Gaza Coastal Aquifer is essentially the only source of fresh water
in the Gaza Strip that has been continuously over-pumped to serve the high
population resulting in falling water levels and degrading water quality. The
Gaza coastal aquifer is a dynamic system, with continuously changing inflows
and outflows. The present net aquifer balance in the Gaza Strip is negative; that
is, there is a water deficit as illustrated below.
The
total estimated inflow to Gaza aquifer of 96 – 101 MCM per year is composed of:
·
Recharge
from precipitation 40-45 MCM per year.
·
Return
flows from leakages 16 MCM per year.
·
Return
flows from irrigation 20 MCM per year.
·
Lateral
inflow from Egypt and Israel 15 MCM per year.
·
Intrusion
from sea water 5MCM/year.
The
total estimated abstraction from Gaza aquifer of 171 MCM per year is composed
of :
·
Municipal
abstraction 89 MCM per year.
·
Agricultural
abstraction 82 MCM per year.
This net deficit has led to a lowering of the water table in the
past 30-40 years, inland migration of seawater and deterioration of water
quality. If uncontrolled pumping is allowed to continue the aquifer, which is
the primary source for the Gaza Strip, will become unusable as a source of
fresh municipal water.
So Gaza Strip is undergoing a humanitarian crisis which is violations
of the human right to water that have been caused or exacerbated by the
sanctions and blockade. It is in critical situation that requires immediate
efforts to improve the water situation in terms of quality and quantity and a
serious water management strategy.
No comments:
Post a Comment