o he landscape. .............................51
Figu e 22: The g een oo will abso b and g adually elease ain all - unlike a con en ional oo , which apidly sheds he wa e
in o connec ing d ains. ..............................................................................................................................................53
Figu e 23: Sec ion o a ypical g een oo buildup .......................................................................................................53
Figu e 24: (Abo e) Sec ion o a ypical swale wi h o e low in o he d ainage sys em ....................................................54
Figu e 25: (Righ ) A ege a ed swale wi h geo- ex ile o pe mea e as well as con ey s o mwa e uno ..........................54
Figu e 26: How a ainga den wo ks ...........................................................................................................................55
Figu e 27: A se ies o s o mwa e plan e s collec ing wa e be ween wo s uc u es in eg a ed in o he landscape, c ea ing a
d ainage chain o educe uno olumes and a es, ....................................................................................................56
Figu e 28: Sec ion o RWH sys em ............................................................................................................................57
Figu e 29: RWH in a ga den o i iga ion ................................................................................................................... 57
Figu e 30: Typical sec ion o a pe meable pa emen ...................................................................................................58
Figu e 31: Example o a pe meable pa emen in a pa king lo ....................................................................................58
Figu e 32: Sp ing in he Highline in New Yo k. A co ido o biodi e si y in a dense u ban se ing b ings li e o his pos indus i-
al dis ic . .................................................................................................................................................................59
Figu e 33: (Top) - The slope o he base o he pond is no e en, gi ing ise o a complex mosaic o condi ions. .............60
Figu e 34: (Bo om) - A e en ion basin may include a o ebay a ea o encou age sedimen a ion and an ou low o excess
wa e . .......................................................................................................................................................................60
Figu e 35: (Le ) De en ion pond (d y), Gelsenki chen, Ge many ................................................................................61
Figu e 36: (Righ ) De en ion pond (we ) in Tanne Sp ings Pa k, Po land, O egon, USA ...............................................61
Figu e 37: ( op) - The Tåsinge Plads combines he echnical equi emen s o s o m wa e managemen wi h he neighbou -
hood’s desi e o a g een oasis and a local mee ing space. ......................................................................................... 62
Figu e 38: (bo om) - Pa o he Tåsinge Plads ha p o ides sea ing a ound g een a eas ..............................................62
Figu e 39: The di ision o Amman in o ca chmen s, low pa hs o lood wa e and lood isk index based on opog aphy. 65
Figu e 40: Figu e G ound Map o he ca chmen ........................................................................................................66
Figu e 41: G aph showing he buil and unbuil a eas in pe cen age o he o al ca chmen a ea. .................................66
Figu e 42: Building classi ica ion based on unc ion ....................................................................................................67
Figu e 43: G aph showing he sha e o di e en building classi ica ions. ......................................................................67
Figu e 44: Classi ica ion o esiden ial buildings based on ypology .............................................................................68
Figu e 45: G aph showing he sha e o di e en esiden ial classes..............................................................................68
Figu e 46: Landuse classi ica ion based on unc ion ....................................................................................................69
Figu e 47: G aph showing he sha e o Landuse. ........................................................................................................69
Figu e 48: Classi ica ion o esiden ial buildings based on ypology .............................................................................70
Figu e 49: G aph showing he sha e o de eloped and unde eloped a eas. ................................................................70
Figu e 50: Classi ica ion o land based on owne ship. ................................................................................................. 71
Figu e 51: G aph showing he sha e o Landuse. ........................................................................................................71
Figu e 52: Classi ica ion o open spaces based on ypology ........................................................................................72
Figu e 53: G aph showing he sha e o de eloped and unde eloped a eas. ................................................................72
Figu e 54: Hyd aulic map showing sinks and low pa hs ..............................................................................................73
Figu e 55: Iden i ica ion o ho spo s ...........................................................................................................................74
Figu e 56: The Risk - Po en ial ma ix o all he ho spo s .............................................................................................75
Figu e 57: This map shows an o e lap o he hyd aulic map showing he lows and sinks on he map showing di e en unc-
ions o buildings and open spaces o he Ho spo A - Public A eas. ............................................................................76
Figu e 58: Map o Scena io 1 - The di e en su aces wi hin he ho spo as iden i ied by sa elli e images in he exis ing condi-
ions. ........................................................................................................................................................................77
Figu e 59: Map o Scena io 2 - Concep ual design o measu es in public a eas ...........................................................79
Figu e 60: Map o Scena io 3 - Concep ual design o measu es in public and p i a e a eas .......................................... 80
Figu e 61: Runo olumes o he h ee scena ios .......................................................................................................83
Figu e 62: Runo a es o he h ee scena ios ............................................................................................................84
Figu e 63: 10@Hoy Apa men s is ocused on he ac i a ion o wa e in he landscape. Wa e lows h ough Co -Ten s eel
channels om he oo ops in o de en ion beds illed wi h i e s ones. The a ea, hough no en i ely unsealed, has g een ele-
men s combined wi h open sea ing and in eg a es s o mwa e in o he landscape in an a is ic manne . .........................86
Figu e 64: The oyal illage p ojec in i s cu en “g een ield” s a e, o e laid by a laye o hyd aulics showing sinks wi hin he
ho spo .....................................................................................................................................................................88
Figu e 65: The oyal illage p ojec mas e plan as p oposed by he a chi ec s Alnasse + Pa ne s.................................89
Figu e 66: S ee E sec ion o a 15m wide oad wi h a bio e en ion a ea ac ing as a bu e be ween he main s ee and he
Royal illage p ojec esiden ial a ea ..........................................................................................................................90
Figu e 67: S ee F sec ion o a ypical 12m wide oad wi h a bio e en ion a ea ac ing as a median be ween wo lanes o a -
ic. ...........................................................................................................................................................................91
Figu e 68: Recommended measu es o scena io 2 .....................................................................................................92
Figu e 69: Recommended measu es o scena io 3 including esiden ial a eas .............................................................93
Figu e 70: Runo olumes o he ou scena ios .........................................................................................................94
Figu e 71: Runo a es o he ou scena ios ..............................................................................................................95
Figu e 72: A layou o Tasinge Plads depic ing he a ious zones and mul i- unc ionali y and a iew o one o he de en ion
basins ......................................................................................................................................................................97
Figu e 73: A iew o he Tanne Sp ings Pa k in Po land, O egon, USA. .......................................................................98
Figu e 74: In e ac ion be ween he s o mwa e uno and ec ea ional space in he Tanne Sp ings Pa k. .......................98
Figu e 75: This map shows an o e lap o he hyd aulic map showing he lows and sinks on he map and showing di e en
unc ions o buildings and open spaces o he Ho spo C - Residen ial a eas. ...............................................................99
Figu e 76: Map o Scena io 1 - The di e en su aces wi hin he ho spo as iden i ied by sa elli e images in he exis ing condi-
ions. ......................................................................................................................................................................100
Figu e 77: Map showing he layou o di e en s ee ypes and su aces as pe he concep ual design o scena io 2. ..101
Figu e 78: S ee ype A - sec ion depic ing he di ision o high speed a ic om he inne lanes h ough he in eg a ion o
swales, and a bigge bio e en ion a ea in he median o he oad. ............................................................................102
Figu e 79: S ee ype B - sec ion depic ing he di ision o ehicula a ic om he pedes ian pa hs h ough he in eg a ion o
swales, and a bigge bio e en ion a ea in he median o he oad. .............................................................................102
Figu e 80: S ee ype C - This comme cial s ee has a wo way a ic lane in he middle and 3m wide pa king spaces o he
sides in e spe sed wi h ainga dens ha sepa a e he pedes ian pa hways in on o he shops. .................................. 102
Figu e 81: S ee ype D - sec ion o he inne esiden ial lanes whe e he a ic is sepa a ed om he pedes ian zones hough
swales ha ha e shady ees o p o ide a canopy and bu e noise.. .........................................................................103
Figu e 82: Map showing he layou o oo ops wi h RWH as pe scena io 3. ..............................................................103
Figu e 83: Runo olumes o he h ee scena ios .....................................................................................................104
Figu e 84: Runo a es o he h ee scena ios ..........................................................................................................105
Figu e 85: This design aims o c ea e mo e oppo uni ies o cap u ing ainwa e and hen slowly eleasing i o using i wi hin
he ga den. ............................................................................................................................................................107
Figu e 86: S o mwa e plan e s ha e been used o c ea e a shel e ed ou doo space nex o he house. Bench sea ing has been
a ached o he walls o he plan e . Wa e om he oo a els h ough he plan e s in o a pond which o e lows in o a ga den
swale. ....................................................................................................................................................................107
16
1.3 P oblem s a emen
E en hough a id and semi-a id egions o en ace wa e sho ages and in-
equen low ain all, ecen loods in hese a eas ha e demons a ed ha
looding can be excep ionally se e e and li e- h ea ening. Howe e , looding
s ill needs o be mo e adequa ely unde s ood as a na u al haza d in hese
en i onmen s, and i s managemen mus con on challenges, some o which
a e speci ic o a id and semi-a id zones (Nabinejad and Schü ump 2023).
U ban hyd ology is inc easingly s essed by u baniza ion and clima e change. U -
baniza ion is p o en o a ec he hyd ological esponses o na u al ca chmen s.
I educes in il a ion, base low and lag imes, and a he same ime, s o mwa e
low olumes, peak discha ge, equency o loods and su ace uno a e d a-
ma ically inc eased (Du e al., 2012). In he u u e, Amman, I bid, and Za qa,
Jo dan’s majo ci ies c ucial o he economy, will ace heigh ened ulne abili y
o haza ds due o clima e change. These ci -
ies a e expec ed o become d ie while also
encoun e ing mo e in ense p ecipi a ion
e en s, leading o heigh ened lood isks.
The buil -up a eas exposed o plu ial lood
haza ds ha e expanded and a e p ojec -
ed o keep g owing ac oss all clima e sce-
na ios, pa icula ly impac ing low-income
households (The Wo ld Bank G oup, 2022).
Looking o e ime and due o clima e
change impac s and d ough e en s, he ex-
eme e en s o loods and d ough s ha e
been exace ba ed ecen ly. Based on he hi d na ional epo o UNFCCC,
Jo dan is expec ed o ha e a wa me and d ie clima e wi h a po en ial inc ease
in ai empe a u es om +2.1 deg ees Celsius o +4 deg ees Celsius and a
dec ease in he annual ain all om 15% up o 35 % in 2100 (MoEn , 2014).
Despi e he go e nmen al e o s o manage he coun y’s limi ed wa e e-
sou ces and he ongoing sea ch o al e na i e sou ces o supply, he ad-
op ed poli ical, inancial and echnical esponses a e no able o b idge he
supply and demand gap. Se e al o he inspec ed adap a ion measu es in-
clude desalina ion, was ewa e and g eywa e ecycling, s o mwa e collec ion
and e icien wa e use. Howe e , he exis ing con en ional s o mwa e sys-
ems lack he lexibili y o accommoda e expanding u baniza ion and clima e
change impac s e ec i ely and e icien ly (Gammoh & Shamseldin, 2019).
“The exis ing con en ional
s o mwa e sys ems lack he
lexibili y o accommoda e ap-
id changes in u baniza ion and
clima e ha ha e exace ba ed
d ough s and loods in Jo dan.”

Chap e 1: Amman’s U ban Wa e s: Issues and Oppo uni ies
17
1.4 Wa e Sensi i e U ban Design
While hese issues seem un ela ed o each o he , a com-
mon solu ion can be ound in he ci cula i y o s o mwa-
e . Going back o he na u al wa e cycle and managing
s o mwa e as close o he sou ce as possible would no
only help wi h lood elie , bu also keep he ainwa e
om being pollu ed as i uns o e a ious impe meable
su aces, ei he by seeping di ec ly in o he g oundwa e
o by being collec ed in s o age anks o euse (U ban
Design Lab 2023). The aim is o keep hese solu ions
as na u al as possible, meaning, no majo cons uc-
ions and ind a esou ce-e icien way o achie e hese
goals. Wa e Sensi i e U ban Design (WSUD) is a ho-
lis ic app oach o u ban planning and design ha in e-
g a es he managemen o he whole u ban wa e cycle
in o he p ocess o land use and u ban de elopmen
(Elzein e al., 2022; Sha i ian e al., 2022). In WSUD,
u ban wa e is managed so ha i minimizes he neg-
a i e u baniza ion impac s while maximizing he eco-
nomic, social, and en i onmen al bene i s, hus p o id-
ing mo e heal hy and li able ci ies (DEWNR, 2013).
Wa e Sensi i e U ban Design (WSUD) in eg a es wa e
managemen , u ban design, and landscape planning
by encompassing he en i e u ban wa e cycle and in e-
g a ing wa e managemen unc ions wi h u ban design
p inciples (Hoye , J., e .al, 2011). I p o ides he link
be ween in eg a i e app oaches o s o mwa e manage-
men and u ban design and comp ehensi ely add ess-
es all ace s o he u ban wa e cycle, wi h a pa icula
emphasis on s o mwa e managemen , ecognizing i s
dual ole as a aluable esou ce and as a means o
p o ec ecei ing wa e ways (Melbou ne Wa e , 2005).
Decen alized s o mwa e managemen sys ems a e
enhanced when in eg a ed wi h u ban design equi e-
men s. Consequen ly, WSUD is p ima ily applied in u -
ban s o mwa e managemen , aiming o emula e a na -
u al wa e cycle and enhance u ban ameni y. As ou lined
in he “U ban S o mwa e : Bes P ac ice En i onmen al
Managemen Guidelines” by he Vic o ian S o mwa e
Commi ee (1999), he objec i es o WSUD in s o mwa-
e managemen and planning a e as ollows:
• P o ec ion o na u al wa e sys ems wi hin u ban
de elopmen s.
• Imp o emen o wa e quali y h ough il a ion and
e en ion me hods.
Reduc ion o s o mwa e uno and peak lows ia
local de en ion and e en ion s a egies and mini-
mizing impe ious su aces.
• Dec ease in d ainage in as uc u e and associa ed
de elopmen cos s, while enhancing sus ainabili y
and u ban ameni y.
• In eg a ion o s o mwa e managemen in o he
landscape by c ea ing mul i-use co ido s ha en-
hance he isual and ec ea ional appeal o u ban
a eas (Hoye e al. 2011).
Figu e 4 illus a es how an in eg a i e app oach and
esou ce managemen would look in an u ban space
by e e sing biodi e si y loss caused by u baniza ion
(U ban Design Lab, 2024).
Figu e 4: An u ban space in e-
g a ed wi h WSUD measu es
Sou ce: U ban Design Lab , 2024
18
1.5 CapTain Rain
Se e al s udies ha e been done on wa e sensi i e u ban
design, he sponge ci y concep and low impac de el-
opmen o huge me opoli ans a ound he wo ld. These
ha e led o he de elopmen o se e al pilo p ojec s and
in e na ional coope a ion o make ci ies esilien o ex-
eme ain all e en s. CapTain Rain is a simila p ojec
being de eloped by he Ge man and Jo danian coop-
e a ion ha aims o cap u e and e ain ain all o po-
en ial euse in Jo dan. Despi e hei des uc i e powe ,
hea y ain all e en s play a key ole in he hyd ological
cycle o (semi-)a id egions, as hey eplenish sca ce
wa e esou ces. In he ace o inc easing d ough isk
and wa e sca ci y, i is he e o e impo an o cap u e
and e ain ain all (ISOE GmbH 2024). In his con ex ,
CapTain Rain is in es iga ing measu es o he di e sion,
e en ion and u iliza ion o hea y ain all and o imp o -
ing hea y ain all p epa edness o he local popula ion.
The s udy is conduc ed along an u ban- u al g adien
and includes Amman and Pe a. In addi ion o adi ion-
al me hods o s o mwa e e en ion, s o age and u iliza-
ion, he concep o mul i unc ional land use o hea y
ain all p e en ion is explo ed in u ban a eas (CapTain
Rain 2024).
Wi hin he ans-disciplina y esea ch p ojec CapTain
Rain, he Ge man and Jo danian p ojec pa ne s aim
o help imp o e cu en me hods and ools o lash
lood p edic ion and p e en ion. Fo his pu pose, he
d i ing ac o s o lash loods in Jo dan’s wadi sys ems
will be analysed and he complex in e ac ions be ween
clima e and land use changes and hyd aulic enginee -
ing measu es will be un a eled. Based on ulne abili y
analyses and enginee ing solu ions o wa e collec ion
and d ainage du ing hea y ain all e en s, measu es o
p o ec he popula ion will be iden i ied. Clima e se ices
(e.g., lash lood isk maps, ea ly wa ning sys ems, ec-
ommenda ions o hea y ain all isk p e en ion) will be
de eloped in close collabo a ion wi h Jo danian s ake-
holde s and p ac ice pa ne s, conside ing scien i ic as
well as local p ac ical knowledge as shown in Figu e 5.
The s udy a eas include he capi al Amman in he me -
opoli an egion and he mo e u al egion Wadi Musa
a ound he UNESCO Wo ld He i age Si e Pe a. Bo h
egions ha e been hea ily a ec ed by lash lood e en s
in he pas (CapTain Rain p og ess epo , 2023).
The ans-disciplina y esea ch me hodologies employed
by CapTain Rain acili a e a comp ehensi e analysis o
lash lood haza ds and p e en ion s a egies, e ec i e-
ly b idging he gap be ween scien i ic knowledge and
p ac ical clima e change adap a ion measu es. Speci i-
cally, CapTain Rain will:
1. Examine he social-ecological d i e s o lash loods
in Jo dan’s wadi sys ems and un a el he complex
in e ac ions be ween clima e and land use chang-
es, imp o ing he simula ion and p edic ion o lash
lood e en s.
2. E alua e he social-ecological isk o lash loods
h ough an in eg a ed ulne abili y analysis, con-
side ing spa ial exposu e, sensi i i y, and adap i e
capaci y.
3. De elop clima e se ices o suppo lood- ela ed
decision-making, u ilizing s akeholde dialogs and
pa icipa o y app oaches.
4. Iden i y e ec i e measu es o enhance he adap i e
capaci y o local communi ies, including echnolo-
gies and me hods o cap u ing and e aining wa e
om hea y ain all and p e en ing damage (Cap-
Tain Rain 2024).
This hesis is based on he da a e ie ed h ough Ham-
bu g Wasse o he p ojec CapTain Rain, which is one
o he pa ne companies and chie s akeholde in he
p ojec . The da a is p ima ily si e obse a ions by he
Hambu g Wasse eams on si e, landuse da a om GAM
and hyd ological analysis done by o he s akeholde s as
pa o his esea ch.
Figu e 5: Concep ual amewo k o
he in eg a ed ulne abili y analysis
o lash loods o CapTain Rain.
