Innovative Solution

Fashkha Springs, Dead Sea, Production wells, Desalination Plant

technical

Insititutional

The solution aim at enhancing the Palestinian utilization and provide access to Dead Sea Springs (known as Fashka springs) for domestic purposes in order to minimize the adverse impact of water  shortage problem in the southern and central cities of the West Bank (Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jericho with population of more than 600,000). This can be accomplished by adopting appropriate development schemes; (i.e. constructing a desalination plant with all related facilities for the brackish springs and by drilling and equipping several production wells in the upstream in order to catch the fresh groundwater before flowing to Dead Sea.

The solution will be implemented in the western shoreline of Dead Sea and on the upstream of the Dead Sea.  The targeted areas are considered as rural and severely affected by limited access to fresh water.

The Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) is initiating and developing this project and trying to implement it with close cooperation and coordination with all related stakeholders based on participatory approach.
The PWA will establish  a specialised water service provider (Utility) to ensure follow-up of the project (activities)

- The PWA is already prepared water sector plan 2010-2013 that focus on provision of alternative water resources to cope water shortage problems.
– PWA is already prepared a Term of Reference (TOR) to conduct a detailed feasibility study for this project.
-PWA is already prepared hydrogeological assessment study to evaluate the proposed locations of production wells, the study was carried out based on numerical groundwater flow model for the targeted area.
– A concept study was carried out by PWA to present the project stages.

How can PWA utilize efficiently the 100 Mcm/y of brackish water of the Dead Sea springs that are flowing haphazardly to Dead Sea without any real benefit in order to be used for domestic purposes and minimizes the adverse impact of water shortage problem in southern and central cities of West Bank (Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jericho)?
Once the project will be implemented, a water reallocation management plan will be considered to improve the socioeconomic pattern of the target communities.

Since water in Palestinian territories are very crucial issue due to Israeli controlling over water resources, the proposed solution will:
– provide additional quantities of good quality water for domestic purposes for the target communities.
– Better utilization of the 100 Mcm/yof brackish water of the Dead Sea springs (water conservation and Management issue)
– Improve the Palestinian economic and tourism sectors by creating several recreation resorts, hotels along the shoreline of the Dead sea
– Support Palestinians right to manage their own water resources in the Eastern Basin which is considered one of the most important groundwater basins in West Bank and fully indigenous Palestinian Basin

1. Increasing water supply rates for the targeted communities with good water quality with at least 60-70%
2. Establishing a water service provider (utility) to ensure better O&M for the constructed facilities.
3- protection of existing groundwater resources and ensure better management for these resources.
4- Utilizing 22 Mcm/y by constructing Desalination Plant and 11-13 Mcm/y by drilling production wells.

More than 600,000 peoples in south and central parts of West Bank well be get great benefit from these solutions.
With involvement of all related stakeholders since each stakeholder will be as partner in this solution and will try to sustain it for long period of time.
Human resources will be needed in all stages of solution, in the mean time this solution will improve energy by considering renewable sources.

PWA in addition to International organizations (UNDP, EU, World Bank, USAID, etc).

Eng. Deeb Abed Alghfor, Head of  water resources department

Email: deeb_saleh2003@yahoo.com

Website: www.pwa.ps
Tel: +97222429022, Fax: +97222429341

None