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construction of buildings, roads, and public and private sewage systems. Any construction or sewage system, etc., must be in compliance with the national and local plans which proscribe causing any harm to the environment.8 The PWA, EQA, and local governments all must give prior approval to such projects. Building and Planning Law No. 79 of 1966 (applicable in the West Bank) is far more sophisticated than its counterpart law applicable in the Gaza Strip due to the timing of its enactment. Therefore, it has express and clear language prohibiting water pollution and safeguards for sewage controls. All construction at all levels (national, regional, and local), including the construction of water and sewage connections , cesspools, and septic tanks, requires a license. Municipal Sewerage Law No. 1 of 1936 requires the construction of sewerage networks with all buildings and homes connected to the networks. The law further requires and authorizes local governments to set up and operate sewage collection and treatment systems. It further calls for the prevention of pollution of water resources. Local governments also have authority under various national laws to enact local bylaws on issues of water quality. Many local governments have enacted such bylaws, particularly in the area of pretreatment requirements for industry. In addition to the laws mentioned above, several other statutes address water quality issues. One such example is the Drainage and Flood Control Ordinance of 1941. Other sources of legal authority include regulations that have been issued pursuant to the various laws listed here or the standards adopted. National, Regional, Local, and Detailed Plans The aforementioned National Water Plan of 2000 constitutes a strategic blueprint for the water sector. It sets the general direction and objectives until the year 2025 and proposes actions to be taken to achieve these goals. The document describes the role of service providers. It holds that regional water utilities will be responsible for the following services: preliminary investigations and design, construction and/or rehabilitation, research, repairs, operations, and maintenance. Moreover, it states that services would cover the fields of municipal and industrial water supply; wastewater collection treatment and reuse; storm-water collection, treatment, and reuse; and water and treated wastewater supplies for irrigation. Until all the regional water utilities are established, the PWA is to maintain responsibilities in these areas. To date, only the Coastal Water Utility is established and in operation. The PWA has overall responsibility for wastewater treatment, licenses treatment facilities, and undertakes supervision and regulation. The PWA has prioritized the establishment of infrastructure for the treatment of wastewater, but not all wastewater is treated at present. The PWA has a number of plans, ranging from annual plans to 3- or 5-year ones that emanate from the National Water Plan and address issues like wastewater treatment, among other topics, as mentioned above. There are no penalties for lack of treatment at present because not all areas are serviced and have wastewater treatment facilities. hiba i. husseini 86 Methods of Implementation Business Licenses and Building Permits The PWA is responsible for licensing the exploitation of water resources, including the construction of public and private wells and their regulation, water exploration and drilling, testing and production of wells, and any other matters or activities relating to water or wastewater, in cooperation and coordination with the relevant parties.9 As mentioned above, the PWA licenses wastewater treatment facilities, but it is the Ministry of Health and the EQA that are responsible for industries that discharge polluted effluents. All industrial facilities receive a license to operate from the Ministry of Health. The national committee overseeing the EIA policy requires the relevant ministries and agencies to issue the required licenses and ensure that the emission of effluents is monitored and inspected. Further, the EQA inspects licensed facilities and has adopted schemes and issued instructions for related standards. Penalties for Noncompliance Article 32 requires anyone who causes pollution in any water resource or its supply system to remove the pollution to that source or system at his/her own expense. In the event that he/she refuses or fails to do so, the Water Authority must remove the pollution and carry out the cleaning operations. This is done at the expense of party causing the pollution after notifying him/her of this, regardless of the costs, which shall be levied upon him/her in accordance with the Law for Collecting Public Monies. The Water Law imposes criminal penalties on violations of specific provisions, including fines and imprisonment. These include...

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