Sou ce: (CapTain Rain 2024)
Chap e 1: Amman’s U ban Wa e s: Issues and Oppo uni ies
19
1.6 Resea ch ques ion and objec i es
In a id and semi-a id egions, adop ing Wa e Sensi i e U ban Design (WSUD)
is a cos -e ec i e app oach o managing sca ce wa e esou ces. I acili a es
e icien wa e use, c ea ing g een open spaces wi h ea ed was ewa e and
na i e plan s, add essing ex eme hea , p o iding u ban cooling, and o e ing
ecological, social, and ameni y bene i s. WSUD p ac ices also enhance s o m-
wa e in il a ion and g oundwa e echa ge o d ough adap a ion. Challeng-
es include heal h isks, public accep ance, limi ed expe ience, and he need o
subs an ial spaces in densely popula ed a eas, along wi h ins i u ional ba ie s
(Cos a e al., 2015).
The e o e, his esea ch aims o explo e wa e -sensi i e u ban design
s a egies ha bes sui a dense u ban a ea in Amman, Jo dan o ackle
s o mwa e challenges, bo h in e ms o lash loods and wa e sho ages.
While hese s udies co e he aspec s o s o mwa e managemen in a ious
clima es, con ex ualisa ion o hese measu es o semi-a id and a id egions
is a ai ly new and eme ging concep . On one hand, decen alized me hods
o s o mwa e managemen a e
being explo ed a he household
le el and on he o he , mega p oj-
ec s o desalina ion and was ewa e
ecycling a e being gi en high in-
es men s. The e o e, his esea ch
aims o explo e middle-g ound,
medium-scale, and low-impac de-
elopmen s a egies and o in es-
iga e hei e iciency. The scope,
howe e , is limi ed o he imple-
men a ion o WSUD measu es in a
dense u ban a ea in Amman. This
would be done by c ea ing 3 dis-
inc scena ios, each wi h de ined bounda y condi ions, and di e en s a egies
o s o mwa e managemen , and ul ima ely compa ing he esul s.
The e o e, he objec i es o his esea ch a e:
• To iden i y he ho spo s in a ca chmen a ea, o places o high isk and high
po en ial.
• To de ine he planning goals o be achie ed by ce ain selec ed WSUD
measu es.
• To de elop s a egies o di e en scena ios and compa e hei esul s.
• Finally, o c ea e a lis o ecommenda ions o u u e de elopmen in his
a ea.
“Wha combina ion o Wa e Sensi i e U -
ban Design s a egies can be implemen ed
in a dense u ban a ea in Amman, Jo dan,
o o e come s o mwa e challenges, bo h
in e ms o p o ec ion du ing lash loods
and p o iding an addi ional sou ce o wa-
e du ing d y pe iods?”
20
1.7 Scope and limi a ions
The scope o his esea ch is limi ed o he analysis o one ca chmen in he dis ic
o Ma j Al Hamam wi h an a ea o 1317 hec a es. Since access o he si e was no
possible, mos o he da a ga he ed is om sa elli e image y and da a ob ained
om he G ea e Amman Municipali y o GAM h ough he p ojec CapTain
Rain and Hambu g Wasse as well as published epo s o p e iously conduc ed
su eys. This aw GIS da a has no been published ye and hence is e e enced
only as HW 2024, om whe e i is sou ced. Howe e , i has been added o and
u he imp o ed by Google Maps and A cGIS sa elli e image y. Due o his
many assump ions abou he ypes o su aces ha e been made, as explained
in he u he chap e s. I should also be no ed ha he a eas aken om GIS o
he a ious scena ios ha e a sligh e o ma gin, he e o e he calcula ed alues
o a eas and olumes a e an es ima ion and should no be conside ed exac .
To u he limi he scope o his p ojec , a de ailed analysis will be done o
selec ed ho spo s and no o he en i e ca chmen a ea. These ho spo s will be
selec ed based on hei ypology and keeping in mind ha hey a e ep esen-
a i e o he di e en neighbou hoods o he ca chmen o u u e scalabili y.
The measu es and s a egies aken in o accoun a e designed a a concep ual
le el acco ding o a s udy o he a ea a ailable o implemen a ion. Fu he anal-
ysis o he easibili y o hese measu es needs o be done wi h he in ol emen o
he a ious s akeholde s. Addi ionally, u he esea ch needs o be done on he
applica ion o hese measu es in a id clima es and he espec i e na i e plan a-
ions. A guide o na i e plan s has been published (Guide o Species Selec ion
o Amman Public Open Spaces 2021) and e e ed o in he ollowing chap e s.
The olume es ima ions a e done based on Ge man s anda ds om he DWA
as he in o ma ion on Jo danian s o mwa e managemen and u ban d ainage
egula ions was no a ailable. The idea is o conduc an es ima ion o he
e ec s o WSUD measu es in his pa icula con ex , o c ea e u he scalable
ecommenda ions. The olume es ima ions also need o be u he calcula -
ed on so wa e like STORM o SWMM o a mo e p ecise design simula ion.
Chap e 1: Amman’s U ban Wa e s: Issues and Oppo uni ies
21

22
Chap e 2: Resea ch Me hods and App oaches
23
Chap e 2
Resea ch Me hods and App oaches
The eason o choosing he con ex o Amman was d i en by a cu iosi y
o explo ing he looding pa e ns in dese clima es, some hing ha is no
a popula pe cep ion o unde s anding. E en hough he annual p ecipi a-
ion in a id egions is low, s o mwa e managemen becomes especially i-
al o he pu pose o eju ena ing he g ound wa e Table and main aining
na u al wa e low cycles e en in densely u banized a eas. The esea ch
done in his ield is limi ed o Sou h Aus alia and he USA which may ha e
simila clima e con ex s bu a y widely in u ban and demog aphic con-
ex s. Inspi a ion and expe ience we e gained du ing he in ol emen wi h
Hambu g Wasse , one o he s akeholde s o he esea ch p ojec CapTain
Rain and subsequen con ibu ion o i .
This chap e elabo a es on he a ious esea ch me hodologies used o
his hesis. I explains he me hods in de ail in he ollowing sec ion, ou lines
he sou cing and quali y o da a and he app oaches o analysing i . I also
p o ides a basic ou line o each o he chap e s in his hesis and illus a es
how hey a e connec ed and wha is he esea ch low. Though his was an
i e a i e p ocess, wi h a lo o back and o h be ween sec ions, a linea
esea ch low was managed and ollowed o c ea e a s o yline. The in e -
connec ion be ween chap e s and he low o he mas e hesis esea ch is
illus a ed in Figu e 6.
24
2.1 Chap e s uc u e and esea ch
low
Chap e 1 - Amman’s U ban Wa e s, p o ides an in-
oduc o y insigh in o he ele ance o WSUD in Am-
man. I discusses how u baniza ion and clima e change
ha e exace ba ed he condi ions o lash loods and
wa e sca ci y in Amman, hus de ining he p oblem. I
u he elabo a es on he need o WSUD and explains
he basic p inciple o blue-g een in as uc u e and i s
posi i e impac s on he u ban wa e cycle o any place.
Fu he , his chap e also discusses he con ibu ion o
he esea ch p ojec CapTain Rain. Finally, i is sum-
ma ised by a s a emen o he esea ch ques ion and
objec i es and he scope and limi a ions o he p ojec .
Chap e 2 – Resea ch me hods and app oaches explain
he me hodology and esea ch low as well as he de ails
conce ning ob ained da a. I b ie ly ou lines he con en s
o each chap e and how hey a e in e connec ed. Fu -
he , he c ea ion o he scena ios is explained he e, and
he a ionale behind hem. Finally, his chap e con ains
he mos c ucial elemen s o he compa a i e analysis
– how i is conduc ed quali a i ely and quan i a i ely, ci -
ing he o mulas used and he a ionale behind hem.
The hi d chap e on Amman’s Wa e scapes ou lines
he s a us quo o Jo dan and Amman in e ms o back-
g ound, clima e, policies and s akeholde s. He e he
issues and oppo uni ies o Amman’s u ban wa e s a e
de ailed. This o ms he basis o inding esea ch gaps
and con ex ualises he si e. I is concluded by lessons
lea n om case s udies ha would help in building he
ecommenda ions o u he de elopmen in he a ea.
Chap e 4 - Designing he WSUD Toolbox summa is-
es he planning goals ha se guidelines o selec ing
and implemen ing measu es. Fu he , he a ious se-
lec ed measu es a e de ailed in a o ma o be e un-
de s and he p ocesses and echnologies in ol ed. The
o ma is also in ended o be used in s akeholde mee -
ings and wo kshops, essen ially simpli ied o a le el o
easy unde s anding. This oolki will be used o he
concep ual design o he scena ios in he nex chap e .
Chap e 5 – Scena ios in ocus, is whe e he bulk o
he analysis is conduc ed, beginning om he u -
ban analysis o he si e o selec he ele an ho spo s.
These ho spo s a e hen u he de ailed, and di e en
ypes o su aces and hei a eas a e ob ained. The
nex s ep is o c ea e 3 dis inc scena ios wi h a con-
cep ual design o he measu es om he oolki . Fu -
he , hese scena ios a e compa ed based on he cal-
cula ions o peak uno olumes and peak uno
a es, as well as he planning goals achie ed by hem.
Las ly, Chap e 6 – Fu u e Ho izons ou lines he ec-
ommenda ions ha a e an ou come o he com-
pa a i e analysis conduc ed in he p e ious chap-
e . The sec ion o he discussion add esses ce ain
challenges and he conclusions d awn om he e-
sea ch and o e s he possibili ies o u he esea ch.
2.2 Li e a u e e iew
One key me hodology used o e ine his esea ch is a
li e a u e e iew. To ge a deepe unde s anding o he
con ex , his sec ion del es in o summa izing epo s and
publica ions ha desc ibe he backg ound o Jo dan as
a coun y and he challenges i aces in he con ex o
wa e . I u he desc ibes he capi al ci y o Amman, i s
clima e, opog aphy and u ban hyd ology. I also looks
in o policies and amewo ks o u he u ban de el-
opmen and he s akeholde s esponsible o he same.
Some s o mwa e managemen p ojec s ha ha e been
esea ched a e men ioned he e as well. Finally, some
case s udies o implemen ed s o mwa e pilo p ojec s by
he UN Habi a a e obse ed and lessons lea ned om
applied WSUD in Ro e dam a e summa ised.
2.3 U ban Analysis
The second me hodology used is conduc ing an u ban
analysis o a selec ed ca chmen a ea. The mapping o
di e en ypologies o su aces and ma e ials is done
based on sa elli e image y om Google Maps, Open
S ee Map and A cGIS sa elli e image y. The da a col-
lec ed is syn hesized in QGIS, sepa a ing he a ious lay-
e s o he u ban a ea like buil and unbuil , owne ship o
land, land use based on unc ion, open space and low
o s o mwa e . The hyd ological maps a e based on he
hea y ain all e en o 2019 and a e aken di ec ly om
HW, 2024. Sepa a ing hese laye s and hen o e lap-
ping hem wi h he hyd ological da a leads o he iden-
i ica ion o ho spo s o a eas ha a e a high isk and
ha e a good po en ial o implemen ing WSUD mea-
su es. Fu he , some ho spo s will be selec ed o an in-
dep h analysis ha bes ep esen s he ca chmen a ea
and ep esen ce ain dis inc u ban ypologies.
Chap e 2: Resea ch Me hods and App oaches
25
Resea ch ques ion and
objec i es
Resea ch me hods and
app oaches
Wa e sca ci y
s
Flash Floods
WSUD
Scena io o ma ion
Quali a i e and
quan i a i e aspec s
Ammans’s wa e scapes
Con ex , clima e,
u ban wa e s, policies
and s akeholde s
Lessons lea ned
om case s udies
WSUD Toolki
De ining planning
goals In oca ds
Analysis
U ban Analysis
Ho spo selec ion
Concep ual design
Compa a i e Analysis
Conclusi e insigh s
Recommenda ions o u u e de elopmen
Fu he esea ch and Conclusions
Figu e 6: Chap e s uc u e and Resea ch Flow
Sou ce: Au ho
Chap e 1
Chap e 2Chap e 3Chap e 4Chap e 5Chap e 6
32

Chap e 3: Amman’s Wa e scape: Policies, Challenges, and Global Lessons
33
Chap e 3
Amman’s Wa e scape: Policies, Challenges,
and Global Lessons
3.1 Na ional con ex
The Hashemi e Kingdom o Jo dan, e e ed o as Jo dan, is si ua ed in he
ocky dese egion o he no he n A abi-
an Peninsula. I sha es bo de s wi h Sy ia o
he no h, I aq o he no heas , and Sau-
di A abia o he eas and sou h, spanning
a o al a ea o 89,318 squa e kilome es
as in Figu e 9. As o 2019, Jo dan has a
popula ion o 10.5 million people, wi h a
signi ican concen a ion esiding in and
a ound he capi al ci y, Amman (UN Habi a
2022). Jo dan is enowned o i s s abili y
in a u bulen egion. Th oughou i s his o y
and pa icula ly since he onse o he Sy ian
c isis, i has welcomed la ge numbe s o e -
ugees. Jo dan has he second-highes num-
be o e ugees pe capi a globally, wi h 89
e ugees pe 1,000 inhabi an s (UN Habi a
2022).
Jo dan’s popula ion nea ly doubled be-
ween 2004 and 2015, in luenced by he
poli ical si ua ions in I aq and Sy ia. As one
o he younges coun ies globally, a ound
63 % o i s popula ion is unde 30. This de-
mog aphic end necessi a es long- e m e-
sou ce planning o mee he u u e needs o
he g owing popula ion (UN Habi a 2022).
3.2 U banisa ion in Jo dan
Jo dan is among he 50 mos u banized
coun ies globally, wi h 90.3 % o i s pop-
ula ion li ing in u ban a eas. The coun y
is expe iencing apid u ban g ow h, wi h
an annual popula ion g ow h a e o 2.3 %
(2019) and a popula ion densi y o 118.9
people pe squa e kilome e . O e he pas
wo decades, Jo dan’s buil -up a ea has
doubled o 1,500 km², wi h u ban a eas
co e ing 909 km². This expansion, a 1 % pe yea (15 km²), h ea ens ag-
icul u al land and in as uc u e de elopmen (UN Habi a 2022).Nea ly
h ee-qua e s o Jo dan consis s o a ba en pla eau in he eas and sou h-
eas . The wes e n and no hwes e n egions a e he mos e ile, habiTable,
and u banized, whe e mos o he popula ion esides. The sou he n go e no -
a es a e spa sely popula ed, wi h only 8 % o he popula ion, and ha e low-
e in as uc u e de elopmen , excep o Aqaba ci y, due o he challenging
landscape, esou ce a ailabili y, and clima e (UN Habi a 2022)..
Figu e 9: Map o Jo dan wi h i s
neighbou ing coun ies and main ci ies
Sou ce: (Vidiani 2011)
34
3.3 Amman’s con ex
Amman Go e no a e, home o Jo dan’s capi al ci y Am-
man, is he la ges in e ms o popula ion. Loca ed in
he no hwes e n egion o Jo dan, i has a cen al geo-
g aphical posi ion among he Kingdom’s go e no a es.
I bo de s Za qa Go e no a e o he no h and no h-
eas , Al Balqaa and Madaba o he wes , Ka ak and
Ma’an o he sou h, and sha es an in e na ional bo de
wi h Saudi A abia o he eas . The go e no a e is abou
750 abo e sea le el and co e s an a ea o 7,579 km²,
accoun ing o 8.5 % o Jo dan’s o al a ea (Minis y o
In e io Jo dan 2024).
As o 2020, Amman Go e no a e’s popula ion cons i-
u es o 42 % o Jo dan’s o al popula ion, which is equal
o 4.5 million, and mos o his popula ion -a ound 3.8
million- esides wi hin G ea e Amman Municipali y
(GAM) (UN Habi a , 2022). Amman is he mos u ban-
ized go e no a e, wi h 97.22 % o i s popula ion li ing
in u ban a eas. I se es as he poli ical, economic, and
cul u al hub o Jo dan, hos ing 48 % o he coun y’s
economic and comme cial ins i u ions, as well as mos
o he s a e’s ins i u ions, go e nmen al depa men s,
and he Pa liamen (Minis y o In e io Jo dan 2024).
3.4 Clima e
Jo dan’s clima e is p edominan ly a id and semi-a id,
wi h an a e age su ace empe a u e anging om 10
°C o 25 °C. P ecipi a ion a ies in e nally due o o-
pog aphy, wi h he ainy season ypically spanning om
Oc obe o May and peaking in Janua y as seen in Fig-
u e 10. Th ee ecological zones cha ac e ize Jo dan: he
Jo dan Valley, expe iencing wa m win e s and ho sum-
me s wi h 100-300mm o ain all; he Wes e n High-
lands, wi h highe ain all (300-600mm) and luc ua ing
empe a u es; and he a id Badia egion, wi h annual
ain all below 50mm and wide empe a u e a ia ions
as shown in Figu e 12 and 13 (Jo dan Red C escen
2022). The in e nal Koppen classi ica ion o Jo dan’s cli-
ma es p o ides u he de ail, as illus a ed in Figu e 11.
Despi e i s ela i ely small size, Jo dan boas s a di e se
e ain and landscape, which is ypically associa ed wi h
la ge coun ies. This di e si y is in luenced by ac o s
such as geog aphy, his o y, geopoli ics, and he sca ci y
o na u al esou ces. Al hough Jo dan co e s an a ea
o 89,320 km², h ee-qua e s o i s e i o y is dese .
Howe e , he landscape exhibi s ema kable di e si y
o e sho dis ances. Fi e main physiog aphic egions,
aligned in a no h-sou h di ec ion, cha ac e ize Jo dan:
he opical dese in he cen al Gho o i alley, es-
ca pmen s and moun ain highlands eas o he Gho ,
a id plains, he Badia, and he Az aq and Wadi Si han
dep ession. These egions co espond o i e majo
mo phological zones (Uni ed Na ions De elopmen P o-
g amme and GEF 2022). Jo dan has h ee dis inc eco-
logical zones:
1. Jo dan alley which is a na ow s ip below he sea
le el and has wa m win e s (19-22 °C) and ho sum-
me s (38 - 39 °C) wi h an a e age ain all be ween
100-300mm
2. The wes e n highlands whe e ain all is ela i e-
Figu e 10: Monh ly clima ology o
a e age minimum, mean and max-
imum su ace ai empe a u e and
p ecipi a ion 1991-2020 in Jo dan
Sou ce: (Wo ld Bank 2021)
Chap e 3: Amman’s Wa e scape: Policies, Challenges, and Global Lessons
35
Figu e 11: In e nal Koppen cli-
ma e classi ica ion in Jo dan
Sou ce: (Albadaineh, 2022)
Figu e 12: The physio-mo phological zones o Jo dan
Sou ce: (Uni ed Na ions De elop-
men P og amme and GEF 2022)
36
ly high (300-600mm) pe yea and empe a u es
ange be ween 9 -13 °C in he win e o 26 – 29 °C
in he summe
3. The Badia, an a id and semi a id island o he eas
ha co e s aou 80 % o he land whe e he annu-
al ain all is below 50mm and empe a u es ange
be ween 14 -16 °C in he win e o 35 -37 °C in he
summe (Jo dan Red C escen 2022; GEF 2014).
