Progress Report on the Waste Water Treatment SectorFrom the Desk of LTC Avi Shalev, Head of the International Organizations Branch

March 2011

The Civil Administration International Organizations Branch Projects Department

The Civil Administration is keen to support and help the development of the wastewater sector in the West Bank. Treatment of wastewater is of key importance to the region and to the communities. Untreated wastewater can cause serious environmental, water and health hazards. Treating wastewater is also a very important contribution to water conservation, as treated wastewater can be exploited for agricultural purposes. At present, it is estimated that 50% of water usage in the Palestinian sector in the West Bank (approximately 90 million cubic meters per year) is used for agricultural purposes, all of which is potable water derived from the mountain aquifer. Israel by contrast recycles about 72% of water used in agriculture. Water recycling could therefore free a large amount of potable water for human consumption, helping water preservation, which is so precious to the region. The Dir Sharaf Wastewater Treatment Plant was first fully approved by the Civil Administration in 2001, and again in 2009 when the project was resubmitted. The project, funded by the German Development Bank KFW, will treat the wastewater of Nablus City, currently flowing through the Zimar Wadi (Stream), culminating in the Mediterranean. The project will treat 3 million cubic meters of raw sewage, allowing for greater access to water for agricultural purposes in the region and better living standard for the citizens of Nablus. The Civil Administration is coordinating all aspects of implementation with the contractor. Construction is due to begin in March of 2011 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

The Civil Administration built a regional Waste Water Treatment Plant in the Hebron District in 1992. The plant was planned to recycle the waste water of Hebron City, Bani Naim, and Halhul (see map on page 3). Three ponds were constructed south of Bani Naim, adjacent to Road 317, as well as a booster station south of the industrial zone of Hebron City. Regrettably, the treatment plant has never been used by the Palestinians despite the acute water shortage in the area. The Civil Administration welcomes the PWA and the international communitys involvement in reinitiating use of this facility. The Hebron Waste Water Treatment Plant: The Civil Administration has expressed its solid support for the World Banks initiative to construct a wastewater treatment plant for Hebron City. The sewage from Hebron City currently flows through the Hebron Wadi into the Negev Desert, and is considered to be one of the most serious environmental and health hazards of the region. The planned location for the plant is in Areas A and B, which falls under jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, the project therefore does not require any form of building permit from the Civil Administration. The trunk line system, which traverses Area C, was approval by the Civil Administration in 2003. Project Status Dir Sharaf Under Implementation WWTP Hebron WWTP Permit Order Issued 2003

Waste Water Sector Responses

Civil Administration personnel on a field visit to the site of the Dir Sharaf WWTP funded by the German Development Bank. December 2010.

Tulkarem Waste Permit Order to be Issued before July Water Network 2011 Bitunia WWTP Pending Submission of Building Permit Request Salfit WWTP Area B. No further permitting required from the Civil Administration Nablus East Area B. Master Plan Approved 1999 WWTP by the Civil Administration. No further permitting required by the Civil Administration. Bethlehem West Endorsed by the Civil AdministraWWTP tion. Pending submission of Feasibility Study.

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The Civil Administration International Organizations Branch Projects DepartmentThe Tulkarem Waste Water Network project was approved by the Joint Water Committee in December 2010. Plans were submitted to the Civil Administration in January 2011 and are currently under review. A permit order for the project will be issued in the coming months. The project involves a network of trunk lines and underground systems that will collect the sewage from Tulkarem City and several nearby Palestinian villages, including: Shwike, Beit-Lid, Ramin, Zaharat Nasser, Kufr Amman, Anapta, Kufr Labed, and Iktaba. The sewage will be treated in an existing Tulkarem facility, before being sent for further treatment to a wastewater treatment plant in Israel. This project will allow for the rehabilitation of the polluted stream that currently runs through the Tulkarem district and will present a major improvement for the environment and public health of the entire district. The Master Plan for the Nablus East Waste Water Treatment Plant was approved by the Civil Administration in 1999, though to date has not been implemented by the PWA. The proposed location of the plant now falls under Palestinian control, and requires no further permitting from the Israeli side. The Civil Administration is in support of this project, and looks forward to the benefits to the entire region, and to the local communities, that its implementation will entail.

The Civil Administration is currently reviewing a feasibility study submitted for the Bitunia WWTP in January 2011. The Civil Administration shall respond to the feasibility study in the coming weeks, and will recommend the submission of a building permit request and an environmental Sewage from the Tulkarem district currently flows into the Alexander Stream in Israel. The Civil Administration will issue a permit order for impact assessment report for the proposed project.a Tulkarem trunk line in the coming months.

The Salfit WWTP: The approved site for the Salfit WWTP is situated in Area B and requires no further permitting from the Israeli side. Sewage from Salfit currently flows in a trunk line permitted by the Civil Administration which ends abruptly at the approved site of the yet-to-be constructed WWTP.

The Civil Administration is eager to cooperate with the PWA and international community to promote wastewater sector development in the West Bank. The Civil Administration strongly supports a recent request by Friends Of The Earth Israel to undertake a feasibility study in view of constructing a wastewater treatment plant in the Bethlehem governorate for Hussan, Batir, Wadi-Fukin villages.

Master Plan for East Nablus waste water treatment plant approved by the Civil Administration in 1999. Since the designated site spans Area A and Area B, the Civil Administration has handed over the plans for use by the Palestinian Authority.

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The Civil Administration International Organizations Branch Projects DepartmentThe Wadi Kana trunk line collects waste water from several communities in the Qalqiliya District for treatment in a WWTP situated in Israel. This recently built trunk line was designed by the Israeli authorities to also serve 11 Palestinian villages and towns such as Beit Amin, Kfar Tholoth, and Azoun Atmeh. These villages currently have no internal collection system, but once connected will have full access to the recycled water for their agricultural needs. The Civil Administration urges the PWA and International Community to investigate the possibility of connecting these villages to the Wadi Kana trunk line. In the past several years, the Joint Water Committee and the Civil Administration have approved numerous waste water projects, of which very few have begun to be implemented. Implementation of these approved projects would enhance the environment and quality of life for all populations in the West Bank and provide alternative sources of water for the agricultural sector.

The Civil Administration also encouragingly endorses the pending USAID proposals to build several more WWTPs in the West Bank and looks forward to close collaboration in their future implementation. Together we can transform wastewater treatment proposals into a West Bank reality.

Treatment of the 53 Million Cubic Meters of Palestinian Sewage Per Annum 27%

65%

8%

Treated in Israeli WWTP Treated in Palestinian WWTP Untreated Palestinian SewageThe Hebron Regional WWTP built by the Civil Administration in 1992 to treat Hebron City, Bani Naim, and Halhul sewage. The plant was never used.

Reuse of Sewage Effluents in the Agricultural Sector (2008)72%

80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30%

0% Palestinian Authority

1% Central Europe

5%

8%

9%

12%

20% 10% 0%

Greece

Italy

Australia

Spain

Israel

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