Water Resources Management in Palestine: Political, Technical and Financial Obstacles

Abstract

The strategy of the water resources management in Palestine aims to satisfy the water requirements of all Palestinian citizens to secure health and economic prosperity.

Political, technical and financial obstacles are facing the effective water resources management in Palestine. The distribution of the limited water resources between Israel and Palestine is unsatisfactory and biased in favor of Israel. Water available to the Palestinians does not meet their requirements.

In regard to the water quality issue, the Palestinians are facing two major problems: the high salinity and the high concentration rate of nitrate. The concentration of chloride is up to 1,763 mg/1 in Jordan Valley area, West Bank. The nitrate concentration in the domestic well in Khan Younis Refugee Camp, Gaza Strip is 600 mg/l.

The high nitrate concentration in drinking water affects infants and causes methemoglobinemia. The major causes for salinization are over-pumping of the wells, seawater intrusion and geological factors. The main sources of nitrate pollution are fertilizers, wastewater and cesspits.

To achieve an effective water resources management in Palestine, the following subjects have to be taken into consideration:

• Strengthening the peace process in the Middle East and opening the doors to effective cooperation between the different countries in the region

• Allocation of the water resources between Israel and Palestine on an equal per capita basis

• Expanding the supply and distribution networks

• Loss reduction

• Public awareness

• Storm water harvesting

• Wastewater reuse

• Seawater and brackish ground water desalination

• Modern irrigation technologies