Anthropogenic impact on water resources in the West Bank / Palestine: a case from Wadi Fara'a Stream—Nablus area

Abstract

Water resources in the West Bank and Gaza Strip of Palestine are scarce and under the threat of depletion and degradation by different land-use activities, the lack of infrastructure that would protect and/or reduce their deterioration, and a lack of resource management plans. The study area that includes Wadi Fara’a is a natural catchment of a great value due to its abundant water resources represented by four groups of springs that irrigate large areas of agricultural lands, and it is a resource under threat. Untreated sewage and wastewater from the surrounding urban areas is directly discharged into Wadi Fara’a. Water samples were collected along the stream and tested to measure levels of contamination. Chemical analyses were performed to measure total dissolved solids (Cl, HCO3, SO4, Cu, Mg, Na, and K). Analyses results revealed that there is a high level of contamination in the stream due to different human activities in the area.