Water is the major constraint for agricultural development and sustainability in arid lands. Jordan suffers from water scarcity. This scarcity will become more critical as urban and industrial sectors place higher and higher demand on water. Total demand for water exceeds the available resources. The annual potential available ground and surface water in Jordan is estimated to be 980 MCM. In this year, the estimated total water requirement is expected to be 1548 MCM. The water consumption for all sectors was divided as follows: 460 MCM for domestic and industrial purposes, and 1088 MCM for agriculture. The main source of irrigation water is the surface water in the Jordan Valley, and the groundwater in the highlands. There are evidences that the quality of groundwater is deteriorating due to over pumping and contamination from N-fertilizers and treated wastewater.

Treated wastewater is a potential non-traditional water source, which can be used for irrigation. During the year 2000, Jordan had a total number of 50 wastewater treatment plants serving about 65-80% of the total population. Wastewater effluents from these treatment plants are estimated to be more than 60-80MCM.

Several factors and conditions restrict the use of treated wastewater in agriculture. The most important of these are:

Crop type; cultivated crops should not be fresh consumed by human such as lettuce and cucumber.

Irrigation systems should minimize environmental hazard and avoid direct contact between irrigation water and crops.

The objective of this research is to assess and monitor the environmental pollution of soil, plants and animals through using effluent water from Ramtha wastewater treatment plant as a source of irrigation. Moreover to establish safe levels of forages irrigated with wastewater for animal health in order to ensure secure consumption of animal products by man. This objective will met through monitoring the accumulation of salts and other hazardous chemicals in soil, and the quality of animal products (milk and meat).