Exploring Common Residential Landscape Types and Their Water Budget in Amman, Jordan

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This study examines residential landscape types and their water budgets in Amman, Jordan. It identifies prevalent landscaping types, categorizes water usage levels, and highlights the dominance of hard-surface materials. The research underscores the importance of integrating drought-tolerant plants to reduce water consumption, promoting sustainable landscaping in a semi-arid environment.

The paper provides valuable insights into the water consumption patterns of various landscape types in Amman, contributing to sustainable urban landscaping. Its methodological approach is well-structured, using quantitative classifications to accurately reflect local landscaping trends. However, the study could be improved by expanding on the implications of hardscape dominance on the local microclimate, especially given the heat retention properties of materials like concrete and tile. Including recent data on rising temperatures or climate variability could better contextualize these effects in Amman's semi-arid climate.

Additionally, while the findings suggest the benefits of drought-tolerant plants, the absence of a dedicated section on water scarcity in Jordan is notable. Given Jordan’s status as one of the most water-scarce countries globally, this paper would benefit greatly from framing the results within the country’s critical water challenges. Incorporating discussions of works by Majd Al Naber, Hussam Hussein, and Elias Salameh, who have addressed Jordan's water scarcity, could provide a deeper context, highlighting the urgency of reducing water consumption in urban landscaping.

Furthermore, the paper could strengthen its practical relevance by suggesting specific policies, such as local government incentives for drought-tolerant landscaping or public awareness campaigns on water conservation. The study’s focus on hard-surface landscape types highlights an area of concern, yet a broader comparison with cities implementing successful green policies would enhance the discussion. Overall, the study is a robust investigation but would benefit from expanded practical applications and contextual depth, potentially improving its relevance to urban planners and policymakers aiming to address water scarcity in urban Jordanian settings.

 

Author Response

Comments 1: This study examines residential landscape types and their water budgets in Amman, Jordan. It identifies prevalent landscaping types, categorizes water usage levels, and highlights the dominance of hard-surface materials. The research underscores the importance of integrating drought-tolerant plants to reduce water consumption, promoting sustainable landscaping in a semi-arid environment. The paper provides valuable insights into the water consumption patterns of various landscape types in Amman, contributing to sustainable urban landscaping. Its methodological approach is well-structured, using quantitative classifications to accurately reflect local landscaping trends. However, the study could be improved by expanding on the implications of hardscape dominance on the local microclimate, especially given the heat retention properties of materials like concrete and tile. Including recent data on rising temperatures or climate variability could better contextualize these effects in Amman's semi-arid climate.

Response 1: We appreciate your thoughtful feedback and suggestions on our manuscript. We are completely agree. In response to your recommendation to expand on the implications of hardscape dominance on the local microclimate, we have incorporated a discussion on the heat retention properties of materials to address your feedback in the revised version. (line 384 and line 409).

Line 384:

Hard surfaces, such as concrete and rigid pavement are typically impermeable. They ab-sorb heat more than green space due to its thermal properties. Urban areas with high hard surface coverage significantly increase the amount of thermal radiation that the city absorbs, which exacerbates the urban heat islands effect [62]. Green spaces can lower ambient temperatures by increasing evapotranspiration, emitting less radiance, and providing shade from canopies [63].

Line 409:

As a semi-arid city, Amman has a significant urban heat islands Intensity both during the day and at night [56]. Implementing initiative programs that increase the green space coverage help preserve the city's future from the dangers of urban heat islands [69].

Comments 2: Additionally, while the findings suggest the benefits of drought-tolerant plants, the absence of a dedicated section on water scarcity in Jordan is notable. Given Jordan’s status as one of the most water-scarce countries globally, this paper would benefit greatly from framing the results within the country’s critical water challenges. Incorporating discussions of works by Majd Al Naber, Hussam Hussein, and Elias Salameh, who have addressed Jordan's water scarcity, could provide a deeper context, highlighting the urgency of reducing water consumption in urban landscaping.

Response 2:  We agree that framing the findings within the context of Jordan's critical water challenges will strengthen the manuscript. We added that to the discussion part (line 499).

Line 499:

Jordan is among the world's most water-scarce nations. It is challenged by both natural and human-made factors, such as resource mismanagement and refugee influxes [56, 89]. In spite of efforts to manage Jordan's water resources, insufficient planning has resulted in continued water security issues as well as deteriorating water quantity and quality. Therefore, water conservation initiatives should be adopted to address water scarcity [29]. Implanting low water use plants in landscapes mitigates water consumption and promotes water resources management in urban residential landscapes.

