Water Crisis in Gaza Strip

A study of the Impact of Middle East Conflict upon Water Quantity and Quality in Gaza Strip

By: Ayman H. Afifi

Islamic University of Gaza

Gaza Strip - Palestine

Feb. 2009

Words of wisdom,

“The political rhetoric and frequent violence of the Israeli-Palestinian

conflict often serve to mask underlying environmental issues which, if not

resolved, may pose an even greater threat to the well-being of the

Palestinian population than the guns and bombs of the military

occupation. “

Alice Gray

Journalist

Feb. 2007 2

IntroductionWhere are we?

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IntroductionA closer look:

West Bank

Gaza Strip

Jerusalem

4

Gaza Strip

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#

#

#

#

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al-'Awda

al-Matar

al-Qarara

al-Montar

Beit Hanun

ash-Shija'iye

Setlarea.shpIsraeli Settlements

Bup.shpBUPCAMP

Airport.shpYellow AreaAirport.shpTp.shp

Ind_dev.shpELER

Seapoly.shp

Road3.shpLMR

Wadi.shpDelimiting lineInternational Border

Entry Point# E

Data from the following sources:Cairo Agreement mapAerial photos, january 1995Municipal maps

Boundaries and names are not necessarily authorative

Legend

GAZA GOVERNORATES

Base Map

0 1 2 3 4 5 Kilometers

N

Population: 1,422,207Area Sq. Km: 370

Population Density: 2763 Person Per Sq. Km.

Gaza

Northern Gaza

Khan Younis

Middle Area

Rafah

Mediterranean Sea

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Facts about Water in Gaza Strip:

Gaza Strip is underlain by a shallow aquifer, which is contiguous with the Israeli coastal aquifer to the north. Gaza is the “downstream user” of the coastal aquifer system, and hence water abstraction in Gaza does not affect Israeli water supplies. This aquifer is the only source of water for Gaza Strip.

The Gaza aquifer has a natural recharge rate of approximately 65 million cubic meters (MCM) of water per year from rainfall. However, annual discharge rate is 140 MCM which means that there is annual decrease of approximately 75 MCM in the underground water storage.

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Direct Impacts of the conflict:• The implementation of the Costal Aquifer Management Plan set by the

Palestinian Water Authority in 2000 was halted due to the Israeli restrictions over Gaza Strip.

• The supply of water from Israel has declined by 80% from 1998-2006 in a breach of Oslo Accords, which led to a tremendous increase of domestic and agriculture wells in Gaza Strip.

• Construction of 3 regional desalination plants and wastewater treatment plants halted due to their location near the Israeli borders and being subjected to fires several time.

• Missile strikes and ground incursions have repeatedly damaged and destroyed water pipelines, sewage lines and water wells.

• Failure to control over-pumping has led to sea-water intrusion into the aquifer to the extent that, in 2003, only 10 % of the Gaza wells were producing water according to World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards.

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Water Quantity problem

Source: Palestinian Water Authority; assessment of water demand in West

Bank and Gaza Strip, May 2007

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THe Gap Between Available and Demand

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

2003 2005 2010

Year

Mcm

/yr

Total Demand

Available Water

Water Gap

• A total of 32 MCM is produced in Gaza Strip every year. 20% of which is infiltrated into the aquifer using the cesspits.

• 80% of the sewage water is pumped to the sea (treated and untreated) which causes a contamination to the underground water due to the sea water intrusion.

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Water Quality Issues

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Water Quality Issues; chemical contamination

CL Concentration

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Wells

Concentration of Nitrate in water wells

109126

77

173

56

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

North GazaGazaMiddel AreaKhan YounisRafah

WHO standards ppm

11

TC cf

u/10

0ml

Biological Contamination

To

tal

Co

lifo

rm

Gaza’s Sea Water

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Water Projects1. Water Consumption awareness program for primary and elementary

school students:

• Direct Beneficiaries: 181,738 school students in 191 schools.

• Conducted by: Natuf Association for Environment and Community development (local NGO)

• Funded by: Norwegian People Aids.

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Water Projects2. Preparing several development projects in the water/wastewater

sector by the Islamic University of Gaza individuals and presenting possible solution for Gaza Water Crisis, such as:

• Development of wastewater information system project in Gaza Strip for the Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority.

• Preparing Environmental Impact Assessment reports and conducting several training courses for municipalities engineers and mayors.

• Setting up guidelines for Public awareness campaigns for environment reservation for the benefit of Costal Municipalities Water Utilities in Gaza Strip.

• Providing several consulting services for the benefit of Water utilities in Gaza Strip, including supervising water/wastewater projects, technical, financial and managerial assistance services.

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Recommendations• The equity in water shares and water distribution between Palestinian

and Israeli citizens.

• Water consumption awareness programs for community in Gaza Strip to be driven by youths and directed to local community.

• Drinking water quality-related awareness campaigns supervised by the university experts and conducted by environmental engineering students. The projects are to be directed to communities and neighborhoods committees with serious water quality problems.

Thank you ..

Questions