Institutional and Legal Plan Institutional and Legal Plan for Wastewater Reuse in Palestinefor Wastewater Reuse in Palestine

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Technical Assistance on Reuse of Wastewater and Storm Water Harvesting in the Gaza Strip

Present Water Situation in Palestine

• Water resources in the region are extremely scarce and disputable.

• Water demand is continuously growing.

• Water supply and sanitation services are inefficiently delivered and inadequate.

• Tariffs are generally inadequate.

• Consumption and water losses are excessive.

• Insufficient water harvest activities.

• Specifically, In Gaza Strip:• The total abstraction of groundwater in Gaza Governorates exceeds 180 MCM/year. • The agriculture consumes around 85MCM of pumped through more than 10,000 wells

located overall Gaza Strip. • The reminder (95 MCM) is used for industrial and domestic water supplies. The aquifer is

being over-exploited. • The gap between water demand and water supply increases with time. A deficit of about 80

MCM/year. • Reconciliation relies in the strategy of ensuring additional water supply and wastewater reuse

schemes. The reuse of treated wastewater effluents represents a national interest and it is considered an important component of the overall maximization of water resources.

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Govern. PopulationCapita

Connect. to Sewage

network%

Sewage Production

M3/day

Treatment Availability

Final Distention

Northern 300,000 80% 23,000 Available

Partially Treatment

100% Infiltration basins East & North of Gaza Strip

Gaza 650,000 90% 76,000 Available

80% Partially Treatment & 20% Raw

100% to sea

50,000 partially

10,000 Raw

Middle 250,000 55% 10,000 Not Available 100 % Wadi Gaza and to the Sea

10,000 Raw

Khan Younis

290,000 40% 12,000 Available

Partially Treatment

100 % to sea

(30,000 cesspit)

9,000 Partially

Rafah 200,000 65% 10,000 Available

Partially Treatment

100% to Sea

10,000 Partially

Total 1,725,000 48 MCm/yr 40 Mcm/Yr

To Sea

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NEW WWTP’S

North Beit Lahia WWTPFinal design capacity: 60,000 m3/dRealised in: ± 2013

Central Gaza WWTPFinal design capacity: 200,000 m3/dRealised in: ± 2017

South Khan Younis WWTPFinal design capacity: 44,000 m3/dRealised in: ± 2015

Beit Lahia WWTP

23,000 m3/d

Gaza WWTP

60,000 m3/d

Khan Younis WWTP

7,000 - 8,000 m3/d

Rafah WWTP

10,000 m3/d

Wastewater Reuse Pilot Projects in Gaza Strip

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Major Wastewater Reuse System Failures

• low levels of wastewater reuse• Diffuse responsibilities of involved authorities, operators and end users• Lack of sufficient WWT and reuse infrastructure facilities• Unreliable flows and quality of treated wastewater• Inefficient WW reuse practices by farmers• health risks related to current reuse practices• environmental risks related to current reuse practices• Insufficient standards, monitoring and enforcement• Inefficient tariff system, lack of financial means and incentives• Low organization rate among end users• Limited access to (external) agricultural markets• Required capacity building and training

Gab in mandate for effluent reuse in the followings:

• Construction, operation and maintenance of the effluent conveyance system between the WWTP and the off-take points at the farm level;

• Management of contractual relations with farmers for the supply of effluent;

• Effluent tariff collection, including recovery of operation and maintenance costs of the effluent conveyance system as well as for additional effluent treatment for compliance with the standards for reuse; and

• Construction, operation and maintenance of recharge facilities

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Technical Assistance on Reuse of Wastewater and Storm Water Harvesting in the Gaza Strip (Austrian Project)

Project Objectives

1. The main objective of the Austrian Fund Project is :“ To develop institutional and legal frameworks for the

optimized development and management of wastewater reuse and storm water harvesting in the Palestine,

2. Proposals for legal reforms3. Development of regulations and guidelines4. Development of a tariff structure5. Pilot projects for testing institutional and legal proposals

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Current Institutional and legal Setup in Palestine

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Level of Intervention Relevant Institutions

Policy Cabinet of Ministries, National water Council

Regulatory Palestinian Water Authority(PWA)

Service Delivery Level

Bulk Water UtilityRegional water UtilityWater Users Associations

Dynamic Water Governance• Strong institutional arrangements include the necessity that the delegated

tasks will be implemented and reported according to the agreed mandates which eventually will lead to efficient plans and regulations in terms of setting standards, and performance of monitoring and enforcement.