Comments 3: Furthermore, the paper could strengthen its practical relevance by suggesting specific policies, such as local government incentives for drought-tolerant landscaping or public awareness campaigns on water conservation. The study’s focus on hard-surface landscape types highlights an area of concern, yet a broader comparison with cities implementing successful green policies would enhance the discussion. Overall, the study is a robust investigation but would benefit from expanded practical applications and contextual depth, potentially improving its relevance to urban planners and policymakers aiming to address water scarcity in urban Jordanian settings.

Response 3:  Thank you for your insightful feedback regarding the practical relevance of the study. We agree that the inclusion of specific policy recommendations and comparisons with successful green policies from other cities would enhance the practical relevance and contextual depth of the manuscript. Accordingly, we have revised the discussion section to address these points as follows:

Line 449:

In 2023, Ministry of Water and Irrigation revised their Water Demand Management Policy and include it is an integral part of in the National Water Strategy 2023–2040. They approved to improve their methods and behaviors of water uses in sustainable, efficient, and equity manner. This policy supports solutions to Jordan’s water scarcity problem, such as water-saving landscapes, water efficiency in irrigation, and water harvesting [79]. Although the government has launched a number of initiatives in water saving, domestic water consumption received the majority of the focus. Future campaigns should emphasize plants water conservation [29]. Therefore, government institutions should encourage homeowner to implement low water use landscapes by public awareness campaigns, incentives programs, or tax breaks. A successful example in United States, where the South-ern Nevada Water Authority's lunched Water Smart Landscapes program to encourage shifting towered water saving landscapes. The water consumption in participated properties (300,000 home) had been reduced successfully by 20 percent [80].

Line 412:

Worldwide, many cities have adopted initiative programs to increase trees in the urban setting (including residential yards) to mitigate urban heat islands, increase biodiversity, and reduce pollution. For example, the Tree City USA program provided incentives to towns and helped more than 3,600 communities across the USA to plant and care for trees in urban areas [70, 71]. In addition, the MillionTreesNYC program in New York City and the Greening Australia program are other successful cases that aim to increase and protect trees in urban areas [72, 73]. Policymakers, governmental institutions, and associations should adopt such programs to increase tree coverage in the residential neighborhoods of Amman, keeping in mind choosing low water use plants (native and drought-tolerant species) that are suitable to this semi-arid area.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1. In the introduction part of the paper, the concept and function of residential landscape, landscape classification, plant selection, landscape water budget and other aspects of background knowledge are introduced, which provides a certain theoretical basis for the study. However, the specific context of Amman in Jordan is relatively limited, mentioning only that the city has a semi-arid climate and faces water shortages, but not exploring how these factors specifically affect the development and character of the local residential landscape.

2. This paper selected 54 residential landscapes in six districts of Amman city as research samples. However, the extent to which these six districts are represented in the overall residential area of Amman and the reasons for their selection are not clearly stated.

3. Figure 1 This map should provide the corresponding latitude and longitude in the graph so that the reader can better understand it.

4. Figure 3 should provide salience in the graph.

5. When referring to the use of plants in the conclusion section, the key role of selecting plants with low water demand in alleviating water stress can be emphasized to better echo the sustainability theme of the study.

Author Response

Comments 1: In the introduction part of the paper, the concept and function of residential landscape, landscape classification, plant selection, landscape water budget and other aspects of background knowledge are introduced, which provides a certain theoretical basis for the study. However, the specific context of Amman in Jordan is relatively limited, mentioning only that the city has a semi-arid climate and faces water shortages, but not exploring how these factors specifically affect the development and character of the local residential landscape.

Response 1: Thank you for your valuable feedback. We appreciate your suggestion to elaborate on the specific context of Amman, Jordan, regarding its semi-arid climate and water scarcity, and how these factors influence the development and character of local residential landscapes. In response, we have revised the manuscript to include the following:

Line 370:

The semi-arid climate and water shortages in Amman [56] had significantly shaped the local residential landscape, leading to a predominance of hard surface materials and reduction the vegetation cover. Turf landscape type formed less than 3% of common landscape types in Amman. Turfgrass was used in one-third of the studied landscapes (N=158), accounting for an average of 28% of the total landscape area. Similarly, in Las Cruces, NM, turfgrass was found in nearly one third of the landscapes studied (N=158), but it covered a higher average of 55% of the landscape area [9]. Despite both regions experiencing drought conditions, the difference in turfgrass coverage between Amman and Las Cruces highlights Amman's severe water shortages.

Comments 2: This paper selected 54 residential landscapes in six districts of Amman city as research samples. However, the extent to which these six districts are represented in the overall residential area of Amman and the reasons for their selection are not clearly stated.

