Palestinian Water Authority Research Articles

Palestinian participation in efforts towards regional cooperation in the water sector

The Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) has adopted several key elements as a water policy to be used as a basis for all decisions within the water and wastewater sectors. In addition, a water management strategy has been developed which includes the key strategy of “promoting regional and international cooperation”. The Palestinian National Authority is a Core Party Member of the Multilateral Working Group on Water Resources within the Peace Process agenda. Under this framework, the PWA is participating in several projects that not only have a national focus, but also a regional focus in order to promote a factual basis for regional cooperation in the water sector. This presentation will outline the ongoing projects in the multilateral framework pointing out the regional significance for each project and emphasizing the importance of building strong professional and technical liaisons in the water sector.

Infrastructure development after Oslo B in the West Bank governates of the Palestinian National Authority

Water and wastewater infrastructure was either nonexistent or in a state of deterioration at the time of the establishment of the Palestinian Water Authority. Despite the lack of sufficient water supplies, the Palestinian Water Authority has been working to deliver new water supplies to unserved areas and at the same time is pushing a program of rehabilitation in order to reduce the quantities of either lost or unmetered water. A presentation will be made of the immediate needs of the Palestinian Water Authority for Palestinians in the West Bank districts. A summary will be made of the unserved towns and villages, of the ongoing rehabilitation projects, and a brief outline of the larger packaged projects that should be completed in the next couple of years. As a conclusion, a review will be made ofArticle 40 of Oslo B illustrating the status of the delivery of “allocated” water quantities during this “interim period” before the final status negotiations, where the rights of the Palestinians in the water resources of the region will be detailed.

Water and the Challenge of Palestinian Institution Building

This article investigates local hydropolitical constellations in the West Bank through two case studies of individual villages. After examining the position of the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA), it identifies two concurrent dynamics in water politics in the West Bank: a cen- tripetal dynamic drawing power to the PWA and the would-be Pales- tinian state, and a centrifugal dynamic dispersing water power among various village organizations and the Israeli authorities. The result is a dangerous situation whereby the Palestinian Authority is acquiring power even while it is not extending its control over local institutions

Planning water supply under complex and changing political conditions: Palestine as a case study

A critical review is offered of current and future water supply planning options and policies in Palestine which faces constrained water supply and highly complex and changing political conditions. It is found that a continuous water supply and demand planning unit, supported with a water data bank and CAD/GIS units and adequate inter-institutional links to be established at the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) is the basis for proper planning under the prevailing conditions. This unit is capable of presenting water supply plans for the immediate phase as well as over the medium and long terms. These plans could be changed at any time according to the needs of the PWA or any emergency or changes in political circumstances. As a parallel activity to the establishment of the central planning unit and with the purpose of supplying immediate Palestinian water demands, the option of partial interconnection of the Palestinian water system with the Israeli system was reviewed and recommended.