• Required capacity building and training .• It will be required to invest adequate wastewater collection, treatment,

storage, distribution and irrigation schemes, and develop a sustainable operational and financial management system for them.

• These three components (institutional / legal, technical and economic) will directly lead to effective and maximised reuse of wastewater, that benefits the farmers, and provides good environmental and public health protection

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Dynamic Water Governance

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Efficient institutional arrangements are part of the total solution…

Efficient Institutional and legal

Arrangements

Efficient Institutional and legal

Arrangements

Adequate WW collection and

treatment infrastructure

Adequate WW collection and

treatment infrastructure

Good standard, effective monitoring

and enforcement

Good standard, effective monitoring

and enforcement

Effective water pricing and tariff

system

Effective water pricing and tariff

system

Reliable WW supply and quality

Reliable WW supply and quality

Capacity Building and TrainingCapacity Building and Training

Effective Wastewater Reuse

Effective Wastewater Reuse

Good environmental and public health

protection

Good environmental and public health

protection

Good agricultural market conditions

Good agricultural market conditions

Maximization of wastewater reuse

Maximization of wastewater reuse

Efficient plans and regulations

Efficient plans and regulations

Efficient wastewater collection and

treatment

Efficient wastewater collection and

treatment

Reuse management Options

• The roles and responsibilities for wastewater sector activities are not currently within the mandate of any authority but are necessary for implementation and operation of WW reuse schemes:

• MoA• PWA• EQA• Municipalities• Independent Utility

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Alternatives of Treated Wastewater Distribution Utility (WWTDU)Alternatives of Treated Wastewater Distribution Utility (WWTDU)

• TWWDU being part of the Governmental Structure (PWA or MoA)

• TWWDU being part of the (Coastal Municipal) Water Utility

• TWWDU being organized by the end users (Farmers / Water Use Organizations)

• TWWDU as independent utility

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Suggested Institutional Framework TWWDRU

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TWWDRUTWWDRU

PWA regulator

PWA regulator

MoA/EQA MoA/EQA Board of DirectorBoard of Director

Water Utilities

Water Utilities

Farmers / WUA

Farmers / WUA

Supervising Council

PWA/ MoH / EQA,

monitoring

and control

Supervising Council

PWA/ MoH / EQA,

monitoring

and control

Water flow

Regulation

Monitoring and Control

Supervision

Supervising CouncilThe WWDU will be regulated by:

1. the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) in terms of water management (quantity and quality) and related standards2. the Environmental Quality Authority (EQA) in terms of environmental protection and related standards3. the Ministry of Health (MoH) in terms of protection of the occupational health issues for (farmers) as well as the public health (consumers of products irrigated with treated wastewater) and related standards

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Duties: Board of Directors -1• Directing the TWWDU to accomplish it’s best interests, objectives and goals.

• Laying down general policies and identifying the means to implement those policies after their

endorsement by the Stakeholder Supervising Board (SSB)

• Electing a new Chairman and / or Director General

• Drafting regulations and instructions governing the work of the TWWDRU and submitting them to the SSB

for approval, as well as taking any decisions needed to ensure smooth work process.

• Issuing and ratifying any regulations in connection with wastewater post treatment, storage and

distribution

• Fixing fees for wastewater reuse and putting them into effect after obtaining the approval of the related

authorities and the SSB

• Drafting and issuance of regulations on the price and cost of wastewater reuse by cubic meter and putting

them into effect after obtaining the approval

• Directing the TWWDRU operations in consistence with technical specifications and water quality

standards.

• Managing the TWWDRU ’s administrative, financial, technical and legal affairs.

• Managing the TWWDRU ’s marketing and customer satisfaction management activities18

Duties: Board of Directors -2• Calling the SSB to convene for both regular and emergency sessions; looking

into its recommendations and implementing its decisions.• Approving appointment of new employees, technicians and workers and fixing

their salaries and looking into any matters in concern with them.• Fixing and endorsement of Director General and Members of the Board of

Directors remunerations• Approving investment plans and O&M programs• Discussion and preparation of the annual budget of the TWWDRU for its

submission to the SSB for approval.• Preparation of the annual reports• Hiring an audit office to audit the TWWDRU ’s accounts.• The Board of Directors may authorize any of its members to accomplish

specific tasks.• Any other matters necessary to ensure smooth process of work or deemed

necessary by the TWWDRU .

