Institutional Structures for Equitable and Sustainable Water Resource Management in the Middle East
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California State University, San Bernardino CSUSB ScholarWorks Theses Digitization Project John M. Pfau Library 2006 Institutional structures for equitable and sustainable water resource management in the Middle East Michael Raphael Davidson Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project Part of the Environmental Policy Commons Recommended Citation Davidson, Michael Raphael, "Institutional structures for equitable and sustainable water resource management in the Middle East" (2006). Theses Digitization Project. 3063. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/3063 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the John M. Pfau Library at CSUSB ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses Digitization Project by an authorized administrator of CSUSB ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES FOR EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of California State University, San Bernardino In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Public Administration by Michael Raphael Davidson June 2006 INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES FOR EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of California State University, San Bernardino by Michael Raphael Davidson June 2006 Approved by: Date Dr. Guenther Kress ABSTRACT The Middle East is a semi-arid region where water scarcity has forever been a critical issue. Water management is a challenge in the area today because of increasing population, decreasing water quality, political instability and security concerns. Israel and the Palestinian Authority share the three major freshwater sources in an inequitable and unsustainable manner. This study details the hydro-geological, political, cultural and legal challenges to equitable and sustainable water resource management in the region today. Further, it analyzes extant institutional structures and suggested proposals for water management in the region and, finally, recommends the creation of a jointly operated, supra national, water authority for Israel and Palestine. In support of this research, I traveled to the region and conducted first-person interviews with key players in Israel and in Palestine and visited water treatment and delivery systems. The implications of the study are: the water crisis is reaching a defining moment where Israel is rapidly developing desalination plants while unilaterally withdrawing from Palestinian territory; separate and uncoordinated management of surface and groundwater sources will inevitably lead to further degradation of the water supply; while all freshwater is currently consumed in the region, the population and concomitant demand for water will double within thirty years; and, currently, there is little trust among the political entities. A jointly created and managed water authority, implemented incrementally, could re-engender confidence and trust among Israelis and Palestinians and serve as a new model for equitable and sustainable water resource management for this and other similarly challenged regions of the world. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS It is my honor to acknowledge the support of Dr. Montgomery Van Wart, Chair of Public Administration at California State University, San Bernardino and Dr. Guenther Kress, Professor of Public Administration and Head of the Water Resources Specialization at California State University, San Bernardino, who have gone far out of their way to support my endeavors. In addition, this paper is built upon the eloquent and passionate research of the water resource community in the Middle East. I am indebted to the many Israelis and Palestinians who have dedicated their professional lives in support of the proposition that cooperative water management in the region is not only possible, but represents an integral step on the path for peace in the region. DEDICATION To my family: Robin, Molly, Oren and Elah whose support and patience is eclipsed by my pride in them and my abiding love. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTACT ........................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............... v LIST OF TABLES....................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES...................................... xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ........................... 1 CHAPTER TWO: PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND Major Sections of Investigation .................. 4 Nomenclature .................................... 9 CHAPTER THREE: GEOGRAPHY AND HYDROLOGY OF THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN Geography....................................... 11 Hydrology........ 14 Mekorot and Israel's National Water Carrier......................................... 23 Desalinated Water ............................... 26 CHAPTER FOUR: POPULATION Projected Population Growth ..................... 33 Population and Water Demand ..................... 34 CHAPTER FIVE: WATER DEMAND Water Consumption............................... 37 Water Withdrawals in Palestine.................. 38 CHAPTER SIX: BRIEF SURVEY OF GAZA, WEST BANK AND ISRAEL vi Gaza 44 The West Bank............. ...................... 46 Jewish Settlers in the West Bank................ 48 Israel................ 50 CHAPTER SEVEN: WATER QUALITY Quality of Water in Gaza.............. 51 Quality of Water in the Mountain Aquifer ....... 54 Quality of Water in Israel..................... 63 CHAPTER EIGHT: CULTURAL CHALLENGES .................. 70 Islam and Judaism............................... 71 Israeli/Palestinian Cooperation ................. 75 CHAPTER NINE: INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES FOR WATER MANAGEMENT Legal Institutional Background .................. 78 International Water Treaties .................... 83 The Asymmetrical Relationship between Israel and Palestine................... 89 Changing of the Guard in Palestine.............. 90 The Joint Water Committee ....................... 95 Israel's Water Institutions ..................... 99 Israel's Legal Framework for Water Protection .... Ill Palestine's Water Institutions .................. 117 Non-Government Organizations .................... 129 Scientific Working Groups ....................... 138 vii CHAPTER TEN: PROPOSITIONS FOR INTEGRATED INSTITUTIONAL WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS .................... 150 Management Methods of Shared Aquifers ........... 157 Alternative Means for Cooperative Management .... 178 Transferability of European Institutional Experience to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The Elbe/Kidron Case Study ..................... 185 Palestinian Institutional Reform............... 192 Water Demand Management ......................... 200 CHAPTER TEN: SUMMARY................................ 211 CHAPTER ELEVEN: RECOMMENDATIONS..................... 217 Joint Management under Conditions of Asymmetry . 218 Eastern Mediterranean Water Authority ........... 225 CHAPTER TWELVE: CONCLUSION . .......................... 238 REFERENCES........................................... 241 viii LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Summary of Fresh Water Availability and Use in 1995 ................................ 21 Table 2. Summary of Average Precipitation, Evapotranspiration and Temperatures ........ 23 Table 3. Projections for Desalinated Growth within Israel 2002-2010 ................ ........... 32 Table 4. Palestinian Population Projections and Water Consumption Patterns....... 35 Table 5. Israeli Population Projections and Water Consumption Patterns.................... 36 Table 6. Water Demand in the West Bank and Gaza .... 39 Table 7. Distribution of Water Supply in the West Bank by Population and Number of Localities Served ........ 41 Table 8. The Price of Water Sold by Tank Vendors in Different Districts of the West Bank 2003 .................................. 42 Table 9. Domestic Water Allocations in Palestine 2005 ....................................... 43 Table 10. Chloride and Nitrate Concentrations in Drinking Wells among Gaza Governorates 1999-2002 ......... 52 Table 11. Water Tariffs in West Bank Governorates in 2002 .................................... 125 Table 12. Water Tariffs in Gaza Strip Governorates in 2002 ................................... 126 Table 13. Sequencing of Activities of Joint Water Management Structure ........ 166 Table 14. Current Institutions of Palestinian Water Sector............................... 195 ix Table 15. Proposed Institutions of Palestinian Water Sector .................................... 199 x LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Water Systems of Israel ................... 13 Figure 2. Jordan River Basin ......................... 16 Figure 3. Mountain and Coastal Aquifers ............. 20 Figure 4. Water Sources of the MiddleEast ............ 25 Figure 5. Lake Kinneret . ............................. 2 6 Figure 6. Desalination Pilot Projects .............. 31 Figure 7. Population Trends in Israel 1950-2050 ................................. 33 Figure 8. Population Trends in Palestine 1950-2050 ................................. 33 Figure 9. Gaza Wells................................ 45 Figure 10. West Bank Political Map of Palestine ....... 47 Figure 11. West Bank Political Map of Jewish Settlements............ 49 Figure 12. Israel Political Map ........... 50 Figure 13. Three-Dimensional Sketch of Mountain Aquifer .......................... 59 Figure 14. Schematic Cross-Section of Mountain Aquifer .......................... 60 Figure 15. Chloride and Sodium Concentrations in the Haifa Wastewater. Treatment Plant...... 66