Gaza on Brink of Water Crisis
Scarce rainfall, coupled with the Israeli blockade, have limited Gaza’s ability to address its water shortage and poor sanitation, reports Hazem Balousha.
According to figures issued by public and private institutions, the Gaza Strip is in imminent danger of a water crisis. Fresh water for domestic and agricultural use has become scarce. Moreover, 95% of underground water for domestic consumption is contaminated to varying degrees, which portends the spread of diseases among locals and would make the sector unlivable.
The Gaza Strip, which is characterized by a semi-arid climate, had been suffering from scarce rainfall over the past 10 years, amounting to 300 mm per year. This has adversely affected the underground water reserves.
The aquifer depends on three main sources: rainfall during the winter, groundwater flowing from the northern and eastern borders of Gaza and groundwater from the mountains of Hebron in the West Bank, in addition to leaks from the water lines and treated sewage.
According to a report issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the potable water could run out as early as 2016 due to the increasing population and consumption rates as wells as damage to wells, which serve as the main water source. Also, large amounts of sewage is being pumped into the sea and groundwater, which poses a significant threat to the population, particularly children.
