Innovative Solution

Coastal Municipal Water Utility, Rafah,sieges, wastewater treatment

technical

The population of the Gaza Strip reaches more than 1.6 M inhabitants and this number will reach more than 2.6 M inhabitants by year 2025, therefore CMWU efforts as water and waste water service provider always keep developing water and wastewater sector to adapt with the increasing of population through implementing new projects, rehabilitation and upgrading the facilities despite of more over four years of Gaza siege (by IDF) and materials shortage. The groundwater is considered the main water source for Gaza Strip residents it suffers from lack of quantity and quality especially concentration of chloride and nitrate which exceed WHO standard. CMWU teamwork continues to manage and implement various repair, refurbishment and overhauling works related to more than 200 water wells, 7 water desalination plants, 8 water booster stations, 4 waste water treatment plants, water networks, storm water networks, sewage collection network and basins with all associated equipment and systems upgrading and monitoring requirements. Upgrading of RWWTP is considered one of CMWU challenges during Gaza siege which aims to improve the WW collection system at Rafah city(located at the southern part of Gaza strip). RWWTP has been upgraded to receive 70% of Rafah Sewage using the unused precast concrete blocks remained at the ex-settlements and the boarder with Egypt as a construction materials, CMWU engineers managed to reuse these pre-cast concrete walls at Rafah Wastewater Treatment Plant as a lining and supporting materials at the time no construction materials are available at the local market due to Gaza siege and CMWU future plan is increasing the capacity of RWWTP to reach 95% .

The targeted Area is Rafah at the southern part of Gaza Strip.

- CMWU is the only service provider in Gaza Strip and it carry out all Water & Wastewater Activities in addition to operation and maintenance for water and Wastewater Facilities – CMWU will initiate the project of Expansion and Upgrading Rafah WW collection system – CMWU technical staff

RWWTP has been upgraded through 4 phases the first included construction of ( New grit removal ,Two anaerobic ponds and Sludge drying beds) with total amount 700,000 USD. The second phase included(Two trickling filters and Trickling filters pumping station) with total amount 1,400,000 USD * The third phase included construction of (  the service building ( guard room ,site lab, workshop and control room) and Effluent  pumping station) with total amount of 400,000 USD * The fourth phase included construction of (3000 meters Pressure line ( from RWWTP  to The sea) cast of the third phase around USD 300,000 * The Fifth phase of upgrading will include (Oxidation ditches , Final settling chambers,Thickeners) these activities will be implemented by CMWU since the fund is available and to complete upgrading WW system at Rafah area there are complementary projects need to be implemented Filtration lagoons   (for recharging the aquifer ) Agriculture water network ( for reusing the water ).

The main objective of this project is to increase the capacity RWWTP to be able to receive  95% from Rafah sewage, in addition to that  improving the quality of the treated sewage. By upgrading RWWTP through implementation the four phases, BOD concentration decreased from 220mg/l to 108mg/l that minimize the risks and diseases resulted from pumping the treated WW to the sea.

Outputs of this project will include the following: – increasing the capacity of RWWTP to reach 95%. – keeping the sea coastal from pollution which resulted from pumping the partially treated water to the sea. – recharging the treated water to the aquifer through infiltration basins – reuse the treated water for agriculture ** obtained records from RWWTP for Effluent (average BoD) in 2000 was 220mg/l  where the recent records show that the recent concentration of effluent BOD is 108mg/l.

CMWU has completed such phases at the WWTP and assigned engineers in order to monitor the implementation period. CMWU assign technical staff in the WWTP to carry out and operate the system. CMWU take periodic samples and make laboratory tests to ensure that the efficiency as the plan.

-Please find attached CMWU experience in this field. -ICRC is the most interested organization since it allocated the required budget for several phases. -The outcome of this project could be summarized as following: 1-assigning staff in order to operate and maintain the system. 2-enviromental impacts especially protection the public health. 3-keep the sea coastal from the pollution. 4-recharging the aquifer and irrigation the surrounding areas by the treated.

CMWU and ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) CMWU has submitted a proposals for multi donors to complete the works at the WWTP.

Coastal municipalities Water Utility (CMWU), head quarter, Gaza, Palestine Maher Najjar, Deputy of director General m_najjar60@cmwu.ps Phone No.: 082881446 Jawwal No.: 0599267104

-CMWU website : WWW.CMWU.PS Attachments: -REPORT:CONSTRUCTION OF RAFAH WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT UNDER GAZA SIEGE -Summary about Water and Wastewater Situation in Gaza Strip , MARCH 2011