3.5 Clima e change impac s on Jo dan
Wi h e y limi ed wa e sou ces, Jo dan is he second
mos wa e -sca ce coun y in he wo ld, wi h annual e-
newable wa e esou ces o less han 100 m³ pe pe -
son (UNICEF 2019). Hea ily elian on ex e nal wa e
esou ces, his sca ci y has caused ensions wi h neigh-
bou ing coun ies. The la ge in lux o e ugees has u -
he s ained Jo dan’s abili y o mee i s domes ic wa e
needs (UN Habi a 2022). Though no a majo con ib-
u o o clima e change, Jo dan is among he coun ies
Figu e 13: A e age ain all in Jo dan
Sou ce: (Ababsa 2013)
Chap e 3: Amman’s Wa e scape: Policies, Challenges, and Global Lessons
37
mos a ec ed by i . The na ion is expe iencing ising
empe a u es, e a ic ain all, educed wa e a ailabili-
y (bo h unde g ound and su ace), and a highe like-
lihood o hea wa es, lash loods, d ough s, and land-
slides (LandLinks 2018).Based on u u e p ojec ions
and clima e o ecas s, Jo dan is expec ed o expe ience
signi ican clima e change impac s acco ding o a ious
g eenhouse gas concen a ion pa hways. The main in-
sigh s om he comp ehensi e clima e change p ojec-
ions exe cise conduc ed in he 4NC a e summa ized
in Table 4. These ends ou line he an icipa ed u u e
clima e in Jo dan h ough 2100 (Uni ed Na ions De el-
opmen P og amme and GEF 2022).
3.6 Wa e
3.6.1 Wa e supply in Jo dan
Due o i s a id clima e and limi ed wa e esou ces, Jo -
dan is anked second globally in e ms o wa e sca ci y
and has he lowes pe capi a wa e a ailabili y. Poli ical
ins abili y in he egion has exace ba ed he issue, leading
o a dec ease in ans-bounda y su ace wa e esou ces
o e ime. In he long e m, he coun y is expec ed o
ecei e app oxima ely 8.2 billion m³ o ain all annually,
wi h only 5 % echa ging g oundwa e aqui e s and 2-3
% ans o ming in o di ec lood low. The majo i y o
ain all (92-93 %) is los o e apo- anspi a ion. Conse-
quen ly, de eloped su ace wa e esou ces canno mee
wa e demand, necessi a ing eliance on g oundwa e
and uncon en ional sou ces such as ea ed was ewa-
e . Main su ace wa e esou ces include wa e s o ed in
dams and wa e om he Ya mouk Ri e and he Tibe ia
Con eyo (Peace Wa e ). These esou ces a e p ima ily
loca ed in basins wi h ela i ely highe ain all, such as
he Ya mouk basin (sha ed wi h Sy ia) and side-b anches
o he Jo dan Valley, whe e dams ha e been cons uc -
ed o supply wa e o a ious uses. Some dams ecei e
ea ed was ewa e mixed wi h ain all wa e o i iga-
ion in he Jo dan Valley (Uni ed Na ions De elopmen
P og amme and GEF 2022).
Wa e supply o Amman Go e no a e o igina es om
a ious sou ces, wi h he majo i y o d inking wa e
a eling dis ances o 125 o 325 km, leading o in-
c eased supply cos s (Minis y o En i onmen Jo dan
2020). Unlike o he a eas elying on g oundwa e , wes
Amman Ci y ecei es wa e om he King Abdullah
Canal, Jo dan’s la ges canal sys em, se ing 40 % o
he go e no a e’s wa e needs pos - ea men (Minis y
o En i onmen Jo dan 2020; UN Habi a 2022). The
comple ion o he Disi aqui e p ojec in 2013 con ibu -
ed signi ican ly, p o iding app oxima ely 107 million m³
o d inking wa e annually o Amman Go e no a e and
neighbou ing egions (UN Habi a 2022). Despi e hese
e o s, he e a e challenges in wa e access h ough he
public ne wo k, wi h non- e enue wa e accoun ing o
50 % o o al consump ion, especially noTable in Am-
man Go e no a e (MoWI, 2016). Wa e u ili ies in Am-
man, sou he n, and no he n Jo dan ha e success ully
educed wa e losses h ough USAID-backed ini ia i es,
aiming o sa e 7 million m³ o wa e by 2020, equi alen
o he needs o 190,000 people yea ly (USAID, 2020).
3.6.2 Access o wa e and i s consump-
ion
Miyahuna, a s a e-owned p i a e company, ope a es
Amman’s piped wa e sys em unde he egula ion o he
Wa e Au ho i y o Jo dan (WAJ) (Klasse e al. 2015).
Despi e app oxima ely 98 % o households being con-
nec ed o his sys em, a 40 % inc ease in wa e demand
due o popula ion g ow h has led o in e mi en supply
issues (GAM and Rocke elle 2017). As a esul , house-
holds o en s o e wa e in oo op o basemen anks,
wi h capaci ies a ying based on income le els. Addi-
ionally, an es ima ed 37 % o wa e is los as non- e e-
nue wa e (AECOM 2021). Households in Amman pay
o piped wa e and was ewa e based on an inc easing
block a i , wi h cos s amoun ing o 1 % o 1.5 % o
household incomes. Howe e , due o pe cei ed heal h
isks, many households e ain om using piped wa e
o d inking, op ing o al e na i e sou ces such as p i-
a e anke ope a o s, wa e s o es, o e ail bo les (UN
Habi a 2022).
App oxima ely 98 % o households in Amman Go e -
no a e a e connec ed o he piped wa e sys em, bu only
14.2 % o he popula ion uses he public ne wo k o
d inking wa e (Klasse e al. 2015). The majo i y, 85.8
%, ei he ely on wa e il e s o pu chase mine al wa-
e due o he pe cei ed low quali y o publicly supplied
wa e . Rega ding e ugees, 99 % o Sy ian households
in Amman ha e access o a piped wa e sou ce (UN
Habi a 2022).
Being one o he mos wa e -sca ce na ions globally,
Jo dan highly alues wa e as a p ecious commodi y.
Wi h only 90 m³ o wa e a ailable pe pe son annual-
ly in compa ison o he global benchma k o absolu e
wa e sca ci y o 500m³ (Jo dan Red C escen 2022),
p ojec ions sugges his alloca ion may dec ease u he
o 60 m³ by 2040 (In e na ional T ade Adminis a ion
2024). Renewable wa e esou ces ba ely mee hal o
he coun y’s o al consump ion, esul ing in equen
in e up ions. Se e al ac o s wo sen Jo dan’s al eady
delica e wa e si ua ion, including low ain all, ising
demand due o popula ion g ow h and economic de-
elopmen , unsus ainable ag icul u al and g oundwa e
pumping p ac ices, non- e enue wa e losses, limi ed
wa e esou ces, de e io a ing wa e quali y, and he im-
pac s o clima e change (In e na ional T ade Adminis a-
ion 2024).

38
T end Desc ip ion
A wa me clima e Fo he 2070-2100 pe iod he minimum ai empe a u e is ex emely likely o in-
c ease by 1.2 °C [+0.6 °C o +2.9 °C] acco ding o RCP 4.5 and by 2.7°C [+2.1
°C o +4.5 °C] acco ding o RCP 8.5. Simila ly, he maximum ai empe a u e is
e y likely o inc ease by 1.1 °C [+0.7 °C o +1.7 °C] acco ding o RCP 4.5 and
by 3.1 °C [+2.6 °C o +3.7 °C] acco ding o RCP 8.5.
A d ie Clima e Fo he 2070-2100 pe iod he coun y is likely o become d ie , as he p ecipi a-
ion ends o dec ease by 15.8 % [-7.1 % o -31.3 %] acco ding o RCP 4.5 and
by 47.0 % [-23.3 % o -57.5 %] acco ding o RCP 8.5, aking in o accoun ha
some zones a e p edic ed o ecei e mo e p ecipi a ion, wi h a maximum inc ease
o 19 %, acco ding o RCP 4.5, while he whole coun y is p ojec ed o become
d ie acco ding o RCP 8.5. The signi ican p ecipi a ion dec ease is p ojec ed o
be mos likely a he wes e n pa o he coun y, while p edic ed po en ial inc eases
a e likely o occu in he sou he n a id zones.
Insigni ican wind changes Wind speed o ecas s didn’ indica e signi ican changes; howe e , he coun y is
abou as likely as no o be subjec ed o wind bloom e en s exceeding 12 m/s.
Mild dec ease in ela i e hu-
midi y
Fo he 2070-2100 pe iod he ela i e humidi y is likely o dec ease by 3 % [-2.5
% o -3.3 %] acco ding o RCP 4.5 and by 7.2 % [-6.0 % o -7.8 %] acco ding o
RCP 8.5. In all scena io cases, he No he n Badia is likely o be subjec ed o a
dec ease in ela i e humidi y a a highe a e han o he pa s o egions.
Mo e d ough , a con as ed
wa e balance
D ough SPI indica o s e eal an inc easing end o d ough in he no he n pa o
he coun y eaching a maximum o 50 % using RCP 4.5 and 93 % using RCP 8.5.
The magni ude o d ough e en s is inc easing wi h ime, om no mal o se e e,
while he du a ion o he d ough s is likely o become longe , o e 3 consecu i e
yea s, using RCP 4.5 and mo e han 5 yea s using RCP 8.5.
High c op wa e demand Fo he 2070-2100 pe iod, he po en ial e apo- anspi a ion is e y likely o in-
c ease by 5.8 % [+4.7 % o +6.9 %] acco ding o RCP 4.5 and by 11.1 % [+8.1
% o +15.3 %] acco ding o RCP 8.5. In he wo s -case scena io, he e apo- an-
spi a ion o he whole coun y is e y likely o inc ease by 15 % abo e he baseline
scena io, hus se ing he sys ems unde p essu e o g ea e wa e demands.
In ense p ecipi a ion and po-
en ial loods
The is no signi ican sign o hea y ain days (mo e han 20 mm), howe e u u e
ends indica e he p obabili y o occu ence o po en ial in ense p ecipi a ion, ha
seems o dec ease wi h ime, especially a RCP 8.5 as compa ed o RCP 4.5. On
o he hand, he se e i y is a iable by loca ion and ends o become mo e likely
han no in ense du ing he mid-21s cen u y and educes by he end o he
21s cen u y.
Mo e in ense hea wa es Fu u e p edic ed hea wa e e en s a e mo e se e e in e ms o du a ion and mag-
ni ude, whe e he p obabili y o occu ence inc eases o an a e age o 120 % by
2100 ( anging om 54 % o 398 % based on spa ial loca ion) using RCP 4.5,
and abou a h ee old inc ease ( anging om 1.5 o 9.0 imes, based on spa ial
loca ion) using RCP 8.5. Thus, i is e y likely ha mo e se e e h ea s a e expec ed
in e ms o hea wa e exposu e in ensi y and du a ion, especially in he highlands
egions o Madaba, Shoubak and QAI Ai po du ing he mon hs o Ma ch, Ap il
and May.
Table 4: T ends and hei desc ip ions ha indica e he ex-
pec ed u u e o clima e in Jo dan un il 2100.
Sou ce: Adap ed om (Uni ed Na ions De elopmen P og amme and GEF 2022)
Chap e 3: Amman’s Wa e scape: Policies, Challenges, and Global Lessons
39
3.6.3 Was ewa e
As p e iously men ioned, eclaimed wa e is highly al-
ued by he Jo danian go e nmen o i s con ibu ion o
he coun y’s wa e esou ces, as emphasized in Jo dan’s
Wa e S a egy 2008-2022. The s a egy s a es ha
was ewa e should no be ea ed as was e bu a he
collec ed and ea ed o s anda ds ha allow o i s un-
es ic ed use in ag icul u e and o he non-domes ic pu -
poses, including g oundwa e echa ge. O e 70 % o
Jo dan’s popula ion is connec ed o he sewage sys em,
wi h aw was ewa e di ec ed o 34 was ewa e ea men
plan s (WWTPs). The mos common ea men me hod
is he ac i a ed sludge p ocess, which accoun s o 60
% o was ewa e ea men . The As-Sam a Was ewa e
T ea men Plan , a la ge-scale acili y, p ocesses mo e
han 70 % o he coun y’s o al was ewa e , amoun ing
o 170 million m³ in 2020 (Uni ed Na ions De elopmen
P og amme and GEF 2022).
3.6.4 S o mwa e (and he lack o i )
The Hashemi e Kingdom o Jo dan is acing se e e wa e
sca ci y, anking among he op ou mos a id na ions
globally. This sca ci y poses a signi ican challenge o
g ow h and de elopmen , as a ailable wa e esou ces
pe capi a a e dec easing while demand is ising. The
wa e de ici is exace ba ed by bo h economic and pop-
ula ion g ow h. To manage wa e consump ion, wa e is
dis ibu ed only once a week o ci izens and businesses,
who hen s o e i in anks. Cu en ly, municipal wa e
usage, including in he G ea e Amman Municipali y
(GAM), elies p ima ily on g oundwa e sou ces. I he
supply emains unchanged, pe capi a domes ic con-
sump ion is p ojec ed o d op o 90 m³ pe pe son pe
yea by 2025, ca ego izing he coun y as expe iencing
an absolu e wa e sho age ha could hinde economic
g ow h and h ea en public heal h (GAM 2019).
The na ional go e nmen o Jo dan, speci ically he Min-
is y o Wa e and I iga ion, is esponsible o wa e sup-
ply, pumping, and deli e y, as well as was ewa e ea -
men in Amman. These sys ems a e unde signi ican
s ain due o he g owing e ugee c isis and he in lux o
e ugees. G oundwa e le els ha e signi ican ly declined,
indica ing unsus ainable usage. Despi e imp o emen s
in wa e -supply in as uc u e, a c i ical imbalance be-
ween supply and demand pe sis s. F om 2011 o 2015,
wa e demand inc eased by 40 % (Hashemi e Kingdom
o Jo dan, 2013). Clima e change u he agg a a es
hese issues, po en ially educing p ecipi a ion.
Despi e he o e all dec ease in p ecipi a ion, he e-
quency o se e e s o ms leading o hea y ain all has
inc eased, causing equen lash loods in Amman.
In 2015, a 30-minu e downpou esul ed in a se e e
lash lood, causing a ali ies, p ope y damage, lood-
ed s ee s, and people being apped in hei ca s and
homes. E en s like hese ha e become mo e equen like
he lash lood in 2018 and 2019 consecu i ely caused
a lo o damage o he ci y’s in as uc u e. The e o e,
e ec i e s o mwa e managemen is a p ima y ocus o
he Resilience S a egy (GAM 2019).
3.6.5 WSUD and he Challenges o i s
implemen a ion in a id and semi-a id
a eas
He e is a b ie explana ion o he di e en e minology
used o desc ibe his planning app oach:
Sus ainable D ainage Sys ems (SuDS): Used mainly in
he UK and I eland, SuDS manage su ace wa e close
o i s sou ce by mimicking na u al p ocesses. They ad-
d ess wa e quali y, quan i y, and ameni y h ough a i-
ous echniques o a enua ion, in il a ion, low con ol,
and wa e ea men (S ephenson 2013).
Wa e Sensi i e U ban Design (WSUD): A global ap-
p oach o u ban planning ha in eg a es sus ainable
wa e managemen ac oss he en i e wa e cycle, p o-
mo ing heal hy ecosys ems in u ban en i onmen s (S e-
phenson 2013).
Blue-G een In as uc u e (BGI): The Eu opean Com-
mission de ines blue g een in as uc u e as ‘s a egically
planned ne wo k o na u al and semi-na u al a eas wi h
o he en i onmen al ea u es designed and managed o
deli e a wide ange o ecosys em se ice’ (Rashe nia e
al. 2018)
In a id and semi-a id egions, Wa e Sensi i e U ban
Design (WSUD) is a cos -e ec i e s a egy o managing
sca ce wa e esou ces and o e s nume ous bene i s.
G een open spaces a e pa icula ly i al in hese a eas,
as hey alle ia e ex eme hea , p o ide u ban cooling,
and enhance he mal com o . These spaces can se e
mul iple unc ions, o e ing no only wa e managemen
solu ions bu also ecological, social, and ameni y ben-
e i s. WSUD p ac ices can also p omo e s o mwa e in-
il a ion and g oundwa e echa ge, aiding in d ough
adap a ion.
Howe e , se e al challenges hinde he implemen a ion
o WSUD in a id and semi-a id egions. These include
heal h isks associa ed wi h wa e euse in g een a eas
and on wa e su aces, public accep ance issues, and
a gene al lack o expe ience and knowledge. Addi ion-
ally, in densely popula ed a eas, he need o ex ensi e
spaces o implemen wa e -sensi i e solu ions p esen s
a signi ican challenge, and ins i u ional ba ie s u -
he impede widesp ead adop ion (Elzein e al. 2022).
The e o e u he esea ch needs o be done on his opic
and by in oducing mo e pilo p ojec s.
40
3.7 Planning In Amman: Policies and
S akeholde s
Since he go e no a e is adminis e ed by GAM and
MoLA, se e al mas e plans ha e been de eloped o
i s a ious municipali ies. Howe e , hese municipali ies
a e no empowe ed o c ea e hei own mas e plans and
lack he necessa y s a , equipmen , and aining and
can legally only upda e exis ing land use plans. Some o
he majo mas e plans a e explained below:
1. The Me opoli an G ow h Plan:
The Me opoli an G ow h Plan (MGP), c ea ed in 2008
o a eas wi hin GAM bounda ies, se es as he p ima y
amewo k o coo dina e a ious sub-plans. I aims o
in eg a e land use, anspo a ion, and in as uc u e o
compac u ban de elopmen , p omo ing public ansi
and pedes ian a el o e ca s (GAM 2008). I iden i-
ies g ow h a eas, including exis ing u ban spaces and
u u e expansion zones, as well as a eas o limi ed o
no g ow h, such as na u al and cul u al he i age si es.
Though de eloped be o e he Sy ian e ugee in lux, he
MGP lacks speci ic p o isions o e ugees. Only 20 %
o he plan has been implemen ed, p omp ing ongoing
upda es by GAM wi h inpu om he comp ehensi e
planning depa men and council, aligning wi h GAM’s
adminis a i e bounda ies and di ec i es (UN Habi a
2022).
