The water shortage is one of the biggest crises 1.5 million Palestinians in the besieged Gaza strip face.
The water pollution is caused by a high saline and nitrate concentration in ground and fresh water supplies. The coastal aquifer, which depends on rainfall, provides 96% of all water consumed in the Gaza strip. Water specialists agree 85% of water wells in Gaza are not suitable for drinking.
Majid Ghannam, quality manger at Coastal Municipalities water utility informed this reporter, "The aquifer is recharged by rainwater every year adding 50 to 60 million cubic meters, but our consumption is more than 150 million cubic meters per year."
Experts explain there is a deficit each year of approximately 50 to 60 million cubic meters of water. Supply in Palestinian aquifers are depleted by Israeli diversion, redirecting water to its formal settlements. Established in the Gaza strip in 1967 till the disengagement/withdrawal of September 2005, the settlements evolved into colonizing groups occupying the richest agricultural land nourished with fresh water
Water experts state Israel contributed to the water contamination by neglecting to control settlers sewage generated during the years of Gaza occupation.
"The shortage of water is due to Israeli wells dug all around the Gaza strip borders. The Israelis have pumping stations all around the Gaza Strip diverting water before it reaches the aquifer for Gaza. The flow of fresh water is coming from regions under Israeli control."- Majid Ghannam.
Ghannam added that according to international water law, Palestinians should have an equitable and equal share, but the daily consumption for the Israeli citizen is around 320 liters per capita per day while the consumption of Palestinians in Gaza is less than 90 liters per capita per day.
Gaza residents obtain their drinking water from the desalination stations. In some remote areas wells were dug as humanitarian projects and the residents can get free water, but they have to queue in long lines for hours.
"The water which I receive from the municipality is salty, so I go to the nearby desalination station to get fresh drinkable water," Abu Hassam a Gazan resident said while carrying his empty gallon jug.
Poor water conditions seriously affect quality of life for the local residents, exposing them to severe health risks.
"There are great number of residents who have diseases such as kidney failure and blood poisoning, general weakness and yellowing of teeth that are caused by the high salinity" Doctor Nasser Al-Yazji said.
Water shortages also undermine the agriculture sector, preventing its development.
Given the seriousness of the Gaza water crisis, one must conclude this crisis threatens Palestinian well being just as bombs from the Israeli military occupation forces do.
Bombs totally destroyed three water wells and much of the water system infrastructure [such as pipes] in the devastated areas across the besieged Gaza Strip. The prolonged siege prevents water wells and sewage stations from receiving spare parts. These facilities are in desperate need of upgrade. Sterilization chemicals such as chlorine, necessary to make water fit for human conssumption, are in short supply.
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