2 April 2010

LTS to Support Water Resource Development in Israel and Palestine

In this particular project, peace building will be promoted through joint management of cross boundary wastewater in order to safeguard the shared environment and protect the water resources. This  will  be  achieved  through the construction of three wastewater collection systems in the targeted communities in  the  Occupied  Palestinian  Territory; the  collected  wastewater  will  be treated  in  the  Israeli  side  based upon previously agreed mechanisms and tariffs between both parties. The Israeli Water Authority and the Palestinian Water Authority are interested to further develop the agreement for the joint management of the cross boundary wastewater. There are at least 10 cross boundary streams between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Downstream  Israeli  streams  receive  wastewater  from  the  Occupied  Palestinian  Territory  which  is  mostly  untreated  or  poorly  treated.  Further, downstream Palestinians receive untreated or partially wastewater runoff from Israel territory flowing into both Gaza and the West Bank. On the other hand the untreated wastewater runoff from the Israeli settlements on the hilltops ends up in Palestinian streams pending a final status resolution between the parties. The untreated wastewater presents a pollution that not only destroys the rivers and the connected ecosystems, but also seeps into the groundwater, harming drinking water sources.