2. Amman Resilience S a egy
Ci y esilience e e s o he abili y o indi iduals, commu-
ni ies, ins i u ions, businesses, and sys ems wi hin a ci y
o endu e, adap , and h i e in he ace o a ious chal-
lenges, be hey ch onic s esses o sudden shocks. Am-
man has adop ed he Ci y Resilience F amewo k (CRF)
de eloped by A up and The Rocke elle Founda ion, as
pa o he 100 Resilien Ci ies ini ia i e. This amewo k
assis s ci ies in e alua ing hei esilience by iden i ying
s eng hs, weaknesses, and oppo uni ies. Ci ies a e in-
ica e sys ems composed o o e lapping componen s,
and he CRF se es as a ool o comp ehend his com-
plexi y and he ac o s ha con ibu e o esilience. The
amewo k consis s o ou main dimensions and wel e
d i e s, o e ing a comp ehensi e unde s anding o wha
cons i u es a esilien ci y as shown in Figu e 14.
In 2017, Amman emb aced he Amman Resilience
S a egy o add ess u ban challenges ampli ied by e -
ugee in lux and clima e change. The s a egy, buil on
i e pilla s—in eg a ion, en i onmen al esponsibili y, in-
no a ion, you h empowe men , and uni y—p oposes an
ac ion plan. I aims o align e ugee esponse wi h he
ci y’s long- e m goals, emphasizing job c ea ion and im-
p o ed access o municipal social se ices o e ugees
(GAM and Rocke elle 2017).
Figu e 14:Ci y Resil-
ience F amewo k
Sou ce: (GAM and
Rocke elle 2017)
Chap e 3: Amman’s Wa e scape: Policies, Challenges, and Global Lessons
41
3. The Amman G een Ci y Ac ion Plan
The Amman G een Ci y Ac ion Plan, launched in May
2021, s ems om GAM’s e o s o enhance en i on-
men al pe o mance and sys ema ically ackle u ban
en i onmen al issues. I aims o iden i y, p io i ize, and
add ess c i ical clima e change and en i onmen al chal-
lenges such as solid was e managemen , wa e , was e-
wa e , u ban anspo , and building ene gy e iciency.
Th ough ex ensi e s akeholde engagemen , he ci y has
de ised 37 ini ia i es sla ed o implemen a ion by 2025
o mee hese objec i es (AECOM 2021).
Along wi h many o he goals in he a ea o e icien
buildings, anspo and was e managemen , he GCAP
has p io i ised he ole o in eg a ed wa e esou ce
managemen . The p oposed ac ions aim o in eg a e
na u e-based solu ions wi h adi ional in as uc u e o
e ec i ely mi iga e lood isk and imp o e wa e quali y.
Fu he mo e, hey aim o upg ade and expand essen-
ial wa e in as uc u e o ensu e esiden s ha e access
o clean wa e and a e connec ed o was ewa e ne -
wo ks. Finally, hese ac ions seek o enhance wa e e-
sou ce managemen by in eg a ing e icien sys ems in o
he buil en i onmen (AECOM 2021). Among many
planned p oposals, some o he planned ac ions a e
men ioned below:
1. De elop wa e con eyance and/o s o age o e-
duce lood isk
GAM plans o map he low o wa e in he ci y and
c ea e a con eyance o s o age sys em o edi ec lood-
wa e s om wo ulne able a eas in down own Amman,
hus a e ing po en ial damage o c i ical in as uc u e.
This di e sion o loodwa e s is expec ed o yield signi i-
can economic sa ings by minimizing impac s on down-
own in as uc u e. Addi ionally, i will alle ia e s ain on
sewe age sys ems, educing he isk o was ewa e pol-
lu ion inciden s and dec easing he ene gy needed o
wa e p ocessing wi hin hese sys ems.
2. In eg a e WSUD and SuDS
I ’s c ucial o in eg a e WSUD (wa e -sensi i e u ban
design) and SuDS (sus ainable u ban d ainage sys em)
p inciples in o land use planning and egula ions. These
p inciples enhance he in eg a ion o he wa e cycle in o
u ban design. GAM will inco po a e WSUD and SuDS
p inciples in o new land-use plans and o e guidance
documen s on hese p inciples o depa men s e ising
ele an egula ions and codes (e.g., oad main enance).
This app oach aims o ackle looding issues and p o-
mo e e icien and en i onmen ally- iendly wa e usage.
3. Pilo SuDs implemen a ion on municipal p op-
e y
The ci y will in eg a e Sus ainable D ainage Sys ems
(SuDS) p inciples in o all cu en and u u e public-
ly-owned buildings o suppo he objec i e o in eg a -
ing WSUD and SuDS (W4). GAM will pinpoin suiTable
si es o pilo SuDS p ojec s wi hin new municipal wo ks
and upg ades o exis ing publicly-owned buildings. Wi h
an icipa ed hyd ological changes om clima e change,
in eg a ing SuDS in o ci y planning will mi iga e lood
and d ough impac s while ensu ing a mo e dependable
wa e supply. The plan ing aspec o he p og am will
p io i ize xe iscaping and d ough - esis an ege a ion
(AECOM 2021).
4. USAID CITIES P og amme
Ou side o GAM, he Minis y o Local Adminis a ion
(MoLA) suppo s eigh o he municipali ies. Wi hin he
go e no a e o Amman, he USAID CITIES P og amme
has inanced s a egic plans and local de elopmen
plans o he yea s 2020-2023 in six municipali ies:
Al-Ame iyah, Husban, Na’ou , Sahab, Muaqqa , and
Umm Al-Rasas. These plans we e collabo a i ely de-
eloped in ol ing all ele an s akeholde s o enhance
municipal pe o mance, se ices, e iciency, and pub-
lic-p i a e pa ne ships. Howe e , hese plans do no
speci ically add ess he needs o in eg a ion o e ugees
in o communi ies.
5. The Amman Clima e Ac ion Plan
The Amman Clima e Ac ion Plan ma ks he ini ial s ep
owa ds a sus ainable u u e, aiming o make Amman
ca bon neu al while expanding se ices o mee he
ci y’s g owing demands. The plan se s a 40 % educ-
ion a ge o g eenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and
os e s collabo a ion among he go e nmen , p i a e
sec o , de elopmen pa ne s, and esiden s owa d a
sha ed ision o ca bon neu ali y.
6. The G een G ow h Na ional Ac ion
Plan
The G een G ow h Na ional Ac ion Plan 2021-2025
lays ou pa hways o sus ainable de elopmen ha will
inc ease esilience, s eng hening Jo dan’s capaci y o
con ain shocks and eco e om ca as ophic e en s
such as COVID-19. The GG-NAP ou lines i e na ional
g een g ow h objec i es on which he Ag icul u e Sec o
GG-NAP was de eloped:
1. Enhance Na u al Capi al
2. Sus ainable Economic G ow h
3. Social De elopmen and Po e y Reduc ion
4. Resou ce E iciency
48

Chap e 4: Designing wi h Na u e: Amman’s WSUD Toolki
49
Chap e 4
Designing wi h Na u e:
Amman’s WSUD Toolki
4.1 In oduc ion
The gene al idea o his wa e sensi i e u ban design oolki is o pu
oge he a se o planning goals and measu es ha all s akeholde s can
easily unde s and. This oolki no only ou lines wha hese measu es do
bu could also be used as a ool in a mo e pa icipa o y se ing. As men-
ioned in p e ious sec ions and also in he case s udy o he UN Habi a ,
he inclusion o pa icipan s on a ious le els du ing he concep ion and
design phase g ea ly encou age accep ance o shi s and changes in sys-
ems. Ci izens a e mo e likely o accep he in e en ions and a e mo e
educa ed abou he posi i e aspec s o WSUD.
This oolbox includes de ini ions o he planning goals as guides o se-
lec ion and design o he measu es as well as hei signi icance in he
s o mwa e chain. I deals wi h he sequence and chain o elemen s ha
when pu oge he a e highly e icien a managing s o mwa e in a de-
cen alized manne , by c ea ing a cascading e ec as shown in Figu e
21. I also aims o emphasize he ac ha hese measu es do no only
se e a p ac ical pu pose bu also enhance he en i onmen wi h hei
added bene i s.
Figu e 21: The cascading e ec in a
s o mwa e chain in a esiden ial ( op)
and comme cial (bo om) a eas. The wo
diag ams shows how linked sequenc-
es o ea u es can cap u e ain all and
elease i back in o he landscape.
Sou ce: Red awn and adap ed om
(Dunne and Clayden 2007)
ca pa k swale
pe meable
pa ing
pe meable
pa ing
in il a ion
in il a ion in il a ion
in il a ion
ain cis e n
ain cis e n
s o mwa e plan e
s o mwa e plan e
pond
pond
ainga den
g een oo
g een oo
50
4.2 De ining he planning goals
Planning goals p o ide a guiding p inciple o selec ion
o measu es and ecommenda ions. They also o m he
base o he measu emen o e ec i eness o hese mea-
su es unde di e en scena ios. Hence, hey a e s a ed
and de ined as ollows:
1. Flood educ ion:
Flash loods a e e y localised (in space and ime),
as -e ol ing su ace wa e esponses o ain all om in-
ense hunde s o ms o a sudden elease o wa e om a
ese oi , which esul s in sho lead ime and a consid-
e able po en ial o damage due o high low eloci ies
and hus high haza d in ensi ies. The goal o educ ion
o lash lood damage is o di ec , cap u e, o empo a -
ily s o e la ge olumes o s o mwa e as well as educe
he peak uno a es in o de o p e en d as ic damage
om looding.
2. G oundwa e echa ge:
Re u ning he wa e balance o nea na u al s a e is
one o he mos impo an goals o his p ojec , and his
means acili a ing he na u al p ocess o wa e like e ap-
o a ion and in il a ion. U banisa ion has led o an in-
c ease in sealed spaces, he e o e s o mwa e is unable
o in il a e in o he soil. Since he public supply o d ink-
ing wa e is unde a lo o p essu e om he g owing
popula ion and deple ed esou ces, secu ing he wa e
supply by eplenishing he g oundwa e becomes one o
he o emos asks.
3. Wa e collec ion o euse:
While g oundwa e echa ge is one way o con ibu -
ing o he wa e supply o consump ion, an easie and
much mo e decen alised way o do his would be col-
lec ion o s o mwa e o euse. This can be done by di-
e ing wa e om sealed su aces o s o age anks ha
may be buil unde g ound o abo e. Howe e , his may
mean ha he wa e also collec s all he pollu an s om
hese su aces, and may ha e limi ed usage. Al e na i e-
ly, bio e en ion sys ems ha e he abili y o cleanse some
o he pollu an s and can be buil wi h s o age anks as
well. In ei he case, sho ening he supply chain makes
an impo an aspec o his esea ch and con ibu es o
mi iga ing he wa e sca ci y in Amman.
4. P omo ion o biodi e si y:
Replacing pa ed su aces, o in ensely managed g ass
a eas wi h mixed na i e species o plan s no only esul s
in o e all educed need o main enance and inpu s o
e ilize s, wa e and ene gy, bu also g ea ly inc eases
he wildli e and habi a alue. The na i e sh ubs and
g asses a e home o a lo o insec s and in e eb a es
ha inhabi he soil, and a e he sou ce o nu i ion o
mo e isible auna like bu e lies and seed ea ing bi ds.
Co exis ing wi h he a ie y o lo a and auna inc eases
he appeal o any u ban space and hence makes o a
good planning goal.
5. Quali y o S ay:
As men ioned in he p e ious poin s, when planned s a-
egically, blue g een measu es au oma ically add o he
aes he ic appeal o any place. Addi ionally, making a
space beau i ul also enhances i s alue o li e and wo k
in. While in u ban en i onmen s, wa e is o en seen as
a nuisance, some hing o ge id o , o con olled and
con ained, i managed h ough aes he ic in as uc u e,
he p esence o he same wa e en iches he expe ience
o he ci y.
6. Balanced U ban Clima e:
A he basic le el, subs i u ing ha d paced su aces wi h
ege a ion cools he summe landscape. Ha d su aces
s o e hea om he sun and e adia e i du ing he nigh ,
wa ming he adjacen ai while e lec ion he same hea
du ing he day. On he o he hand, plan s p o ide shade
bu also cool he ai h ough e apo anspi a ion. Wi h
inc eased pa ed a eas in he ci y causing he u ban hea
island e ec , a goal o u u e de elopmen should ocus
on balancing ha u ban clima e h ough he in oduc-
ion o mo e g een spaces.
7. En i onmen al Educa ion:
Las ly, imp o ing public knowledge on en i onmen al is-
sues should be a p io i y since i a ec s hei li es yle. The
design o u ban spaces has he abili y o in luence and
shape human beha iou . Ha ing an unlimi ed supply o
wa e h ough a ap o example, makes a pe son com-
ple ely unawa e o he sou ce o comes om and he
p ocesses i goes h ough o be consumed by he use .
When he same p ocesses a e made isible h ough
measu es implemen ed in he su oundings, s ee s,
pa ks and backya ds, a pe son is likely o be mo e con-
scious o hei consump ion pa e ns. I also aises he
likelihood o people pa icipa ing in he design and im-
plemen a ion p ocesses o hese measu es h oughou
hei neighbou hood.
4.3 Measu es and hei desc ip ions
The selec ed measu es a e de ailed in his sec ion as a
se o in o ca ds, ha may be dis ibu ed a a s akeholde
wo kshop o jus o in o m he eade o his esea ch
abou he de ails o he measu e. The e o e, i includes
a ep esen a i e icon, an indica ion o cos s, a desc ip-
ion, c i e ia o implemen i , main enance equi ed and
how i anks o he a ious planning goals men ioned
be o e. The anking is abou how well a measu e may
pe o m o each planning goal based on he expe dis-
cussions a HW, 2024. Las ly, i also included a g aphic
ep esen a ion o how hese measu e wo k and/o an
example.
Chap e 4: Designing wi h Na u e: Amman’s WSUD Toolki
51
G een oo s
DESCRIPTION
G een oo s a e ege a ed a eas ins alled on building oo -
ops o a ious pu poses, including isual appeal, ecological
bene i s, imp o ed building pe o mance, and educed su ace
wa e uno (CIRIA 2015). They can be o wo ypes:
• Ex ensi e: low subs a e dep h, low load on buildings, inac-
cessible, simple plan ing
• In ensi e: deepe subs a e dep h, highe loads, accessible
as he a ie y o plan s need mo e main enance.
• Can be applied o public o p i a e building oo s
• Accessibili y equi emen s
• Imposed loads when sa u a ed, including main enance load-
ings
• The need o in eg a ion o oo op equipmen , such as en s,
ai -condi ioning sys ems, sola panels and/o RWH sys ems
• Managemen o d ainage - ou low o a s o age ank, in e-
g a ed in o landscape, connec ion o he d ainage sys em,
e c.
• Sui abili y o plan s
• Fil a ion
• E apo- anspi a ion
• Pu i ica ion
• Re en ion
• Biological abso p ion
• Mic o clima e imp o emen
$$
Flood Reduc ion
Wa e collec ion o euse
G oundwa e Recha ge
Biodi e si y
U ban Clima e
Quali y o S ay
En i onmen al Educa ion
PLANNING GOALS
PROCESSES
MAINTENANCE
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Figu e 22: The g een oo will abso b and g adually
elease ain all - unlike a con en ional oo , which
apidly sheds he wa e in o connec ing d ains.
Sou ce: Red awn and adap ed om
(Dunne and Clayden 2007)
Figu e 23: Sec ion o a ypical g een oo buildup
Sou ce: Red awn and adap ed om
(Dunne and Clayden 2007)
g owing medium
il e ma
d ainage laye
oo ba ie
wa e p oo laye
oo
In ensi e oo s need mo e equen main enance like mow-
ing o g ass and de-weeding, whe eas ex ensi e oo s only
need bi annual checks o unwan ed plan s and cleaning.
52
Swales/ Bioswales
DESCRIPTION
Swales a e linea dep essions co e ed wi h g ass o mo e
dense ege a ion designed o con ey, ea and o en a enua e
su ace uno (CIRIA 2015; DWA 2006). Runo is collec ed
empo a ily on he su ace and hen il e s h ough he ege a-
ion and unde lying soils. Bioswales may in ol e a con inuous
componen o bio e en ion along he leng h o he swale, o
a po ion o bio e en ion be o e he ou le o he swale. Fo
hea ie ain all e en s, wa e will low along he swale hough
he eloci y is con olled by ege a ion and simul aneous in il-
a ion (CIRIA 2015).
• Li e and deb is emo al
• Mowing o he g ass and main enance o
he ege a ion, main aining he heigh o
a leas 75-150mm.
• Occasional sedimen emo al.
• In il a ion
• Fil a ion
• E apo- anspi a ion
• Pu i ica ion
• Re en ion
• Biological abso p ion
• Mic o clima e imp o emen
• Con eyance
$
Flood Reduc ion
Wa e collec ion o euse
G oundwa e Recha ge
Biodi e si y
U ban Clima e
Quali y o S ay
En i onmen al Educa ion
PLANNING GOALS
PROCESSES
MAINTENANCE
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
• Pa abolic o apezoidal c oss sec ion, wi h he base be ween
0.5-2m.
• The side slopes should be be ween 25 % o 33 %, o imp o e
p e- il a ion o he uno whe e space pe mi s.
• When applied along s ee s, he minimum leng h should be
5 m o main enance access and wi h dep hs be ween 400-
600 mm and a ponding dep h o 300mm.
• The low eloci y and ege a ion should be designed so ha
when wa e lows along he bio e en ion swale he il e ma-
e ial is no e oded.
• To achie e e ec i e bio il a ion, he base o he swale mus
be cons uc ed as a se ies o la a eas ha a e e aced down
he leng h o he swale.
• SuiTable ege a ion should be chosen ha can wi hs and in-
unda ion and low o wa e .
• An unde d ain may be added o p o ide addi ional ea men
and con eyance capaci y benea h he base o he swale and
p e en wa e logging.
Figu e 24: (Abo e) Sec ion o a ypical swale
wi h o e low in o he d ainage sys em
Figu e 25: (Righ ) A ege a ed swale wi h geo- ex ile
o pe mea e as well as con ey s o mwa e uno
Sou ce: Red awn and adap ed om
(Dunne and Clayden 2007)
Chap e 4: Designing wi h Na u e: Amman’s WSUD Toolki
53
Rainga dens
DESCRIPTION
Bio e en ion sys ems like ainga dens a e shallow landscaped
dep essions and a e a cos e ec i e e o i since hey a e lex-
ible in e ms o shape, ma e ials, plan ings and dimensions.
They can educe uno a es and olumes by imp o ed in il-
a ion h ough enginee ed soils and ege a ion. The uno is
ei he collec ed using an unde d ain o is ully o pa ially in il-
a ed o he su ounding soils and is u he educed by e apo-
anspi a ion and plan anspi a ion (CIRIA 2015).
