STATUS OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE STATE OF PALESTINE 2015 Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem Publications of the Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ) December 2015 © All Rights reserved Edited by Dr. Jad Isaac Dr. Khaldoun Rishmawi Project Team Enas Bannourah Elias Abu Mohour Jane Hilal Dr. Khaldoun Rishmawi Nadine Sahouri Roubina Ghattas Technical Support Team Ayman Abu Zahra Elia Khalilieh Fuad Ishaq Jeries Shomali The Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem (ARIJ) welcomes any comments or suggestions regarding the material published herein and reserve all copyrights for this publication. Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem (ARIJ) Karam Muamar Street, P. O. Box 860, Bethlehem – Palestine Tel: +970-2-2741889 Fax: +970-2- 2776966 Website: http://www.arij.org This publication has been produced with the assistance of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC. The contents of the publication are the sole responsibility of the individual organizations only, and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Applied Research Institute –Jerusalem (ARIJ) hereby expresses its deep gratitude to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) for providing a grant to carry out the research study entitled “Status of the Environment in the State of Palestine - 2015”. ARIJ would like to acknowledge all Palestinian governmental and non-governmental agencies for their cooperation with the research study team in acquiring and providing the required data pertinent to the study. Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 11 1.1 THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHT FOR A SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT ..................................................... 12 1.2 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PALESTINE ............................................................................................... 13 1.2.1 Topography.......................................................................................................................................... 13 1.2.2 Geology................................................................................................................................................ 16 1.2.3 Soils ..................................................................................................................................................... 18 1.2.4 Climate................................................................................................................................................. 20 1.3 PALESTINIAN POPULATION.......................................................................................................................... 21 1.4 AN OVERVIEW OF THE POLITICAL SITUATION................................................................................................. 23 1.5 ENVIRONMENTAL NATIONAL FRAMEWORKS AND RIO CONVENTIONS ............................................................. 26 2. WATER AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................ 30 2.1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................... 30 2.2 WATER AND WASTEWATER SECTOR INSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK IN PALESTINE.......................... 30 2.2.1 Palestinian Water and Wastewater Laws and Policies ....................................................................... 33 2.3 ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE WATER SECTOR IN PALESTINE ................................................. 35 2.3.1 Water Resources ................................................................................................................................. 35 Rainfall and Recharge...................................................................................................................................................36 Surface Water ...............................................................................................................................................................36 Jordan River System ................................................................................................................................................36 Surface Runoff (Wadis) ............................................................................................................................................39 Groundwater Resources ...............................................................................................................................................41 2.3.2 Groundwater Abstraction ..................................................................................................................... 43 Well Abstractions ..........................................................................................................................................................44 Springs Discharge.........................................................................................................................................................44 2.3.3 Water Network Coverage .................................................................................................................... 46 2.3.4 Water Supply and Consumption.......................................................................................................... 48 Water supply and consumption rate..............................................................................................................................51 2.3.5 Groundwater Quality............................................................................................................................ 53 2.4 ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE WASTEWATER SECTOR IN PALESTINE....................................... 54 2.4.1 Wastewater collection, treatment and Final Disposal.......................................................................... 54 2.4.2 Connection to Sewage Systems.......................................................................................................... 55 2.4.3 Treatment and Final Disposal.............................................................................................................. 59 2.5 CHALLENGES AND LIMITATIONS FACING THE PALESTINIAN WATER AND WASTEWATER SECTOR ..................... 75 2.5.1 Political situation .................................................................................................................................. 75 Restrictions on Water and Sanitation Sector in Area C ............................................................................................75 Discrimination in water availability and consumption ................................................................................................ 77 Israeli settlers practices against the Palestinian .......................................................................................................77 The Segregation Wall ...............................................................................................................................................79 Gaza Siege...............................................................................................................................................................80 2.5.2 Affordability (Water Supply and Wastewater Collection & Treatment Service)................................... 82 2.5.3 Efficiency and equity of public expenditures........................................................................................ 83 2.5.4 Lack of legal instruments & Enforcement ............................................................................................ 84 2.5.5 Poor Governance................................................................................................................................. 85 2.6 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS..................................................................................................... 85 3. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN PALESTINE........................................................................................... 87 3.1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................... 87 1 3.2 CURRENT STATUS...................................................................................................................................... 87 3.2.1 Strategies relevant to solid waste management.................................................................................. 90 3.2.2 Solid Waste Generation....................................................................................................................... 90 3.2.3 Collection and Disposal of Solid Waste............................................................................................... 92 3.2.4 Recycling of Solid Waste................................................................................................................... 102 3.3 ISRAELI PRACTICES AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT............................................................................... 102 3.4 CONCLUSIONS ......................................................................................................................................... 105 4. POLLUTION FROM INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES..........................................................................................