Response 2: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree that clarifying the selection process and representativeness of the six districts is essential to strengthen the validity of our research. Below is our detailed response, which has been added to the manuscript:

Line 113:

The western neighborhoods were chosen because they reflect a planned and regulated urban development pattern that follows building codes and regulations [36]. In addition, the western neighborhoods of Amman have more open space [37]. In contrast, Amman's eastern neighborhoods are characterized by denser housing and multi-story apartment buildings. These eastern neighborhoods were established in an unplanned manner, without regard for building codes and regulations, and had minimal or no landscaped areas around residential homes [36], which is a core criterion for this study.

 

Comments 3: Figure 1 This map should provide the corresponding latitude and longitude in the graph so that the reader can better understand it.

Response 3:  Thank you for this valuable comment. We have updated Figure 1 to include the latitude and longitude coordinates to provide better geographical context for the readers (Line 132).

 

Comments 4: Figure 3 should provide salience in the graph.

Response 4:  We appreciate your suggestion. In response, we have rebuilt ‘Figure 3’ to improve the salience of the figure by enhancing the contrast and clarity of the visual elements. We also added annotations and modified the color scheme to ensure key data points are more visually prominent (Line 316)..

 

Comments 5: When referring to the use of plants in the conclusion section, the key role of selecting plants with low water demand in alleviating water stress can be emphasized to better echo the sustainability theme of the study.

Response 5:  Thank you for the suggestion. We have revised the conclusion to emphasize the role of selecting low water use plants in reducing water stress, aligning this with the study's sustainability focus.

Line 549:

In addition, these efforts should increase the vegetation cover, particularly low water use trees, in residential landscapes for achieving a sustainable urban theme and alleviating water stress in arid and semi-arid regions like Amman.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper is improved, but the authors still fail to contextualise the case of Jordan’s water sector and scarcity situation. 

In fact, while the findings suggest the benefits of drought-tolerant plants, the absence of a dedicated section on water scarcity in Jordan is notable. Given Jordan’s status as one of the most water-scarce countries globally, this paper would benefit greatly from framing the results within the country’s critical water challenges. 

My previous comment was of incorporating discussions of works by Majd Al Naber, Hussam Hussein, and Elias Salameh, who have addressed Jordan's water scarcity, could provide a deeper context, highlighting the urgency of reducing water consumption in urban landscaping.

However, the authors included one paper of Elias Salameh, and many others about water in general and not on Jordan. Hence, my suggestion would be to better contextualise and discuss the water sector of Jordan and the challenge of water scarcity. To do so, the authors shall read the following literature on water politics in Jordan, and discuss it in the section on water sector in Jordan:

-              Haddadin “Water resources in Jordan: evolving policies for development, the environment, and conflict resolution”

-              Hussein “Tomatoes, tribes, bananas, and businessmen: An analysis of the shadow state and of the politics of water in Jordan”

-              Benedict “n analysis of water awareness campaign messaging in the case of Jordan: Water conservation for state security”

-              Talozi “Water and security in Jordan”

-              Liptrot “Between regulation and targeted expropriation: Rural-to-urban groundwater reallocation in Jordan”

-              Al Naber “Controlling groundwater over abstraction: state policies vs local practices in the Jordan highlands”

 

This would help in having the context and the problem statement well justified and supported, making the case also for why studying water in Jordan

Author Response

Reviewer comments:
The paper is improved, but the authors still fail to contextualise the case of Jordan’s water sector and scarcity situation.

In fact, while the findings suggest the benefits of drought-tolerant plants, the absence of a dedicated section on water scarcity in Jordan is notable. Given Jordan’s status as one of the most water-scarce countries globally, this paper would benefit greatly from framing the results within the country’s critical water challenges.

My previous comment was of incorporating discussions of works by Majd Al Naber, Hussam Hussein, and Elias Salameh, who have addressed Jordan's water scarcity, could provide a deeper context, highlighting the urgency of reducing water consumption in urban landscaping.