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Proposed Duties and Goals – WWDU

• Receiving (treated) wastewater from Water Utilities or others, performing adequate post-treatment, and supply and distribution of treated wastewater to farmers and to any other party.

• Taking all actions needed to treat, store and distribute treated wastewater according to the standards set by the competent parties and pursuant to effective laws.

• Ensuring that the distribution of treated wastewater will at all times abide the quality standards set by the competent authorities in the wastewater and sewage sectors

• Management and promotion of post treatment, storage and distribution in accordance with technical standards and with available resources.

• Owning and operation of wastewater post treatment, storage and distribution utilities and establishment of any other facilities necessary to accomplish the Council's goals.

• Making appropriate plans and putting into use any means to protect public health, and to reduce water and environmental pollution hazards.

• Importing all equipment and machinery needed for post treatment, storage and distribution of treated wastewater

• Entering into agreements with national, international and regional parties as a means of accomplishing set objectives as well as attaining any rights, concessions and licenses it deems necessary; as well as executing such agreements and making use of rights, concessions and licenses in conformity with the law.

• Investing surplus proceeds from the water and sewage sector in the manner it sees fit and in consistence with the goals of the Council subject to applicable laws.

• Engaging in any other acts decided by the Council towards accomplishing its objectives and best interests.

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Legal Structure• Depends on stakeholder’s structure (Public Utility versus PPP)

• The TWWDU shall prepare and distribute treated wastewater and shall act under Law

No. 1 of the Year 1997 and in consistence with effective water, agriculture and other

relevant laws in the PNA territories.

• The Legal Mandate of the TWWDU shall be arranged by a Bi-Law (similar to Basic Law

for the Coastal Municipal Water Utility) to be published in the Palestinian Official

Gazette.

• The TWWDU shall enjoy legal personality status and shall be entitled to acquire rights

and bear responsibilities.

• The TWWDU shall be operative within the administrative and territorial mandate of the

PNA in the West Bank and Gaza Strip governorates.

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Schematic Depiction of Legally Defined Roles and Responsibilities for Effluent Reuse

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Some Financial Considerations

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TWWDRUTWWDRUFarmers /

WUA

Farmers / WUA

Grants for capital investment Financial Operational Support

WW Reuse subsidies

WW Reuse Fees

Water Utility

Water Utility

WW Fees

Crops revenuesOperational

costsOperational

costs

Interim solution

Profits

To Stakeholders

Financial Considerations

•Financially, the TWWDU will depend on wastewater fees from the farmers, as well as grants to pay for its infrastructure. •Meanwhile the current economic situation of the farmers is insufficient to pay for the actual cost of management and distribution of treated wastewater. If also the TWWDU would have to pay for the received wastewater from the water utilities, then the financial imbalance would become even greater.• It suggested that this could be overcome through provision of subsidies directly to the end users (farmers), who in turn will have to pay a market confirm fee to the TWWDU using this subsidy. •This will motivate the TWWDU to develop a realistic business approach right from the start. If eventually, the agricultural and economic market conditions for the end users would improve, the system of subsidies can be gradually downsized until an open and effective financial market system develops for optimized and maximized reuse of treated wastewater.

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Public or Private • Remaining question is to what extend the independent organization should be

publically owned, or that the private sector would be invited to participate in the activity as well.

• Some considerations for engaging the private sector in wastewater distribution are: inviting the private sector to participate will enables generation of private investments in the wastewater reuse sector; it will also enable to mobilize experience and expertise that has been built up elsewhere in the private sector.

• Inviting the private sector requires that the wastewater distribution can be developed as a profitable business. On the other hand, this provides an opportunity for introducing market discipline into the wastewater sector.

• It requires that risks are properly defined, whereas the commercial risks should be then born by private partner.

• One private involvement option is the introduction of a Public Private Partnership (PPP). This can be efficient, if the public and the private responsibilities are clearly formulated, and both are committed to their responsibilities, in an agreed formula for resolution of disputed, might these arise.

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Thank you…

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