Health Effect Due to Poor Waste Water in Gaza Strip

Abstract

In eastern Mediterranean countries including Palestine, the demand on water is growing rapidly due to rapid population growth, urbanization and socioeconomic development. Both the West Bank and Gaza Strip are facing a series of waste water and sanitation-related problems, large-scale discharge of untreated waste water, leaking of collected waste water from sewer systems and cesspits, water treatment plants that do not function or function only badly and uncontrolled reuse of untreated waste water by the irrigation sector. This paper has four objectives: 1)To demonstrate the link between waste water and health and show the profound influence ofwater supply and quality on public health in Gaza. 2) To highlight the environmental and health impact resulting from poor waste water treatment in Palestine. 3) To describe the basic classification of water-related diseases in Palestine, mainly Gaza Strip. 4)To describe how improvement and proper management in water treatment will lead to improvements in health and a reduction in morbidity and mortality rates. The paper also assesses the environmental and human health impacts associated with the current practices of waste water management and sanitation in Gaza, especially: Soil and groundwater pollution resulting from discharge of untreated waste water; Direct human health risks as a result of exposure to waste water in open systems; Indirect human health risks as a result of consumption of polluted crops and fish. In this paper I focus on the Gaza Strip only. Currently, about 70%-80% of the domestic waste water produced in Gaza is discharged into the environment without treatment, either directly at the source, after collection from cesspits or through the effluent of the sewerage system or overloaded treatment plants. Most of the waste water flows into the sea; a small part infiltrates and contaminates the soil and the groundwater. Moreover, the discharge causes public health risks through direct exposure as well as through reuse of untreated waste water on irrigated lands. Diseases related to contaminated drinking water (poor water treatment) constitute a major burden on the health of people in Palestine and are among the leading causes of ill-health. Sustainable health, especially for children, is not possible without an effective and adequate water supply and healthy water treatment.