Abstract
Water scarcity is a global issue that has extreme effects on conflict zones in particular. Therefore, seawater desalination provided a practical solution to reduce the problem. The Gaza Strip suffers from potable water scarcity due to groundwater contamination and the deterioration of the coastal aquifers. Thereby, the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) had constructed three seawater desalination plants (SDP’s) in addition to purchasing potable water from the Israeli company (Mekorot). Due to the importance of the SDP’s, a flexible and comprehensive management system is required to ensure the sustainability of the performance. Thereby, this study aims to assess the potentiality of applying the Integrated Management System (IMS) in seawater desalination plants. This study used data collected from reports, questionnaires, and interviews, which is then analysed statistically, in order to identify the effects and barriers of applying the IMS in seawater desalination plants. The data also was used in SWOT analysis to formulate strategies for applying the IMS. The reports showed that the physicochemical water quality of samples from seawater desalination plants is compatible with PWA and WHO standards. The results from the questionnaire showed that there are positive impacts of applying the IMS on the performance of the desalination plants in terms of the financial, administrative, technical, environmental, and socio-economic aspects. However, the study identified 12 barriers which were analysed through SWOT analysis to formulate strategies to facilitate the implementation of the IMS. The highest priority and most applicable strategy is the formation of a partnership with the UN institutions to obtain international protection and facilitate the entry of the required materials.
Highlights
The issue of water scarcity that results from the increasing global water demand accompanied by the decreasing clean water sources is one of the most pressing problems that requires increasing attention (Richter et al, 2013)
Data related to the impact and barriers of applying the Integrated Management System (IMS) in seawater desalination plants in the Gaza Strip were collected from over 30 professionals and consultants working in desalination projects in Palestinian Water Authority (PWA), CMWU, and EPQ through an online questionnaire, as well as through desk evaluations
The respondents agreed on the ability of the IMS in improving the quality of water physically, chemically, and biologically, increasing the volume of the produced water, using the Best Available Technology (BAT), and the continuous improvements in the operations following the situation in the Gaza Strip
Summary
The issue of water scarcity that results from the increasing global water demand accompanied by the decreasing clean water sources is one of the most pressing problems that requires increasing attention (Richter et al, 2013). A lot of people around the world are still suffering to gain access to clean water sources. In which the World Vision Organization (WVO) statistics from 1990 to 2015 showed that 2.6 billion people in developing countries have access to safe water, while around 844 million still suffer from water scarcity and two billion use water sources contaminated with faeces (WVO, 2018). The water scarcity issue is pushing people to use the available sources even though its contaminated, the WHO estimated the deaths from the lack of access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services to reach 829000 death/year (WHO, 2019).
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