• Li e and deb is emo al
• Regula emo al o weeds
• Cleaning access o unde d ains whe e
necessa y
• In il a ion
• Fil a ion
• E apo- anspi a ion
• Pu i ica ion
• Biological abso p ion
• Mic o clima e imp o emen
$
Flood Reduc ion
Wa e collec ion o euse
G oundwa e Recha ge
Biodi e si y
U ban Clima e
Quali y o S ay
En i onmen al Educa ion
PLANNING GOALS
PROCESSES
MAINTENANCE
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
• Can be implemen ed in mos ypes o de elopmen s, along
oads, pa king spaces, oundabou s, al eady landscaped
lawns, in public o p i a e a eas
• Can be c ea i ely shaped acco ding o equi emen s
• Dep hs be ween 150-300mm, can be deepe depending on
si e condi ions
• Fil e medium dep h 400-1000mm
• O e low h ough su ace d ain o unde d ain sys em
• SuiTable pe ennial ege a ion ha p omo es biodi e si y
Figu e 26: How a ainga den wo ks
Sou ce: (Be kshi e En i onmen al Ac ion Team 2021)

54
S o mwa e Plan e s
DESCRIPTION
These a e boxed sys ems, which can be p e ab ica ed, buil
abo e he g ound su ace wi h a plan ed soil mix and an un-
de d ain o collec il e ed wa e . They a e commonly used o
manage uno om nea by oo s and a e pa icula ly use ul
o e o i ing in u ban a eas. They may be buil o in il a e
di ec ly in he soil below o can be u he connec ed o he nex
s ep in he d ainage chain (CIRIA 2015) (Dunne and Clayden
2007).
• Li e and deb is emo al
• Weed emo al o a oid clogging
• Occasional sedimen emo al.
• In il a ion
• Fil a ion
• E apo- anspi a ion
• Biological abso p ion
• Mic o clima e imp o emen
• Con eyance
$
Flood Reduc ion
Wa e collec ion o euse
G oundwa e Recha ge
Biodi e si y
U ban Clima e
Quali y o S ay
En i onmen al Educa ion
PLANNING GOALS
PROCESSES
MAINTENANCE
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
• Minimum dep h o 300mm
• Wa e p oo ing when cons uc ed igh nex o a building
• SuiTable ege a ion o p omo e biodi e si y
• Addi ion o s ones o pebbles o mode a e he eloci y o
wa e om he downspou
• Ou low in o a d ain o nex s ep in he d ainage chain
• Can be in eg a ed c ea i ely in o he u ban landscape whe e
space is limi ed.
Figu e 27: A se ies o s o mwa e plan e s col-
lec ing wa e be ween wo s uc u es in eg a -
ed in o he landscape, c ea ing a d ainage
chain o educe uno olumes and a es,
Sou ce: (Cen al S eel Se ice Inc 2019)
Chap e 4: Designing wi h Na u e: Amman’s WSUD Toolki
55
Rainwa e Ha es ing
DESCRIPTION
Rainwa e ha es ing is he collec ion o uno om oo s
and o he impe meable su aces which can be s o ed, ea -
ed i equi ed and eused o many pu poses (CIRIA 2015).
Roo op ainwa e ha es ing ypically equi es he cons uc ion
o a s o age ank, ei he on he su ace o unde g ound. The
collec ed wa e can be used o i iga ion, o o non-poTable
domes ic pu poses on si e, o can be di ec ed o a ea men
plan . The s o age anks can be designed and loca ed o se e
indi idual buildings like esidences o can be la ge and collec
uno om se e al buildings.
• Inspec ion o anks o deb is and cleaning
annually
• S o age
• Reuse
$-$$
Flood Reduc ion
Wa e collec ion o euse
G oundwa e Recha ge
Biodi e si y
U ban Clima e
Quali y o S ay
En i onmen al Educa ion
PLANNING GOALS
PROCESSES
MAINTENANCE
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
• Disconnec ion o he downspou om oo s om he d ain-
age ne wo k and in o a s o age ank.
• The size o he s o age anks depends on he amoun o ain-
all collec ed o m he oo op, he space a ailable o he
ank and he pu pose o which he wa e will be eused.
• Acco dingly, a pump may need o be ins alled o ex ac he
s o ed wa e .
• An o e low ou le needs o be ins alled ha could connec o
he sys em d ainage.
Figu e 28: Sec ion o RWH sys em
Sou ce: (Ci il Enginee DK 2021)
Figu e 29: RWH in a ga den o i iga ion
Sou ce:(Ul aTech Cemen 2021)
56
Pe meable Pa emen s
DESCRIPTION
Pe ious pa emen s suppo pedes ian and ehicula a ic
while allowing ainwa e o in il a e h ough he su ace in o
he unde lying s uc u al laye s. The wa e is empo a ily s o ed
benea h he su ace be o e being used, in il a ing in o he
g ound, o being discha ged in a con olled manne down-
s eam (CIRIA 2015). They can be made ei he o po ous ma-
e ials like po ous asphal o conc e e in which case wa e can
in il a e h oughou he su ace o he ma e ial. O hey a e
commonly blocks o impe meable ma e ials wi h wide join s
illed wi h g i h ough which wa e seeps in.
• Inspec ion and epai pa ing as equi ed
• Regula checks o sil clogging he join s
• In il a ion
• E apo- anspi a ion
• Mic o clima e imp o emen
$$
Flood Reduc ion
Wa e collec ion o euse
G oundwa e Recha ge
Biodi e si y
U ban Clima e
Quali y o S ay
En i onmen al Educa ion
PLANNING GOALS
PROCESSES
MAINTENANCE
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
pa e s - gaps illed
wi h g a el o sand
sand
open g aded
base ma e ial
geo ex ile ab ic
sub base
• As hey a e an al e na i e o impe meable a eas, hey equi e
no ex a space o ins all.
• The choice o ma e ials whe he i is po ous asphal , pa e
blocks o ein o ced g ass depends on he a ic loads and
isual appea ance equi ed.
• The agg ega e sub base migh be eplaced by geo-cellula
sub base o imp o e in il a ion and can also aid in s o age
o he uno .
• When an adjacen impe meable a ea o oo s a e d aining
on o he pe ious pa emen , he ecommended a io impe -
meable/pe ious su ace is up o 2:1 (CIRIA, 2015).
Figu e 30: Typical sec ion o a pe meable pa emen
Sou ce: Red awn and adap ed om
(Dunne and Clayden 2007)
Figu e 31: Example o a pe me-
able pa emen in a pa king lo
Sou ce: (Ha dcas le 2022)
Chap e 4: Designing wi h Na u e: Amman’s WSUD Toolki
57
New G een Spaces
DESCRIPTION
Replacing pa ed su aces o in ensely managed g ass a eas
wi h mixed, na u alis ic and di e se na i e ege a ion is he ob-
jec i e o his measu e. Pa ed a eas con ibu e highly o u ban
hea island e ec and inc ease uno a es and olumes. On
he o he hand, in ensely managed landscapes wi h monocul-
u e ege a ion is no e ec i e in soaking up o apping excess
uno , and a e no e ec i e in emo al o con aminan as well.
These di e se g een spaces whe he in small pocke ga dens
o la ge pa ks and ga dens no only educe needs o main e-
nance, bu also g ea ly inc ease he wildli e and habi a alue
and imp o es he o e all quali y o s ay (Dunne and Clayden
2007).
• Remo al o weeds
• Regula emo al o li e and deb is.
• In il a ion
• Fil a ion
• E apo- anspi a ion
• Biological abso p ion
• Mic o clima e imp o emen
• Re en ion
$-$$
Flood Reduc ion
Wa e collec ion o euse
G oundwa e Recha ge
Biodi e si y
U ban Clima e
Quali y o S ay
En i onmen al Educa ion
PLANNING GOALS
PROCESSES
MAINTENANCE
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
• Disconnec ion o he downspou om oo s om he d ainV-
e y lexible in e ms o size, scale, ypology and can be imple-
men ed in dense u ban a eas on p i a e o public p ope y.
• The mos e ec i e biodi e se landscapes a e a combina ion
o g asslands, we lands, woodlands and sc ub. The combi-
na ion o hese p omo es biodi e si y and c ea es an “eco-
one” – wo o mo e ypes o ege a ed a eas ha in e ac
wi h each o he and a e o en dependen .
• They can be combined wi h play a eas o child en and pe-
des ian pa hs o wande ing.
• They can inco po a e a wide a ie y o WSUD measu es like
we lands, e en ion a eas and swales, inco po a ing wa e
in o he landscape o isual quali y and s o mwa e man-
agemen (Dunne and Clayden 2007).
Figu e 32: Sp ing in he Highline in
New Yo k. A co ido o biodi e si-
y in a dense u ban se ing b ings
li e o his pos indus ial dis ic .
Sou ce: (Sangaku San 2015)
64
A Figu e -g ound diag am employs a mapping me hod
o depic he dis inc ion be ween buil and unbuil spaces
wi hin u ban se ings as shown in Figu e 40. I po ays
he a eas occupied by buildings as solid o ms (Figu e
) and he communal a eas such as s ee s, pa ks, and
plazas as emp y spaces (g ound). Acco ding o Mo pho-
code (n.d.), his map is used o explo e buil o m pa -
e ns and he con inui y and ela ion o open space. This
map does no include cons uc ion si es as buil a eas.
As pe a ea calcula ions, as shown g aphically in Figu e
41, he a ea o he ca chmen is 1317ha while he buil
up a ea is 151ha, which is only 11.48 % o he o al
ca chmen a ea. As shown in he map, he lowe pa o
he ca chmen is densely buil wi h e y less open space,
while he uppe ca chmen is ye o be de eloped.
Figu e 40: Figu e G ound Map o he ca chmen
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
5.1.1 Figu e G ound Map
Figu e 41: G aph showing he buil and unbuil
a eas in pe cen age o he o al ca chmen a ea.
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
11.5 % Buil -up
Legend
Buil up A ea
Unbuil A ea
Si e

Chap e 5: Scena ios in Focus: Analysis o WSUD o Amman
65
The buil up a ea is u he classi ied in his map (Fig-
u e 42) based on hei unc ion. As shown in he map
and in Figu e 43, he a ea is domina ed by esiden ial
buildings, wi h ela i ely ew comme cial buildings, and
only 4 schools and adjoining eligious buildings making
up less han 2 % o public a eas. In his classi ica ion,
ce ain buildings had no in o ma ion abou hei unc-
ion and ha e been classi ied unde “o he s”. The e a e
a ew mu li unc ional buildings in he a ea, which a e
gene ally o ices o comme cial spaces sha ed wi h es-
idences abo e hem. F om his map, we can ga he ha
mos o he buil a ea may no be used o measu es,
howe e , a scena io has been designed o include es-
iden ial buildings as well and hei e ec on managing
he s o mwa e o a subca chmen .
Figu e 42: Building classi ica ion based on unc ion
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
5.1.2 Building Classi ica ion Map
Figu e 43: G aph showing he sha e o di -
e en building classi ica ions.
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
Legend
Residen ial
Comme cial
Public Buildings
Mul i unc ional
O he s
S ee s
Si e
85.48 %
10.70 %
1.34 %
1.12 %
1.36 %
Residen ial 85.48 %
Comme cial 10.70 %
66
Fu he mo e, he esiden ial buildings a e u he clas-
si ied based on da a om HW(2024) in o di e en ca -
ego ies based on planning egula ions. This shows he
po en ial o use he open spaces su ounding di e en
esidences o minimize he ou low o s o mwa e om
hei p ope ies. Th ough his map (Figu e 44), esi-
dences wi h mo e open space may be egula ed o he
same, while hose wi h lesse open spaces may be com-
pensa ed by o he measu es like unde g ound s o age
anks o limi ed ou low o s o mwa e . Figu e 45 is a
g aphical ep esen a ion o he sha e o di e en esi-
den ial classes. A de ailed desc ip ion o he di e en
building egula ions o he basic 4 ypes o esiden ial
plo s is desc ibed in Appendix D.
Figu e 44: Classi ica ion o esiden ial buildings based on ypology
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
5.1.3 Residen ial Classi ica ion Map
Figu e 45: G aph showing he sha e o di e en
esiden ial classes.
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
Type A 39 %
Type B 39 %
Type C 18 %
Chap e 5: Scena ios in Focus: Analysis o WSUD o Amman
67
Type A 39 % The Land Use Map in Figu e 46 depic s he Planned o
Fu u e land use designa ions ha p o ide gene al guid-
ance in he densi y, cha ac e and loca ion o land uses
and se es as a baseline o analysis. He e, he land
use has been ca ego ized in o esiden ial, comme cial,
ins i u ional, mul i unc ional, eligious,and public a eas;
and spaces ha ha e no assigned unc ion as o now
a e ca ego ized as “o he s”. This is done based on da a
om HW (2024), and open spaces assigned by landuse
as well as hose in schools and eligious places a e as-
sumed as public space. I is obse ed in Figu e 47 ha
his public space is less han 3 % o he en i e ca chmen ,
while esiden ial space is he highes , ollowed by mul i-
unc ional spaces. Mos o he assigned mul i unc ional
space is unde eloped a he momen bu could ha e
po en ial o implemen ing WSUD measu es.
Figu e 46: Landuse classi ica ion based on unc ion
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
5.1.4 Landuse Map
Figu e 47: G aph showing he sha e
o Landuse based on unc ion.
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
Legend
S ee s
Residen ial
Comme cial
Ins i u ional
Mul i unc ional
Public A eas
O he s
S ee s
Si e
80.64 %
4.62 %
1.03 %
10.87 %
0.46 %
2.28 %
Comme cial 4.62 %Comme cial 4.62
Mul i unc ional
10.87 %
Residen ial 80.64 %
68
In his map, (Figu e 48) he landuse is u he ca e-
go ized in o de eloped o unde eloped a eas. He e,
cons uc ion si es a e also conside ed unde de eloped
a eas as o he pu pose o his analysis, i shows an
inc ease in he sealed a eas. I is in e es ing o obse e
in he ollowing maps ha e en hough nea ly hal o he
ca chmen is s ill unde eloped (see Figu e 49), i con-
ibu es o he s o mwa e olumes accumula ed a he
end o he ca chmen . This u he suppo s he a gumen
ha an inc ease in sealed a eas will lead o an inc ease
in he uno olumes.
Figu e 48: Classi ica ion o de eloped and unde eloped a eas.
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
5.1.5 De elopmen Map
Figu e 49: G aph showing he sha e o de-
eloped and unde eloped a eas.
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
Legend
De eloped
Unde eloped
Si e
45.50 %
55.50 %
Unde eloped 55.50 %
De eloped 45.50 %
Chap e 5: Scena ios in Focus: Analysis o WSUD o Amman
69
This map is classi ied on he basis o owne ship o he
land and is di ided in o public, p i a e and mixed. The
la ges sha e o land is p i a ely owned as mos o i is
esidences o comme cial spaces. Public land is me ely
spaces like schools and mosques and some open a eas
su ounding hem. The mixed owne ship is o mul i unc-
ional spaces as hey a e assumed o also ha e some
public space along wi h p i a e spaces. A summa y o
he sha es o landuse owne ship is shown in Figu e 51
and is geospa ially illus a ed in Figu e 50.
Figu e 50: Classi ica ion o land based on owne ship.
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
5.1.6 Public-P i a e classi ica ion Map
Figu e 51: G aph showing he sha e
o Landuse based on owne ship.
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
Legend
Public
P i a e
Mixed
O he s
Si e
1.82 %
85.48 %
10.88 %
1.82 %
P i a e 85.48 %
Mixed 10.88 %
Public 1.82 % O he s 1.82 %

70
This map classi ies all he a ailable open space in he
ca chmen based on hei ypologies as shown in Fig-
u e 52 and hei sha e in Figu e 53. I is in e es ing
o no e ha mos o he unde eloped space is e e ed
o as “in ill” ins ead o jus being labeled unde eloped.
In ill de elopmen e e s o he p ac ice o making im-
p o emen s wi hin exis ing u ban a eas, ypically on
unde used o acan land. This app oach is designed
o cu b u ban sp awl by op imizing he use o exis ing
in as uc u e and p omo ing dense , mo e walkable
communi ies. Such de elopmen s can ange om es-
iden ial homes o businesses and public spaces, aiming
o enhance neighbo hoods and educe en i onmen al
impac s by a oiding he need o new in as uc u e (U -
ban Design Lab, 2023). The e o e, his shows he po-
en ial a eas ha may be epu posed o he inclusion o
WSUD s a egies.
Figu e 52: Classi ica ion o open spaces based on ypology
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
5.1.7 Open Space Classi ica ion Map
Figu e 53: G aph showing he sha e
o open space ypologies.
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
Legend
P i a e open space
Public open space
In ill
Mul i unc ional
Public ga dens
O he s
Si e
32.43 %
1.54 %
50.81 %
12.76 %
0.16 %
2.31 %
In ill 50.81 %
P i a e open space 32.43 %
Mul i unc ional 12.76 %
Chap e 5: Scena ios in Focus: Analysis o WSUD o Amman
71
The map in Figu e 54 depic s he ain all da a o he
2019 lood e en as pe HW, 2024. I shows he sinks in
he opog aphy and whe e he wa e ge s collec ed he
mos . I can be obse ed om his map ha mos o he
wa e lows along s ee s na u ally as hey a e lowe han
he buil up a eas. The uno lows along he highway
owa ds he no h eas whe e lies he lowes ou le o
he ca chmen . I may also be obse ed ha some o
he esiden ial a eas a e highly a ec ed due o he la ge
olumes o wa e being collec ed he e.
Figu e 54: Hyd aulic map showing sinks and low pa hs
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
Legend
0.004 - 0.005
0.005 - 0.007
0.007 - 0.029
> 0.029
Si e
5.1.8 Hyd aulic Map
72
Figu e 55: Iden i ica ion o ho spo s
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
Legend
Ho spo s
Selec ed Ho spo s
0.004 - 0.005
0.005 - 0.007
0.007 - 0.029
> 0.029
Buildings
Si e
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Iden i ica ion o ho spo s has been illus a ed in he Fig-
u e 55, by o e laying he landuse o sa elli e image and
hyd aulic maps, poin ing ou a eas ha a e a a isk o
looding. This also includes he unde eloped a eas. To
be e unde s and his, each o he ho spo s has been
anked o hei le el o isk and po en ial o implemen-
a ion o WSUD measu es as low, medium and high. Fo
example, public spaces and open spaces ha e high po-
en ial o implemen a ion o wsud, and low lying a eas
and sinks in he hyd aulic maps show spo s o high isk.
The ho spo s and hei ankings ha e been desc ibed in
Table 5. A ma ix o hese ho spo s is depic ed in Figu e
56, acco ding o hei le el o isk and po en ial.
Fu he , hei ypologies ha e been iden i ied and 3
ho spo s ha e been chosen, om each o he ypologies.
