Water Wisdom: Preparing the Groundwork for Cooperative and Sustainable Water Management in the Middle East

Editors’ Summary

salinity. It is mainly due to overpumping, seepage of raw sewage, extensive use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture, solid waste dumps, and unchecked industrialization . The primary cause of concern is the unacceptable levels of salinity in the groundwater supply. Excessive and continuous mining of the subaquifer units has caused water tables to decline, with ensuing seawater intrusion from the Mediterranean. Seawater seepage extends several kilometers in different parts of the Gaza Strip aquifer; the fact that the aquifer slopes toward the sea does not help the situation. Furthermore, greater demand from the rapid population growth will further aggravate the problem. The amount of replenished water is decreasing, while the population is increasing. yousef abu-mayla and eilon m. adar 274 Legend Chloride Conc. (mg/l) (a) M e d i t e r r a n e a n S e a 251 251–500 501–750 751–1000 1001–1500 1500 Figure 12.6 Chloride and nitrate concentrations in drinking wells. Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU), Eng-Ashraf Mushtaha. The quality of the municipal water supply is not acceptable, where the chloride content in most of these wells fluctuates from 300 to 700mg/l, which is double the recommended value by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is 250ppm. Nitrate content in the well water is often used as a general indicator of pollution , especially when salinity is low. Nitrate levels in most of the wells are around 100–150ppm (figure 12.6). This value is three times the recommended value of the World Health Organization, which sets maximum concentrations at only 50ppm. When considering the other dissolved chemical constituents of domestic water, it can be concluded that most of the public supply wells are not suitable for drinking . The gap between the quality of domestic water in the Gaza Strip and the recommended values by the WHO will increase by time with the natural growth of population and its increasing water demand. Domestic water is also polluted by the The Gaza Water Crisis 275 Legend Nitrate Conc. (mg/l) M e d i t e r r a n e a n S e a 51 51–75 76–100 101–150 151–250 250 (b) Figure 12.6 Continued leaching of wastewater into the groundwater system, with negative impacts on the health of the local residents, in general, and children, in particular. This is reflected in the disease profile that the Palestinians presently suffer, such as blue baby syndrome , renal failure, cancer, etc. At present, nitrate concentrations have reached 600ppm in some areas of the Strip, like Khanyounis, a city in the south. Chloride levels have exceeded 500ppm, raised to 1,000–2,000ppm in the east, mainly due to natural lateral seepage from the neighboring brackish Eocene aquifer that encompasses the northern Negev Desert. Data from the Palestinian Water Authority indicate that chloride concentrations have even hit 3,300ppm in Deir-el-Balah. The pollution problem will only get worse, with chloride concentration increasing by 15 to 20ppm annually. Besides eroding the availability of potable water, salinity levels have had a disastrous effect upon agriculture. Strategies for the Future There is a pressing need for a new strategy to solve the current and the future water crisis in the Gaza Strip. Priority must be given to domestic users, where water quality should be ensured to meet at least the minimum health requirements. Water conservation policy must be applied to achieve optimum resource use. This will include minimization of municipal leaks throughout sewage distribution networks through rehabilitation; enforcement of laws against illegal connections and illegal wells; proper metering of water; and tariff-system reform, which will lead to careful use of water and a more secure revenue base to help run and maintain the water supply system. Reclaimed wastewater is of great potential and can be a major resource in solving the Strip’s water problem. It has been estimated that more than half of the domestic water there can be reused when properly treated. The amount can even be elevated, providing that septic tanks are eliminated and centralized sewage systems are installed. New water resources, such as desalination of seawater and local salty groundwater, are also part of a broad and sustainable solution. Seawater desalination is more secure and may prove to be financially feasible in the light of improvement in the socioeconomic situation. Another solution is to introduce new crop...