Bridging the domestic supply water demand gap in Gaza Strip - Palestine

Abstract

The Gaza Strip is located on the extreme edge of the shallow coastal aquifer that borders the eastern Mediterranean Sea. There is little rainfall and no reliable riparian flow, hence water supply for Gaza residents is limited to that available from the part of the coastal aquifer. The exploitation of the coastal aquifer has resulted in continuous lowering of regional water levels and the worsening of water quality. The greatest threats to existing water supplies are seawater intrusions and up coning of deep brine fossil water. There are serious water quality problems in the Gaza Strip Aquifer. The population of the Gaza Strip will grow to over two million by 2020, and the demands for water will far exceed the sustainable capacity of the aquifer. Continuous urban and industrial growth will place additional stress on the aquifer system, unless appropriate integrated planning and management actions are instituted immediately. It is evident that drastic action must be taken quickly to support its people in the future. This paper presents overall guidelines for the management through year 2020, with associated investment requirements for infrastructure facilities to meet all goals and objectives. It has been estimated that a capital investment program of about US$1.5 billion is needed to finance the implementation of such plan. It has been concluded that seawater desalination as well as brackish water desalination are the main components of the domestic water management plan that will have overall beneficial impacts on the socioeconomic aspects