However, the authors included one paper of Elias Salameh, and many others about water in general and not on Jordan. Hence, my suggestion would be to better contextualise and discuss the water sector of Jordan and the challenge of water scarcity. To do so, the authors shall read the following literature on water politics in Jordan, and discuss it in the section on water sector in Jordan:

-              Haddadin “Water resources in Jordan: evolving policies for development, the environment, and conflict resolution”

-              Hussein “Tomatoes, tribes, bananas, and businessmen: An analysis of the shadow state and of the politics of water in Jordan”

-              Benedict “n analysis of water awareness campaign messaging in the case of Jordan: Water conservation for state security”

-              Talozi “Water and security in Jordan”

-              Liptrot “Between regulation and targeted expropriation: Rural-to-urban groundwater reallocation in Jordan”

-              Al Naber “Controlling groundwater over abstraction: state policies vs local practices in the Jordan highlands”

This would help in having the context and the problem statement well justified and supported, making the case also for why studying water in Jordan

 

Response:

Thank you for your valuable feedback and for highlighting the importance of contextualizing Jordan’s water scarcity in our paper. In response to your comments, we have added a dedicated section about the water scarcity context in Jordan, emphasizing its status as one of the most water-scarce countries globally. We have incorporated the suggested literature, including works by Haddadin, Hussein, Benedict, Talozi, and Liptrot provide a deeper understanding of Jordan’s water sector and its challenges. This revised section strengthens the justification for our focus on water-saving measures in urban landscaping and the relevance of our findings to the country's urgent need for sustainable water management. We are confident these additions address your concerns and enhance the overall contribution of the paper. You can find our response in the revised manuscript (highlighted in green color):

 

 

Line 89:

Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world [33, 34]. Jordan's annual renewable resources in 2016 were less than 100 m³/capita, which is far below the global threshold of severe water scarcity (500 m³/capita) [35]. The country faces significant water challenges due to natural, political, infrastructural, and social factors. In more detail, these water challenges are limited renewable water resources, insufficient precipitation, excessive groundwater exploitation, climate change, most of the country's surface water resources are transboundary, physical leakages and losses, high non-revenue water rates, and increasing demand due to a rising population and refugee inflows [36, 37]. The total annual available water resources in 2022 were 1127 million cubic meters. Groundwater accounted for 58% of the water resources, while surface water and treated wastewater contributed 26% and 16%, respectively. Agriculture consumed 51% of water in 2022, followed by domestic use (46%), and industry (3%) [33]. Cities in Jordan like Amman, Aqaba, and Zarqa have been expanded horizontally with massive urban development, which increases the water demand. Moreover, the newly expanded urban areas have higher living standards than older neighborhoods, which led to an increase the water demand too [38]. Rising urban water demand prompts the reallocation of irrigation to higher-value urban applications [39]. Amman has semi-arid climatic conditions along the boundary separating the Mediterranean climate from the arid climate [40]. In addition, Amman suffers from water scarcity [41]. In residential neighborhoods, outdoor water use can vary from 40% to 70% of residential water consumption. Most of the water consumption goes for outdoor use, especially for landscapes [30]. Especially, domestic water accounted for 46% of the annual water resources in Jordan [33]. Efficient landscape water management is critical in addressing Jordan's water shortage, as the population and water demand increase [37]. Therefore, effective use of water in landscape elements and efficient landscape types will reduce water consumption in urban landscapes. To achieve that we should have a clear image about the component and percentage of landscape elements that can help in alleviating water use in residential urban landscapes.

 

Line 468:

Addressing Jordan's severe water scarcity requires multifaceted solutions, including reducing water use in urban landscaping. Efficient management through drought tolerant plants, public awareness campaigns, and sustainable practices is critical to alleviating water stress caused by a growing population and limited resources [37, 38]. In 2023, Ministry of Water and Irrigation revised their Water Demand Management Policy and include it is an integral part of in the National Water Strategy 2023–2040. They approved to improve their methods and behaviors of water uses in sustainable, efficient, and equity manner. This policy supports solutions to Jordan’s water scarcity problem, such as water-saving landscapes, water efficiency in irrigation, and water harvesting [85]. By focusing on national responsibility and employing focused educational resources, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI) should conduct water awareness campaigns to change users' behaviors and viewpoints. In addition, the MWI should utilize civil organizations, schools, utilities, and religious institutions to disseminate water-saving information (such as reducing water consumption in urban landscapes) to the public [36]. The government has taken a dual strategy to address water scarcity, concentrating on demand management and resource planning in conjunction with international organizations, academia, and the private sector [38]. Although the government has launched a number of initiatives in water saving, domestic indoor water consumption received the majority of the focus. Future campaigns should emphasize plants water conservation [29]. Therefore, government institutions should encourage homeowners to implement low water use landscapes by public awareness campaigns, incentives programs, or tax breaks. A successful example in United States, where the Southern Nevada Water Authority's lunched Water Smart Landscapes program to encourage shifting towered water saving landscapes. The water consumption in participated properties (300,000 home) had been reduced successfully by 20 percent [86].

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 3

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

It’s better now