These a e, as pe he numbe s designa ed:
1. Ho spo 7: The high densi y esiden ial qua e wi h
high isk and low po en ial due o lack o public
space excep o s ee s, as gi en he land use, mos
o he ca chmen will be de eloped on he same pa -
e n. This is Ho spo C
2. Ho spo 8+9: The mixed use de elopmen o he
Royal illage p ojec has been combined and ana-
lysed as a single ho spo (Ho spo B) as i is a high
isk and has high po en ial o implemen ing WSUD
be o e cons uc ion
3. Ho spo 10: This is a qua e wi h a school, a
mosque and apa men buildings and has a high
po en ial gi en he a ailabili y o open space in he
school and public ga dens, hence ep esen s public
a eas, Ho spo A.
An in-dep h analysis o hese ho spo s has been ca ied
ou in he nex sec ion.
5.1.9 Iden i ica ion o Ho spo s
Chap e 5: Scena ios in Focus: Analysis o WSUD o Amman
73
Figu e 56: The Risk - Po en ial
ma ix o all he ho spo s
Sou ce: Au ho
Table 5: Desc ip ion o he ho spo s.
The selec ed ho spo s o u he
analysis ha e been highligh ed.
Sou ce: Au ho
1
2
34
5
6
789
10
11
12
Risk
Po en ial
Low
Low
Medium
Medium
High
High
Ho spo
Numbe Typology Desc ip ion Risk Po en ial
1 S ee s Highway and su ounding a eas owa ds he no h o he
ca chmen Medium High
2 Residen ial De eloping esiden ial neighbou hood wi h no public space Medium Medium
3 S ee s In e sec ion o 2 majo oads and su ounding esiden ial
a ea High Medium
4 Residen ial Exis ing semi de eloped esiden ial a ea wi h no public open
space High Medium
5 Residen ial Exis ing semi de eloped esiden ial a ea and s ee in e sec-
ions High High
6 Residen ial Medium densi y esiden ial a ea wi h no public space High Medium
7 Residen ial High densi y esiden ial qua e wi h no public open space High Low
8 Mixed Use No h-eas pa o he Royal Village p ojec (O ices as pe
p oposal) High High
9 Residen ial Sou h-wes pa o he Royal Village P ojec (Residen ial as
pe p oposal) High High
10 Public a ea/
Mixed use
School, mosque and esiden ial buildings, wi h unused open
space and public ga dens Medium High
11 Public a ea School and su ounding esiden ial a ea wi h some open
space in he school g ounds Low Medium
12 Public a ea School and su ounding esiden ial and comme cial a ea
wi h limi ed open space Low Low
80
Scena io 1
Type o su ace Ac,i Ψm,i Aimp Ap
m² m² m²
Building oo ops 10628.52 0.90 9565.66
S ee s 3857.15 0.90 3471.44
Pa ed 15427.58 0.75 11570.69
Exis ing G een 744.78 0.20 148.96
Public Ga dens 3513.40 0.10 351.34
P i a e Ga dens 7871.84 0.30 2361.55
Unde eloped Open
Space
5689.46 0.40 2275.78
To al 47732.72 24607.79 5137.63
Scena io 2
Type o su ace Ac,i Ψm,i Aimp Ap
m² m² m²
Building oo ops 5109.93 0.90 4598.94
S ee s 1352.90 0.90 1217.61
Pa ed 6033.76 0.75 4525.32
Exis ing G een 780.45 0.20 156.09
Public Ga dens 6419.96 0.10 642.00
P i a e Ga dens 7420.76 0.30 2226.23
Unde eloped Open
Space
0.40 0.00
New G een 7677.53 0.10 767.75
G een Roo s 5506.24 0.40 2202.50
Bioswale 928.34 0.20 185.67
Pe meable Pa emen 5485.27 0.30 1645.58
Rainga den 378.18 0.10 37.82
To al 47093.33 10341.87 7863.63
Scena io 3
Type o su ace Ac,i Ψm,i Aimp Ap
m² m² m²
Building oo ops 0.00 0.90 0.00
S ee s 1352.90 0.90 1217.61
Pa ed 6033.76 0.75 4525.32
Exis ing G een 780.45 0.20 156.09
Public Ga dens 6419.96 0.10 642.00
P i a e Ga dens 7420.76 0.30 2226.23
Unde eloped Open
Space
0.40 0.00
New G een 7677.53 0.10 767.75
G een Roo s 5506.24 0.40 2202.50
Bioswale 928.34 0.20 185.67
Pe meable Pa emen 5485.27 0.30 1645.58
Rainga den 378.18 0.10 37.82
To al 41983.40 5742.93 7863.63
Table 8: Calcula ion o e-
duced a eas o Scena io 1
Sou ce: Au ho
Table 9: Calcula ion o e-
duced a eas o Scena io 2
Sou ce: Au ho
Table 10: Calcula ion o e-
duced a eas o Scena io 3
Sou ce: Au ho

Chap e 5: Scena ios in Focus: Analysis o WSUD o Amman
81
Table 11: Runo olumes o he h ee scena ios
Sou ce: Au ho
Figu e 61: Runo olumes o he h ee scena ios
Sou ce: Au ho
In he nex s ep, he uno olumes a e calcula ed as
pe equa ions 3, 4 and 5 in sec ion 2.5 o he h ee
scena ios and he esul s a e desc ibed in Table 11. I
is obse ed ha o scena io 1, ha is he cu en s a-
us quo, a maximum uno olume o 1528 m³ is col-
lec ed a e 12 hou s o ain all. On he o he hand, by
implemen ing measu es in public a eas in scena io 2,
he peak uno olume is educed o 404 m³ and a e
a ound 9 hou s, all he wa e is managed on si e. This is
educed u he in scena io 3, whe e he maximum un-
o is 216 m³ a e 2 hou s o ain all and is comple ely
managed on si e a e 3 hou s. The compa ison can be
seen g aphically in Figu e 61.
Du a ion Rain all in ensi y Volume S1 Volume S2 Volume S3
min l/s ha m³ m³ m³
5 169.02 172 97 69
10 123.15 245 133 92
15 107.86 319 170 116
30 83.4 480 243 160
60 63.11 700 326 201
120 47.26 993 404 216
180 38.64 1157 402 172
360 27.69 1469 287 -43
720 18.54 1528 -288.26 -730
1440 10.29 509 -2135 -2625
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
0200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
Scena io 1
Scena io 2
Scena io 3
Du a ion in minu es
Volume in m3
82
Fu he , a calcula ion o he peak uno a es is also
done ollowing he desc ibed me hod in sec ion 2.5. The
peak low desc ibes he maximum discha ge du ing he
pe iod o uno caused by a s o m o e an a ea (Sen
2015). In o de o calcula e i o he h ee scena ios as
pe equa ion 6, he a eas o di e en sealed and un-
sealed su aces a e aken, mul iplied by hei espec i e
uno coe icien s as in Tables 8 and 9, and hen cu-
mula ed o o m a ea (A). This alue is hen mul iplied
by he di e en ain all in ensi ies in mm/h o di e en
imes o concen a ion as in equa ion 8. The alues a e
shown in Table 12 and a e g aphically depic ed in Fig-
u e 62.
The calcula ions show ha he discha ge a e peaks in
he i s 5 minu es o ain all and is he highes in sce-
na io 1 which has he highes pe cen age o sealed su -
aces. Lowe ing he sealed su aces in scena io 2 and
3 by in oducing WSUD measu es lowe s he peak un-
o a es as well. While a majo di e ence can be seen
be ween Scena io 1 and 2, disconnec ing he building
oo ops in scena io 3 does no c ea e a majo di e -
ence in compa ison o scena io 2.
Scena io 1 Scena io 2 Scena io 3
A ea (A) 29745.42 18205.50 13606.56
Du a ion Rain all
In ensi y Runo Ra e (Q)
min mm/h l/s
5 60.80 502.77 307.72 229.98
10 44.30 366.33 224.21 167.57
15 38.80 320.85 196.37 146.77
30 30.00 248.08 151.83 113.48
60 22.70 187.71 114.89 85.87
120 17.00 140.58 86.04 64.30
180 13.90 114.94 70.35 52.58
360 9.96 82.36 50.41 37.67
720 6.67 55.16 33.76 25.23
1440 3.70 30.60 18.73 14.00
0.00
100.00
200.00
300.00
400.00
500.00
600.00
0200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
S1
S2
S3
Table 12: Runo a es o he h ee scena ios
Sou ce: Au ho
Figu e 62: Runo a es o he h ee scena ios
Sou ce: Au ho
Du a ion in minu es
Runo a es in l/s
Chap e 5: Scena ios in Focus: Analysis o WSUD o Amman
83
5.2.1.5 Fu he design ecommenda-
ions
To accu a ely calcula e he wa e holding capaci y o he
measu es men ioned be o e, se e al ac o s need o be
conside ed.
1. Soil Type and Po osi y: Di e en soil ypes ha e a y-
ing wa e e en ion capaci ies. Sandy soils d ain quickly,
while clay soils e ain mo e wa e . As men ioned be o e
and used in he calcula ions, his a ea has sandy loamy
soil wi h a good in il a ion capaci y.
2. Dep h o he measu e: The dep h o he measu e such
as a ain ga den o swale de e mines how much wa e i
can s o e. Fo example wi h a dep h o 0.3m, ha ’s he
maximum amoun o wa e i can hold e ically.
3. Vege a ion and Mulch: Plan s and mulch wi hin he
ain ga den can a ec i s wa e holding capaci y by ab-
so bing and slowing down he mo emen o wa e . This
ac o needs o be conside ed based on he ypes o
plan s and amoun o mulch p esen .
4. Slope and D ainage: The slope o he land and d ain-
age pa e ns su ounding he measu e can a ec how
much wa e i ecei es and e ains du ing ain all e en s.
To es ima e he olumes o s o mwa e ha can be col-
lec ed in he measu es designed o his p ojec , only he
dimensions o he measu es a e conside ed, ha is, he
a ea calcula ed be o e mul iplied by he design dep h.
Fo mo e accu a e olumes, he concep ual designs can
be de ailed u he and simula ed in so wa es such as
STORM o SWMM.
1. G een oo s:
G een oo s a e conside ed o be semi in ensi e o in-
ensi e so an a e age dep h o subs a e a ies be ween
0.15 - 0.6m and is assumed o be 0.5 o his scena -
io. Fu he depending on di e en ypes o subs a es a
g een oo can hold be ween 30 % - 60 % o i s olume
in wa e . He e i is assumed ha i can hold 50 % o i s
olume. The e o e, wi h an a ea o 5506.24 m² and
a dep h o 0.5m, he ac ual olume o he g een oo s
would be 2,753.12 m³. Bu since i s capaci y is only 50
%, he olume o wa e i can ac ually hold is 1,376.56
m³.
2. Bioswales:
Bioswales a e in oduced in his ho spo o con ey he
uno om he su ounding s ee s, especially he one
o he sou h o he ho spo ha is ulne able o looding,
owa ds he open space o he school. Wi h an a ea o
928.33 m² and dep h o 0.3m, i has he capaci y o
hold 278.5 m³ o uno . Bioswales ha e also he capac-
i y o inc eased in il a ion, he e o e slowing down he
discha ge a es as well as he uno olumes. Howe e
his ac o is no aken in o accoun he e while calcula -
ing he olume.
3. Rainga dens:
Rainga dens a e shallow landscaped dep essions ha
no only educe he uno a es and olumes bu also
ea o wa e quali y h ough enginee ed soils and
plan a ion. The e o e, wi h an a ea o 378.182m² and a
dep h o 0.3m, he capaci y o he ainga dens depic ed
in Figu e 58 is 113.45 m³.
4. Roo op RWH:
Roo op ainwa e ha es ing is he measu e assumed
o he hi d scena io, whe e he uno om he oo s is
assumed o be managed wi hin he p i a e plo s, u ilis-
ing he open space. In his scena io, he disconnec ion
o oo op educes he uno olume om 404 m³ o
216m³. Which means ha anks o he capaci y 118 m³
needs o be ins alled in he p i a e p ope ies. This can
be done simply by di e ing he d ain ou le om he oo
in o a ank o collec ion and euse wi hin he house-
hold. Howe e , his wa e may also be di e ed in o a
ainga den wi hin he open space o a p i a e p ope -
y, h ough swales, hence slowing down he uno , and
c ea ing an aes he ic low and use o he s o mwa e
as depic ed in Figu e s 85 and 86 in sec ion 5.2.3.5.
The excess o o e low om he ainga den may hen
s ill be collec ed in an unde g ound ank, bu i would
go h ough laye s o in il a ion, hence yielding a be e
quali y o wa e s o ed.
In his ho spo , he p i a e buildings a e mul is o eyed
apa men buildings, ha ha e common access o pub-
lic pa ks. The e o e, ins ead o me ely ins alling anks,
his oo op uno can be used in mo e dynamic ways
and can be c ea i ely in eg a ed in o he landscape as
shown in Figu e 63. This Figu e depic s a case example
o 10 h@Hoy Apa men s complex in Po land, O e-
gon whe e a sys em o conc e e channels and cascades
ou es he wa e om he oo in o he cou ya d, whe e
i isibly lows o e back li and colou ed glass do ed
Co -Ten s eel wei s in o ec angula i e s one illed de-
en ion basins and a cis e n.
84
Figu e 63: 10@Hoy Apa men s is ocused
on he ac i a ion o wa e in he landscape.
Wa e lows h ough Co -Ten s eel channels
om he oo ops in o de en ion beds illed
wi h i e s ones. The a ea, hough no en i e-
ly unsealed, has g een elemen s combined
wi h open sea ing and in eg a es s o mwa e
in o he landscape in an a is ic manne .
Sou ce: (Koch Landscape A chi ec u e 2019;
Pa agon Co po a e Housing 2023)
Chap e 5: Scena ios in Focus: Analysis o WSUD o Amman
85
The Table 14 shows a compa ison o he uno olumes
o hea ie ain all scena ios, wi h a e u n pe iod o 25
yea s and 100 yea s, o all 3 design scena ios o ge an
idea o whe he he concep ual measu es would ha e
he capaci y o a enua e hese olumes.
The o al a enua ion capaci y o he measu es in sce-
na io 2 is 1769 m³ which hugely su passes he equi e-
men s e en in a 100 yea ain all e en (1132 m³) as
shown in Table 13. This indica es ha he measu es ec-
ommended can be dec eased. Fo example, he g een
oo s on he school and mosque buildings need no be
implemen ed on 100 % o he oo a ea o s o mwa e
managemen pu poses. E en i i was o be dec eased
by 50 %, he uno can be managed on si e wi h o he
measu es. Addi ionally, he in eg a ion o oo op RWH
dec eases he sys em uno olume by a enua ing a ol-
ume o 118 m³, which migh be e en eused as pe he
easibili y on si e. Fo a 5 yea ain all e en , a e sce-
na io 3, only a olume o 216 m³ needs o be a enua -
ed which can easily be done wi h he help o bioswales
alone, ha ha e he capaci y o 278 m³. These decisions
o which measu es o keep and wha can be educed
and how should be aken a e an ac i e s akeholde
mee ing and u he de ailed assessmen o he si e and
de ailed s o mwa e simula ions.
Type o su ace Ac,i Dep hs Calcula ed
Volume
Volume
capaci y
Ac ual
Volume
m² m m³ m³
Pe meable Pa emen 5485.27 0.00 0.00
New G een 7677.53
G een Roo s 5506.24 0.50 2753.12 0.50 1376.56
Bioswale 928.34 0.30 278.50 278.50
Rainga den 378.18 0.30 113.45 113.45
To al olume a enua ed in scena io 2 3145 1769
Roo op RWH 118 118.00
To al olume a enua ed in scena io 3 3263 1887
Runo Volumes
Du a ion Scena io 1 Scena io 2 Scena io 3
5
yea s
25
yea s
100
yea s
5
yea s
25
yea s
100
yea s
5
yea s
25
yea s
100
yea s
min m³ m³ m³ m³ m³ m³ m³ m³ m³
5 172 239 288 97 138 168 69 99 122
10 245 342 415 133 193 237 92 137 170
15 319 446 541 170 248 306 116 174 218
30 480 680 827 243 365 455 160 252 319
60 700 1000 1221 326 510 646 201 338 440
120 993 1443 1771 404 679 880 216 422 572
180 1157 1703 2110 402 737 986 172 422 608
360 1469 2249 2849 287 765 1132 -43 314 589
720 1528 2586 3384 -288 360 848 -730 -246 119
1440 509 1683 2558 -2135 -1416 -881 -2625 -2088 -1688
Table 13: Summa y o he a enua ion cpapci y o ecommended measu es
Sou ce: Au ho
Table 14: Compa ison o uno olumes o he h ee scena ios o e u n pe iods o 5, 25 and 100 yea s.
ou ce: Au ho

86
Ho spo s
A eas S1
P i a e ga dens
Public Ga dens
S ee s
Unde eloped open space
Ho spo buildings
Residen ial
Buildings
S ee s
5.2.2 Ho spo B: Royal Village P ojec
5.2.2.1 Desc ip ion
The Royal Village P ojec is si ua ed in a s a egic a ea
in Amman on he oad leading o he Dead Sea and
p o ides an excellen a ea o analyse as i is cu en ly no
de eloped bu has a p oposed mas e plan. This allowed
he c ea ion o an addi ional scena io o p e-de elop-
men o “g een ield” scena io as shown in Figu e 64,
whe e he uno s olumes and discha ge a es can be
compa ed wi h he p oposed mas e plan and wi h he
esul s, u he in eg a ion o WSUD measu es can be
ecommended and e en implemen ed easily.
Howe e , he p oposed mas e plan o he a ea desc ibes
a mixed-use de elopmen as shown in Figu e 65. As pe
he a chi ec s and planne s o he p ojec Alnasse and
pa ne s (2024), he loca ion allows o a main pa hway
connec ing a new e ail cen e o a majo hospi al, lined
wi h comme cial ou le s o a ac esiden s and isi o s.
The emaining a eas a e esiden ial, each wi h a dis inc
cha ac e : apa men s nea he main oad wi h cen al
pa ks, and illas on highe g ound o e ing ci y iews,
including bo h single and semi-de ached op ions o sui
di e en amily needs. As obse ed om he o e lay o
he hyd aulic map in Figu e 64, i can be obse ed ha
he esiden ial a ea in he sou h and he o ices in he
no h a e a high isk o looding. Also, he majo i y o
public space is pa ed and only a small pe cen age o
g een a ea is accessible o he public. A de ailed analy-
sis o he a eas is done in u he sec ions.
5.2.2.2 Iden i ica ion o ypes o su ac-
es and a eas
As pe he p e-de elopmen s a e o in Scena io 1A,
he si e lies in he sou he n hal o he ca chmen and is
su ounded by esiden ial a eas. I is p one o looding
in he no h eas and sou h wes pa s as shown in Fig-
u e 64. Fo he sake o simpli ied calcula ion, he uno
coe icien o his a ea is aken o be 0.4 and a small
cons uc ion as obse ed by sa elli e image y is included
as a building, as desc ibed in Table B1 in Appendix B.
