Palestinian Lands:
Understanding the Physical Environment of
the Wadi el-Far’a as a Means for Assessing
Environmental Problems
Project Sectors
Project Sectors
Pollution
Water
Rights
&
Resources
Land Use
&
Built-up areas
Historical
Sites
Physical
Environment
Physical Environment
Sector
Project Sectors
Physical
Environment:
GEOGRAPHY,
TOPOGRAPHY,
GEOLOGY,
HYDROLOGY,
HYDROGEOLOGY
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Structural
Map of
theofWadi
el-Far’a
Tectonic
Map
the West
Bank
Source:
Ghanem,
1999.
Source: Ghanem, 1999.
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Water Balance
Total Precipitation =
138.8 MCM/yr
Total Evaporation -
71.3 MCM/yr
Total water for
infiltration and runoff =
Total runoff
67.5 MCM/yr
-
7.5 MCM/yr
Total well pumping -
18 MCM/yr
Total Spring discharge Water Balance =
14.1 MCM/yr
+27.9 MCM/yr
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Transmissivity map (m2/day) of
Contour
Mapaquifer:
of the Groundwaterthe upper
500 meter
phreatic zone (meter,
relative
to seacontour
interval
level)
Source: Ghanem, 1999.
Source: Ghanem, 1999.
Assessment of Environmental
Problems
Water Balance equation reveal water
surplus, but wells and springs running dry,
indicating poor management and
monitoring.
Water Quality is worse than poor, it is
TOXIC.
BUT, based on Physical Environment,
solutions to these problems exist.
Remediation Proposals (NOT EXHAUSTIVE)
i.
Environmental Remediations
a. Water and Soil monitoring and sampling; b. Extract toxic
groundwater; c. Air pumping wells
ii. Engineering Efforts
a. Recharge areas; b. Dams; c. Reservoirs; d. Wastewater treatment
factility
iii. Palestinian Management and Control
a.
Laws promoting beneficial and sustainable use; b. Create
agency to act as watchdog; c. Develop water projects
iv. Introduce Efficient Irrigation Techniques
a. Drip vs. open canal irrigation; b. Friendly fertilizers
v. Teaching and bringing awareness
vi. Drill new wells in high quality deep aquifer
Some Realities
I.
Israel is unwilling to pass authority of
water in the West Bank to the
Palestinians, as they control over 80% of
all water resources
II.
Palestinians are unlikely to have an
adequately established government with
enough financial capital to act implement
environmental recommendations
III. Israel has not allowed any water projects
that increase Palestinian water supply
since 1967, and will doubtfully will begin
allowing such projects
Conclusions
The solution to the many problems
discussed above may lie in the use of
foreign agencies like USAID to help
understand, assess, recommend and
implement such projects that bring about
the sustainable use and allocation of water
throughout the West Bank.
For more Information
Visit our Website at:
http://www.calvin.edu/~dvrb
Contact Information:
Dr. Bert de Vries: dvrb@calvin.edu
Abi Tan: ltan84@calvin.edu
Sebastian Naslund: snaslu22@calvin.edu