On he o he hand, as pe scena io 1B, o he p oposed
mas e plan, 50 % o he a ea ge s pa ed by s ee s and
pa emen s. Fu he only a me e 22 % o he si e emains
unsealed wi h a majo po ion being p i a e p ope y. A
de ailed desc ip ion wi h a eas is shown in Table B2 in
appendix B.
Figu e 64: The oyal illage p ojec in i s cu -
en “g een ield” s a e, o e layedby a laye o hy-
d aulics showing sinks wi hin he ho spo
Sou ce: Au ho , based on GIS analysis
Chap e 5: Scena ios in Focus: Analysis o WSUD o Amman
87
Figu e 65: The oyal illage p ojec
mas e plan as p oposed by he
a chi ec s Alnasse + Pa ne s
Sou ce: Alnasse + Pa ne s, 2024
88
5.2.2.3 Concep ual design o WSUD
measu es o Scena ios 2 and 3
Fo he scena io 2, as be o e, measu es ha e been con-
cep ualised only o he public spaces as shown in Fig-
u e 68. Taking he mas e plan as he base, an a emp
is made o unseal mos pa ed a eas. Pe meable pa e-
men s ha e been implemen ed in all pa king lo s. All
public buildings including he o ices, comme cial spac-
es and hospi al ha e a semi-in ensi e g een oo . The
s ee s ha a e 15m wide in he comme cial a eas and
12m wide in he esiden ial a eas could include swales
ha con ey he s o mwa e uno and slow down he
discha ge a es. These s ee sec ions a e desc ibed in
Figu e s 66 and 67, in eg a ing landscape elemen s and
showing he basic p o ile o he s ee s.
Addi ionally, he mos po en ial was obse ed in he
pa ed a ea be ween he comme cial space ha is a pla-
za acco ding o he mas e plan. This could be con e ed
in o a “g een co ido ”, a mul i unc ional open space
ha connec s he a ious buildings a ound bu also p o-
ides a space o po en ially ea ing and e aining s o m-
wa e in his ho spo . Depending on he easibili y o he
si e condi ions, some a eas migh ha e public u ni u e,
playg ounds, open gyms o me ely g een spaces, wi h
di e ences in le els o accommoda e he e en ion o
s o mwa e . This could also in eg a e he public pa k ha
is included in he mas e plan h ough c ea i e landscape
design. The wa e om he swales could be con eyed
owa ds his g een co ido , hence educing he isk
om he esiden ial a eas. This would g ea ly imp o e
he aes he ics and biodi e si y in he a ea, hence adding
alue and p omo ing awa eness o u ban wa e s.
Al e na i ely, as pe he easibili y, since he in il a ion
po en ial o he si e is obse ed o be low (HW, 2024),
his plaza could be designed o de en ion. Tha is, by
lowe ing he le el o he plaza o by c ea ing a mul i-
unc ional space ha could also hold wa e and slowly
discha ge i as shown in Figu e 19 and as discussed in
he case s udy o Ro e dam in sec ion 3.8. While he
pe cen age o sealed o unsealed a ea may be de e -
mined on a close inspec ion o si e condi ions, cos
bene i s and o he ac o s, a combina ion o all hese
elemen s can be designed in de ail in u he app oach-
es. A summa y o he changes made in pe meable and
impe meable a eas is shown in Table B3 in appendix B.
Figu e 66: S ee E sec ion o a 15m wide oad wi h a
bio e en ion a ea ac ing as a bu e be ween he main
s ee and he Royal illage p ojec esiden ial a ea
Sou ce: Au ho
2m
2m
Pedes ian
Pedes ianBio e en ion Swale T a ic zone
T a ic zone
4m
4m 3m
Chap e 5: Scena ios in Focus: Analysis o WSUD o Amman
89
Figu e 67: S ee F sec ion o a ypical 12m wide oad wi h a bio-
e en ion a ea ac ing as a median be ween wo lanes o a ic.
Sou ce: Au ho
In scena io 3, he oo ops o he p i a e buildings a e
disconnec ed om he sys em wi h he assump ion ha
he uno om he oo ops is managed wi hin he p i-
a e open space as shown in Figu e 69. This si e has
bo h illas and mul is o eyed apa men buildings ha go
up o 8 s o eys and a e su ounded by some open space.
The o al numbe o p i a e plo s is 177 wi h an a e age
oo op a ea o 275m². Since he ypology o he houses
di e , he ways o manage s o mwa e on si e may also
di e . The illas would p obably ha e mo e open space
and migh conside in eg a ing WSUD elemen s wi hin
hei ga dens o choose o ecycle he s o mwa e o
euse and s o e in anks. On he o he hand, he apa -
men buildings migh ha e o simply ins all anks unde -
g ound o op o also in eg a e he elemen s as shown in
he sec ion 5.2.3.5.
2m
Pedes ianPedes ian Bioswale T a ic zoneT a ic zone
2m 4m4m 3m
96
Figu e 73: (Top) A iew o he
Tanne Sp ings Pa k in Po -
land, O egon, USA.
Sou ce: (DREISEITLconsul ing 2024)
Figu e 74: (Le ) In e ac ion be ween
he s o mwa e uno and ec ea ional
space in he Tanne Sp ings Pa k.
Sou ce: (D eisei l and Land8 2015)

Chap e 5: Scena ios in Focus: Analysis o WSUD o Amman
97
5.2.3 Ho spo C: Residen ial A ea
5.2.3.1 Desc ip ion
This ho spo is a e y common ypology in his ca chmen
and as obse ed, in o he pa s o Amman. A dense es-
iden ial block, wi h no public a eas, no public g eens
and no o he unc ion is a icky si e o wo k wi h o
WSUD in e en ions. This pa icula si e is a high isk o
looding as seen in Figu e 75. To he wes is he highway
ha leads o he Dead Sea, called he Dead Sea Road
and has he oyal illage p ojec on he o he side o i .
To he sou h is ano he main s ee called he Al-Quds
S ee o he same wid h o 50m wi h some unde eloped
land below i . To he no h is an 18m wide s ee called
he P ince Hamza Bin Al Hussein S ee wi h comme cial
buildings on bo h sides o i . A 24m wide s ee connec s
he wo highways o he cen e o he esiden ial qua e
wi h. The s ee s wi hin his neighbou hood ange be-
ween 11m wide o 18m wide, wi h a lo o dead ends
and cul- de-sacs. All s ee s a e ehicle o ien ed wi h
li le o no pedes ian pa hs and ba ely any g een space
excep o he odd ee plan ed ou side houses. The
houses in his neighbou hood a e classi ied as ype C,
which acco ding o (Homes-Jo don 2024), a eal es a e
websi e, has he ollowing egula ions:
- Se backs: on 4m, side 3m, ea 4m
- Building pe cen age: 51 %
- Minimum plo a ea: 500 m²
- The minimum leng h o he açade loca ed on he on
s ee : 18 m²
- Numbe o loo s: 4 loo s
- Heigh : 16 m.
Wi h an open space equi emen o 49 %, i is possible
o implemen ainga dens, RWH anks and so on wi h-
in he p i a e p ope y, howe e wi h only 15 % g een
space manda o y (Homes-Jo don 2024) , he es could
be pa ed acco ding o he owne ’s in e es . The e a e
some unde eloped plo s o land bu a e assigned he
landuse o ei he esiden ial o comme cial. Fo he sce-
na io analysis, he only public space hence a ailable a e
he s ee s.
Ho spo s
A eas S1
P i a e ga dens
S ee s
Unde eloped open space
Ho spo buildings
Residen ial
Comme cial
Buildings
S ee s
Figu e 75: This map shows an o e lap o he hy-
d aulic map showing he lows and sinks on he map
and showing di e en unc ions o buildings and
open spaces o he Ho spo C - Residen ial a eas.
Sou ce: Au ho , based on HW, 2024
Dead Sea Road
Al Quds S ee
P ince Hamza Bin Al Hussein S ee
98
Legend
Residen ial buildings
P i a e ga dens
S ee s
Unde eloped space
5.2.3.2 Iden i ica ion o ypes o su ac-
es and a eas
As summa ized in Table C1 in appendix C, he e a e no
public g een a eas o exis ing g eens ha a e aken in o
accoun o he calcula ions. Since mos o he esiden ial
plo s ha e ga dens, hey a e conside ed as p i a e open
space ou o which 40 % is conside ed g een space and
60 % pa ed as pe sa elli e image y and he building
egula ions. The building oo ops a e la and cemen -
ed. And he s ee s a e conside ed en i ely o be made o
asphal , as e en wi h pedes ian pa h, he di e ence in
pa emen makes li le di e ence o he calcula ions. The
di e en ypes o su aces can be obse ed in Figu e 76.
Figu e 76: Map o Scena io 1 - The di e en
su aces wi hin he ho spo as iden i ied by
sa elli e images in he exisi ing condi ions.
Sou ce: Au ho , based on GIS analysis, 2024
Chap e 5: Scena ios in Focus: Analysis o WSUD o Amman
99
5.2.3.3 Concep ual design o WSUD
measu es o Scena ios 2 and 3
Since he only public a ea in his neighbou hood is he
s ee s ha also a e he mos a ec ed in loods and na -
u ally con ey and con ibu e o he uno , he s ee s a e
whe e all he in e en ions a e planned o his ho spo .
Figu e 78 desc ibes a ecommended s ee sec ion o
he 50m wide s ee s o he Dead Sea Road and he
Al-Quds S ee , anno a ed as s ee ype A, as loca ed
in Figu e 77. He e, a 9m wide bioswale wi h a ying
dep hs di ides he wo di ec ions o a ic and has a
huge e en ion capaci y, while smalle swales on he wo
ends di ide he inne lanes o a ic om he main 3 lane
oad. The inc ease in g een space enhances he quali y
o he s ee while sepa a ing di e en a ic speeds and
does no comp omise on he hea y a ic loads.
Fo he P ince Hamza Bin Al Hussein S ee (s ee ype
C) o he no h which na ows down o 18m bu has a
comme cial a ea on ei he side o i , can in eg a e aing-
a dens in e spe sed in he sidewalks and ac as sepa a-
o s o pa king spaces as shown in Figu e 80.
Two s ee s connec o he inside o he neighbou hood
om he main s ee s and a e 24m wide and a e desig-
na ed he s ee ype B. These s ee s as shown in Figu e
79, ha e a 2m wide swale on ei he side, sepa a ing he
pedes ian pa hways and he ehicula s ee . In addi ion
o his, a 4m wide bioswale in he cen e sepa a es he
wo di ec ions o a ic as shown in Figu e 78.
Las ly, he inne lanes o his neighbou hood ange om
11m o 18m (S ee ype D), so an a e age o 15m was
aken o c ea e he nex s ee sec ion as shown in Figu e
81. Since hese s ee s do no ha e a lo o a ic and
ha e only houses on bo h sides, in an e o o inc ease
he shade and imp o e he mic oclima e o hese spac-
es, g een s ips ha e been placed on bo h ends o he
s ee , which a e o be plan ed wi h shady ees and local
bushes o inc ease he in il a ion. The de ailed desc ip-
ion o he a eas o scena io 2 and 3 a e desc ibed in
Appendix C Tables C1 and 2.
Fo he hi d scena io depic ed in Figu e 82, he oo op
uno needs o be managed wi hin he p i a e p ope ies
and should no add o he uno on he s ee s. This can
be done by ins alling anks unde g ound o on he su -
ace o he open space, connec ed o a di e ed spou
om he oo .
Legend
S ee A
S ee B
S ee C
S ee D
Residen ial buildings
P i a e ga dens
S ee s
Unde eloped space
Figu e 77: Map showing he layou o di e en s ee ypes
and su aces as pe he concep ual design o scena io 2.
Sou ce: Au ho
100
Figu e 78: S ee ype A - sec ion depic ing he di ision o highspeed a ic om he inne lanes
h ough he in eg a ion o swales, and a bigge bio e en ion a ea in he median o he oad.
Sou ce: Au ho
Figu e 80: S ee ype C - This comme cial s ee has a wo way a ic lane in he middle and 3m wide pa king spac-
es o he sides in e spe sed wi h ainga dens ha sepa a e he pedes ian pa hways in on o he shops.
Sou ce: Au ho
50m
24m
2m
2m2m
2m
2m
2m 3m 4m 4m
18m
3m 2m
2m
4m4m 2.5m2.5m 12m
6m
12m
6m
9m
4m
Figu e 79: S ee ype B - sec ion depic ing he di ision o ehicula a ic om he pedes ian pa hs
h ough he in eg a ion o swales, and a bigge bio e en ion a ea in he median o he oad.
Sou ce: Au ho and Gab iela Lugones Guzman
Chap e 5: Scena ios in Focus: Analysis o WSUD o Amman
101
Legend
S ee A
S ee B
S ee C
S ee D
Residen ial buildings
P i a e ga dens
S ee s
Unde eloped space
Buildings wi h RWH
Figu e 81: S ee ype D - sec ion o he inne esiden ial lanes whe e he a ic is sepa a ed om he pe-
des ian zones hough swales ha ha e shady ees o p o ide a canopy and bu e noise.
Sou ce: Au ho
15m
2m2m 1.5m1.5m 8m
Figu e 82: Map showing he layou o oo ops wi h RWH as pe scena io 3.
Sou ce: Au ho

102
5.2.3.4 Quan i a i e Analysis
As done o he p e ious wo ho spo s, he uno ol-
umes a e calcula ed o he h ee scena ios i e a i ely o
ain all in ensi y o a pe iod o 24 hou s wi h a 5 yea
e u n pe iod. This is done a e ob aining he sealed
and unsealed a eas as shown in Tables C3, 4 and 5
in appendix C. A summa y o he esul s a e shown in
Table 19 and he compa ison is depic ed g aphically in
Figu e 83.
He e i can be obse ed ha in he cu en s a e, a uno
olume o 15635 m³ is accumula ed om he neigh-
bou hood. This olume lows owa ds he Dead Sea
Road and o he no h o he ca chmen , ul ima ely con-
ibu ing nega i ely o he looding o Down own Am-
man. Howe e , wi h he implemen a ion o bioswales in
he s ee s, simply unsealing he a ea leads o imp o ed
in il a ion and a educ ion o uno olume o 10045
m³ in he second scena io. Bu he mos signi ican di -
e ence was obse ed wi h scena io 3, wi h he assump-
ion ha all he uno om he oo s is collec ed in RWH
anks on si e, hence causing a educed ou low om he
p i a e p ope ies. The calcula ed uno is educed o
4580 m³ which is less han a hi d o he olume in sce-
na io 1.
Addi ionally, he uno a es ha e also been calcula -
ed and summa ized in Table 20. As obse ed om he
g aph in Figu e 84, he uno a es in scena io 1 a e
he highes , howe e , he implemen a ion o WSUD
measu es in he e y limi ed public space does no qui e
dec ease he a e signi ican ly. Fu he educ ion is ob-
se ed in scena io 3, hence highligh ing he signi icance
o he con ibu ion o oo op uno in his ho spo .
Table 19: Runo olumes o he h ee scena ios
Sou ce: Au ho
Table 83: Runo olumes o he h ee scena ios
Sou ce: Au ho
Du a ion Rain all in ensi y Volume S1 Volume S2 Volume S3
min l/s ha m³ m³ m³
5 169.02 1515 1274 811
10 123.15 2172 1812 1137
15 107.86 2829 2349 1462
30 83.4 4287 3520 2149
60 63.11 6299 5086 3010
120 47.26 9045 7118.91 4010
180 38.64 10669 8188 4374
360 27.69 13970 10045 4580
720 18.54 15635 9517 2198
1440 10.29 9053 -54 -8175
-2000
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
0200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
S1
S2
S3
Du a ion in minu es
Runo olumes in m3
Chap e 5: Scena ios in Focus: Analysis o WSUD o Amman
103
5.2.3.5 Fu he design ecommenda-
ions
Since he only measu es applied in scena io 2 in his
case a e bioswales and ainga dens o simila cha ac-
e is ics, hey a e clubbed oge he unde he e m bio-
e en ion, and an a e age ponding dep h o 0.3 has
been aken o an es ima ion o he capaci y. Wi h an
a ea o 50250 m², hey ha e a capaci y o 15075 m³ in
o al which is mo e han he equi ed 10045 m³ o a 5
yea e en . Howe e , he de ailed design o hese swales
should be done acco ding o he needs and cha ac e
o he di e en s ee s a e a mo e de ailed easibili y
s udy. Simply by inc easing he unsealed a ea in a qua -
e may ha e he desi ed e ec and adding dep hs o
hese measu es may no be necessa y. I is also obse ed
ha a e managing he oo op uno on si e, he uno
olume ha needs o be mi iga ed dec eases d as ically
o 4580m³. These Figu e s a e summa ized in Table 21
which also u he shows ha he oo op uno collec ed
is 5465 m³, which means ha o he app oxima ely 300
buildings in his a ea, a ound 18 m³ o s o age anks a e
equi ed o each s uc u e. These s o ages migh be on
indi idual p ope ies o can also be implemen ed collec-
i ely a he end o s ee s in he cul-de-sacs. Howe e ,
his is assuming ha 100 % o all oo op uno is man-
aged wi hin p i a e p ope y, and while his may be a
sugges ion, making i manda o y by law and in oducing
building egula ions o be implemen ed may no be ully
easible. Hence, he measu es in public a eas should be
u he designed keeping in mind some o e lows om
p i a e p ope ies as well.
Table 20: Runo a es o he h ee scena ios
Sou ce: Au ho
Table 84: Runo a es o he h ee scena ios
Sou ce: Au ho
Scena io 1 Scena io 2 Scena io 3
A ea (A) 259532.41 222986.96 146841.16
Du a ion Rain all
In ensi y Runo Ra e (Q)
min mm/h l/s
5 60.80 4386.72 3769.01 2481.97
10 44.30 3196.25 2746.17 1808.41
15 38.80 2799.42 2405.23 1583.89
30 30.00 2164.50 1859.71 1224.66
60 22.70 1637.81 1407.18 926.66
120 17.00 1226.55 1053.84 693.97
180 13.90 1002.89 861.67 567.42
360 9.96 718.61 617.42 406.59
720 6.67 481.24 413.48 272.28
1440 3.70 266.96 229.36 151.04
0.00
500.00
1000.00
1500.00
2000.00
2500.00
3000.00
3500.00
4000.00
4500.00
5000.00
0200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
S1
S2
S3
Du a ion in minu es
Runo a es in l/s
104
In his ho spo , i can be concluded ha due o he min-
imal public space a ailable, i is necessa y o he p i-
a e spaces o ake esponsibili y o hei con ibu ion
in s o mwa e uno . As obse ed om he summa y o
he a enua ion capaci ies o he measu es implemen ed
in his ho spo om Table 21, he bio e en ion sys ems
in he s ee s will be able o a enua e only he uno
olumes o a 5 yea ain all e en . Fo hea ie ain all
e en s wi h a e u n pe iod o 25 yea s o mo e, hese
sys ems may be able o con ey he uno o an ou -
le om he neighbou hood, possibly a e en ion pond.
Howe e , i he e is no one, he excess uno ha is no
a enua ed would add o he looding p oblem in he
ca chmen . On he o he hand, i he oo op ainwa e
ha es ing sys ems a e ins alled in he p i a e p ope ies,
his as ly educes he uno olumes, and e en in a
100 yea ain all scena io, he sugges ed measu es ha e
mo e han enough capaci y o a enua e he s o mwa e ,
ac i ely helping in in il a ion and s o age.
To incen i ise he ins alla ion o RWH sys ems in esiden-
ial plo s, esiden s need o be made awa e o he a -
ious bene i s o hese sys ems. In a place whe e people
ace such a sho age o wa e , ea men and euse o
s o mwa e should become he p io i y and esponsibili y
o e e yone. Fu he , i may be bene icial o also ein-
s a e he addi ional bene i s o in eg a ed WSUD wi hin
p i a e p ope ies, like aes he ics and imp o emen o
biodi e si y and mic oclima e. Figu e s 85 and 86 show
di e en ways in which oo op uno can be managed
wi hin he open space o a esidence while imp o ing
he aes he ics and ge ing in eg a ed in o he landscape.
Type o su ace Ac,i Dep hs Calcula ed
Volume
Volume
capaci y
Ac ual
Volume
m² m m³ m³
Bio e en ion 50250.53 0.30 15075.16 15075.16
To al olume a enua ed in scena io 2 15075 15075
Roo op RWH 5465 5465
To al olume a enua ed in scena io 3 20540
Table 21: Summa y o he a enua ion capaci y o ecommended measu es
Sou ce: Au ho
Runo Volumes
Du a ion Scena io 1 Scena io 2 Scena io 3
5
yea s
25
yea s
100
yea s
5
yea s
25
yea s
100
yea s
5
yea s
25
yea s
100
yea s
min m³ m³ m³ m³ m³ m³ m³ m³ m³
5 1515 2099 2533 1274 1776 2149 811 1141 1387
10 2172 3019 3652 1812 2539 3084 1137 1616 1974
15 2829 3944 4769 2349 3307 4016 1462 2093 2560
30 4287 6033 7311 3520 5020 6118 2149 3136 3859
60 6299 8917 10849 5086 7335 8995 3010 4491 5584
120 9045 12973 15840 7119 10493 12957 4010 6232 7854
180 10669 15438 18990 8188 12285 15337 4374 7073 9082
360 13970 20778 26013 10045 15894 20391 4580 8431 11393
720 15635 24873 31830 9517 17454 23432 2198 7425 11361
1440 9053 19300 26931 -54 8749 15306 -8175 -2377 1940
Table 22: Compa ison o uno olumes o he h ee scena ios o e u n pe iods o 5, 25 and 100 yea s.
ou ce: Au ho
Chap e 5: Scena ios in Focus: Analysis o WSUD o Amman
105
house oo op
downpipe in o
s o mwa e plan e
o e low in o swale
o e low
in o pond
Figu e 86: S o mwa e plan e s ha e
been used o c ea e a shel e ed ou -
doo space nex o he house. bench
sea ing has been a ached o he walls
o he plan e . Wa e om he oo a -
els h ough he plan e s in o a pond
which o e lows in o a ga den swale.
Sou ce:
Red awn and adap ed om
(Dunne and Clayden 2007)
Figu e 85: This design aims o c ea e mo e op-
po uni ies o cap u ing ainwa e and hen slow-
ly eleasing i o using i wi hin he ga den.
Sou ce:
Red awn and adap ed om
(Dunne and Clayden 2007)
pe meable
pa ing
new ee
plan ing
swale
swale
gully
swale
s o mwa e plan e
s o mwa e
plan e
wa e bu
wa e bu
gully
gully
pond
pond
swale
swale
ainga den
ainga den
g een oo
112
o ini ially c ea e pilo p ojec s o be implemen ed in his
ca chmen and moni o hei pe o mance. Wi h he help
o landscape a chi ec s, enginee s and u ban planne s,
he sugges ed measu es need o be designed in de ail,
keeping in mind aes he ic, unc ional, echnical and en-
i onmen al aspec s. A e ised landuse map needs o be
de eloped o his ca chmen , in eg a ing he hyd ologi-
cal aspec s along wi h social and en i onmen al aspec s.
6.4 Conclusion
The analysis o his hesis ou lines he need o in eg a-
ion o WSUD in o he policy amewo k, u ban planning
and e o i ing o buil spaces in Amman. I shows ha
hese s a egies no only help mi iga e he hyd ological
ulne abili ies o he ci y, bu also add g ea alue o he
u ban landscape by imp o ing he mic oclima e, p o-
mo ing biodi e si y, c ea ing public space o dynamic
engagemen o he esiden s and holis ically b ings na-
u e in o he ci y. The compa ison o he di e en sce-
na ios indica es he high cos o doing no hing, e sus
he bene i s o in eg a ing WSUD in o he public and
p i a e ealms. I shows ha e en he mos impossibly
dense a eas wi h minimal po en ial ha e he space o
in eg a e hese s a egies and ha e g ea alue o be u -
he analyzed. I also shows ha while he s akeholde s
c ea ing policies o clima e adap a ion ealise he need
o sus ainable d ainage sys ems and ha e been ac i e-
ly sugges ing hem in epo s o clima e esilience and
he G een Ci y Ac ion Plan, he e is a gap in i s imple-
men a ion, e en in he planning documen o he u ban
a eas. This gap needs o be co e ed wi h he help o ca-
paci y building o hose esponsible o hese asks and
in ol ing he communi y o pa icipa e in seeing hese
asks h ough. P io i izing clima e esilience is c ucial o
Amman, necessi a ing alignmen o i s adap a ion plan
wi h he na ional s a egy. Enhancing social in as uc-
u e, adop ing na u e-based solu ions, and upg ading
c i ical physical in as uc u e a e essen ial o bols e ing
he ci y’s capaci y o wi hs and clima e- ela ed haza ds.
Wi h he upcoming challenges such as u baniza ion,
ine icien land use, and zoning, along wi h he h ea
o exace ba ed inequali ies due o une en esou ce dis-
ibu ion, and an inc eased ins abili y in he mig a ion
ends, unde sco e he need o in eg a ed u ban plan-
ning o c ea e a esilien , g een, jus , and inclusi e ci y.

Chap e 6: Fu u e Ho izons: Concluding Insigh s o Amman’s S o mwa e
113
114
Appendix
Appendix A: In o ma ion on quan i a i e analysis
Table A1: Runo coe icien s o di e en su aces
Sou ce: DWA-117 (Deu sche Ve einigung ü Wasse wi scha , Abwasse und Ab all 2013)
Table A2: Rep esen a i e Values o Hy-
d aulic Conduc i i y o Soils
Sou ce: (S uc X 2024)
115
Table A3: Wa e pe meabili y coe icien s o loose ock and pe cola ion ange o echnical d ainage
Sou ce: (DWA 2006)
Appendix B: Addi ional in o ma ion o he Royal Village P ojec
Scena io 1A
Type o
Su ace
Desc ip ion Pe meable
A ea
Impe meable
A ea
To al A ea
(Ac)
% o o al
A ea
m² m² m²
Building Roo -
ops
Fla and cemen ed 2700.47 2700.47 1 %
Unde eloped
Open Space
Space wi h low o no
ege a ion and na -
u al soil ha has no
been de eloped ye .
450837.052 450837.05 99 %
To al 450837.05 2700.47 453537.52
99 % 1 %
Table B1: Desc ip ion o a eas in scena io 1A o p e-de elopmen scena io o he oyal illage p ojec .
Sou ce: Au ho
116
Scena io 1B
Type o
Su ace
Desc ip ion Pe meable
A ea
Impe meable
A ea
To al A ea
(Ac)
% o o al
A ea
m² m² m²
Building Roo -
ops
Fla and cemen ed,
bo h esiden ial and
public buildings
104343.65 104343.65 23 %
S ee s Asphal 137938.84 137938.84 30 %
Pa ed A ea Conc e e pa ings, side-
walks wi h closed join s.
92864.37 92864.37 20 %
Unde eloped
Open Space
Space wi h low o no
ege a ion and na u al
soil ha has no been
de eloped ye .
0 %
Exis ing G een
A eas
P i a e Ga -
dens
A eas a ound esiden-
ial buildings. Based on
sa elli e image y, 80 %
is assumed o be g een,
while 20 % is pa ed o
d i eways
68159.40424 17039.85106 85199.26 19 %
Public Ga dens A eas wi h plan ed eg-
e a ion as pe he land-
scaping mas e plan
31754.49 31754.49 7 %
Spo s g ounds Pa ed g ounds wi h a -
i icial u
1436.9142 1436.91 0 %
To al 99913.90 353623.63 453537.52
22 % 78 %
Table B2: Desc ip ion o a eas in scena io 1B o he p oposed mas e plan o he oyal illage p ojec .
Sou ce: Au ho
117
Table B3: Desc ip ion o a eas in scena io 2 o he Royal Village p ojec
Sou ce: Au ho
Scena io 2
Type o
Su ace
Desc ip ion Pe meable
A ea
Impe meable
A ea
To al
A ea (Ac)
% o o al
A ea
m² m² m²
Building
Roo ops
Fla and cemen ed, bo h es-
iden ial and public buildings
48460 48460 11 %
S ee s Asphal 113311 113311 25 %
Pa ed A ea Conc e e pa ings, sidewalks
wi h closed join s. 90 % o
he a ea is pa ed a ound he
school, 10 % is pe meable o
he exis ing ees on si e
70895 70895 16 %
Unde el-
oped Open
Space
Space wi h low o no ege a-
ion and na u al soil ha has
no been de eloped ye .
0 0 %
Exisi ing
G een A -
eas
A eas wi h plan ed ege a ion
exisi ng on si e
31754 31754 7 %
P i a e Ga -
dens
A eas a ound esiden ial
buildings. Based on sa elli e
image y, 40 % is assumed
o be g een, while 60 % is
pa ed.
20062 20062 4 %
Public Ga -
dens
A eas o public use, wi h no
pa emen s as pe sa elli e im-
age y
68159 17040 85200 19 %
Blue G een Measu es
New G een
a eas
Pe meable a ea c ea ed ou
o p e iously sealed o unde-
eloped open space
4118 4118 1 %
G een Roo s Implemen ing semi in ensi e
o in ensi e on la oo s o all
public buildings
55884 55884 12 %
Bioswales Shallow pi s ha a e ege a -
ed o e en ion and con ey-
ance o s o mwa e
10163 10163 2 %
Pe meable
Pa emen
Pa ing blocks wi h loose join s
o inc ease pe meabili y o he
a ea
14465 14465 3 %
Rainga den A landscaped a ea ha cap-
u es and il e s ainwa e un-
o
0 %
To al 204606 249706 454312
45 % 55 %

118
Scena io 1A
Type o su ace Ac,i Ψm,i Aimp Ap
m² m² m²
Building oo ops 2700.47 0.90 2430.42
Unde eloped Open
Space
450837.05 0.40 180334.82
To al 453537.52 2430.42 180334.82
Scena io 1B
Type o su ace Ac,i Ψm,i Aimp Ap
m² m² m²
Building oo ops 104343.65 0.90 93909.28
S ee s 137938.84 0.90 124144.96
Pa ed 92864.37 0.75 69648.28
Exis ing G een 31754.49 0.20 6350.90
Public Ga dens 0.10 0.00
P i a e Ga dens 85199.26 0.30 25559.78
Unde eloped Open
Space
0.00 0.40 0.00
Spo s G ounds
(Pa ed)
1436.91 0.80 1149.53
To al 453537.52 288852.05 31910.67
Scena io 2
Type o su ace Ac,i Ψm,i Aimp Ap
m² m² m²
Building oo ops 48459.57 0.90 43613.61
S ee s 113311.25 0.90 101980.12
Pa ed 70895.16 0.75 53171.37
Exis ing G een 31754.49 0.20 6350.90
Public Ga dens 20061.80 0.10 2006.18
P i a e Ga dens 85199.26 0.30 25559.78
Unde eloped Open
Space
0.40 0.00
New G een 4118.48 0.10 411.85
G een Roo s 55884.08 0.40 22353.63
Bioswale 10162.85 0.20 2032.57
Pe meable Pa emen 14464.75 0.30 4339.42
Rainga den 0.10 0.00
To al 454311.68 198765.11 63054.33
Table B4: Calcula ion o e-
duced a eas o Scena io 1A
Sou ce: Au ho
Table B6: Calcula ion o e-
duced a eas o Scena io 2
Sou ce: Au ho
Table B5: Calcula ion o e-
duced a eas o Scena io 1B
Sou ce: Au ho
119
Scena io 3
Type o su ace Ac,i Ψm,i Aimp Ap
m² m² m²
Building oo ops 0.00 0.90 0.00
S ee s 113311.25 0.90 101980.12
Pa ed 70895.16 0.75 53171.37
Exis ing G een 31754.49 0.20 6350.90
Public Ga dens 20061.80 0.10 2006.18
P i a e Ga dens 85199.26 0.30 25559.78
Unde eloped Open Space 0.40 0.00
New G een 4118.48 0.10 411.85
G een Roo s 55884.08 0.40 22353.63
Bioswale 10162.85 0.20 2032.57
Pe meable Pa emen 14464.75 0.30 4339.42
Rainga den 0.10 0.00
To al 405852.11 155151.50 63054.33
Table C1: Desc ip ion o ypes o su aces o he esiden ial a ea o scena io 1
Sou ce: Au ho
Table B7: Calcula ion o educed a eas o Scena io 3
Sou ce: Au ho
Scena io 1
Type o
Su ace
Desc ip ion Pe meable
A ea
Impe meable
A ea
To al A ea
(Ac)
% o o al
A ea
m² m² m²
Building Roo -
ops
Fla and cemen ed,
bo h esiden ial and
public buildings
84,606.44 84,606.44 23 %
S ee s Asphal 1,63,843.34 1,63,843.34 45 %
Unde eloped
Open Space
Space wi h low o no
ege a ion and na u al
soil ha has no been
de eloped ye .
7,138.09 7,138.09 2 %
P i a e Ga -
dens
A eas a ound esiden-
ial buildings. Based on
sa elli e image y, 40 %
is assumed o be g een,
while 60 % is pa ed.
88,192.96 22,048.24 1,10,241.20 30 %
To al 95,331.05 2,70,498.03 3,65,829.08
26 % 74 %
Appendix C: Addi ional in o ma ion o Residen ial A ea
120
Scena io 2
Type o
Su ace
Desc ip ion Pe meable
A ea
Impe meable
A ea
To al
A ea (Ac)
% o o al
A ea
m² m² m²
Building
Roo ops
Fla and cemen ed, bo h es-
iden ial and public buildings
84606.44 84606.44 23 %
S ee s Asphal 112070.51 112070.51 31 %
Unde el-
oped Open
Space
Space wi h low o no ege a-
ion and na u al soil ha has
no been de eloped ye .
7138.09 7138.09 2 %
P i a e Ga -
dens
A eas a ound esiden ial
buildings. Based on sa elli e
image y, 40 % is assumed
o be g een, while 60 % is
pa ed.
88192.96 22048.24 110241.20 30 %
Blue G een Measu es
Bioswales Shallow pi s ha a e ege a -
ed o e en ion and con ey-
ance o s o mwa e
50250.53 50250.53 14 %
To al 145581.58 218725.19 364306.77
40 % 60 %
Table C2: Desc ip ion o ypes o su aces o he esiden ial a ea o scena io 2
Sou ce: Au ho
Scena io 1
Type o su ace Ac,i Ψm,i Aimp Ap
m² m² m²
Building oo ops 84606.44 0.90 76145.80
S ee s 163843.34 0.90 147459.01
Pa ed 0.75
Exis ing G een 0.20
Public Ga dens 0.10
P i a e Ga dens 110241.20 0.30 33072.36
Unde eloped Open
Space
7138.09 0.40 2855.24
To al 365829.08 223604.81 35927.60
Table C3: Calcula ion o e-
duced a eas o Scena io 1
Sou ce: Au ho
Table C4: Calcula ion o e-
duced a eas o Scena io 2
Sou ce: Au ho
Scena io 2
Type o su ace Ac,i Ψm,i Aimp Ap
m² m² m²
Building oo ops 84606.44 0.90 76145.80
S ee s 112070.51 0.90 100863.46
P i a e Ga dens 110241.20 0.30 33072.36
Unde eloped Open Space 7138.09 0.40 2855.24
New G een 0.10 0.00
Bioswale 50250.53 0.20 10050.11
To al 364306.77 177009.26 45977.70
121
Table C5: Calcula ion o educed a eas o Scena io 3
Sou ce: Au ho
Scena io 3
Type o su ace Ac,i Ψm,i Aimp Ap
m² m² m²
Building oo ops 0 0.90 0
S ee s 112070.51 0.90 100863.46
P i a e Ga dens 110241.20 0.30 33072.36
Unde eloped Open Space 7138.09 0.40 2855.24
New G een 0.10 0.00
Bioswale 50250.53 0.20 10050.11
To al 279700.33 100863.46 45977.70
Appendix D: Miscellaneous
Residen ial land egula ion - P o isions o egula ing housing a eas.
All esiden ial g oups sha e simila p o isions, bu he di e ence be ween hem is in p opo ions and numbe s, and
hese p o isions a e as ollows:
• Se backs: I is he space sepa a ing he building om he bo de o he land in which building is p ohibi ed. I
includes he on , side, and back di ec ions.
• Building Pe cen age: I is he a ea on which he landowne is en i led o build in ela ion o he o al land a ea.
• The numbe o u ns
• The minimum leng h o he açade loca ed on he on s ee
• Heigh : F om he g ound loo iling
• Pa king
P o isions o ca ego ies o housing a eas A, B, C, D
1. Residen ial a ea A
• Se backs: on 5m, side 5m, ea 7m
• Building pe cen age: 39 %
• Minimum plo a ea: 1000 m²
• The minimum leng h o he açade loca ed on he on s ee : 25 m²
• Numbe o loo s: 4 loo s
• Heigh : 16 m
2. Residen ial a ea B
• Se backs: ( on 4m, side 4m, ea 6m)
• Building pe cen age: 45 %
• Minimum plo a ea: 750 m²
• The minimum leng h o he açade loca ed on he on s ee : 20 m²
• Numbe o loo s: 4 loo s
• Heigh : 16 m
3. Residen ial a ea C
• Se backs: on 4m, side 3m, ea 4m
• Building pe cen age: 51 %
• Minimum plo a ea: 500 m²
128