2015 Water Resources Status Summary Report /Gaza Strip
Water Resources Directorate
(April 2016)
Introduction:
The aim of this water resources summary report is throwing lights on the water resources situation
in Gaza Strip in terms of quantity and quality for the year 2015. The output of this report is based
on the results of groundwater level records, groundwater quality of representative water wells
covering Gaza Strip, and the total groundwater production as well as consumption per capita in the
different Gaza Strip Governorates.
Domestic Water Supply:
The total water supply for domestic use in the Gaza Strip is
about 95.202 mcm in 2015 through 260 water wells (fig.1),
Mekorot and 154 desalination plants (table.1) distributed as
follows:
- 82.158 mcm/y (86.2%) from municipal groundwater wells.
- 2.725 mcm/y (2.86%) from UNRWA groundwater wells.
- 6.400 mcm/y (6.72%) from Mekorot.
- 3.919 mcm/y (4.2%) from desalination (Brackish and
Seawater).
The total domestic water consumption is about 54.391 mcm/y
with system efficiency of 60% that is very close to the year
of 2014 of 58.9%. With that system efficiency, the per capita
Fig.1. Municipal Well Location Map
consumption will be 86 l/c/d which is higher than of 2014 (78.8 l/c/d) and that improvement is
mainly due to additional Mekorot water. While the water consumption from the total production is
140.4 l/c/d. In general, the water distribution system efficiency varies from municipality to
another, where it is in range of 43% in Beit Lahiya and Al Moghraqa with per capita consumption
from the total production of 186 and 218 l/c/d respectively. While the maximum system efficiency
exists in Al Naser and Al Zawaida of about 82% and 77% and the per capita consumption from the
total production is 137 and 123.5 respectively. The maximum per capita consumption from
production was recorded in Al Zahra of about 312.4 l/c/d and considering the system efficiency of
51% the consumption will be 160 l/c/d (table.1).
Table 1: Domestic Water Supply in Gaza Strip / 2015
Middle
Gaza
North
Gov. Population
3,839
Um Annaser
51,968
Beit Hanoun 1,617,432
3,160,620
88,043
Beit Lahia
5,983,675
2,546,151
249,243
632,900
249,243
69%
177.9
122.8
3,160,620
51%
166.6
85.3
5,983,675
43%
186.2
79.2
8,176,609 12,244,221 2,203,575
14,447,796
57%
175.7
99.4
623,243 Gaza
19,000,000 27,702,151 193,750 3,419,000 1,070,946
31,314,901
61%
137.7
83.5
3,761
Wadi Gaza
51,273
100,873
100,873
51%
73.5
37.3
8,420
Al Moghraqa 289,654
669,090
669,090
43%
217.7
94.2
3,974
Al Zahraa
232,052
453,184
85,017
Al Nusairat
2,467,867
3,251,310
44,446
Al Buraij
1,128,487
1,673,134
29,686
Al Maghazi
934,305
944,694
22,238
Al Zawaida
Deir Al
Balah
Al Musadar
Wadi Al
Salqa
Al Qararah
768,907
2,459
6,066
25,447
Khan Younis
172,021
225,281 Jabalia
79,921
Rafah
Private
Municipality Total Water
Wells
UNRWA Mekorot
Total Water System
L/C/D
L/C/D
Desalination
Area
Consumption Production wells Prod. Supply
Supplied Efficiency Production Consumption
Plants
453,184
51%
312.4
160.0
697,190
3,948,500
63%
127.2
79.5
71,960
1,745,094
65%
107.6
69.6
426,189 1,046,747
1,370,883
68%
126.5
86.2
1,004,447
1,004,447
77%
123.7
94.7
2,300,211
4,187,278
4,187,278
55%
143.5
78.9
103,387
158,230
158,230
65%
176.3
115.2
110,743
201,890
201,890
55%
91.2
50.0
871,331
1,233,580
1,233,580
71%
132.8
93.8
8,558,225
61%
101.0
61.8
3,287,805
74%
107.1
79.1
254,536
254,536
76%
97.8
74.0
419,395
419,395
82%
137.3
112.3
232,142 KhanYounis 5,234,950
Bani Sohaila
84,095 & Eastern
2,428,816
Village
7,130 Al Fakhari
192,514
8,367
Al Naser
14,236
Al Shouka
207,358 Rafah
Total 1,857,137
342,955
8,407,025
151,200
1,501,513
315,132
501,186
5,105,875
7,856,594
1,786,292
450,958
717,590
501,186
63%
96.5
60.6
8,032,994
65%
106.1
67.5
54,390,672 82,157,869 2,724,925 6,400,631 3,919,151 95,202,576
60%
140.4
86
176,400
Groundwater Level
PWA sets a comprehensive water level monitoring
program covering all Gaza Strip area. Number of wells
used for this purpose is changeable, where the total
monitoring wells were about 180-wells up to 2001 and
reduced after that to 83-wells because of demolishing
and/or destroying many of the agriculture wells that are
used as monitoring wells during the Israeli regular
invasions.
Based on the water level records during the year 2015 the
water level contour map has been prepared (fig.2),
indicating clearly continuous water level decline in most
of the monitoring wells as a result of the intensive
groundwater pumping during the last years, and as a result
Fig.2. WL level contour map 2015
the natural groundwater flow pattern has significantly been disturbed. Two large cones of
depression have occurred in the Northern and Southern parts of Gaza Strip.
Generally, the water level varies from 12 m above sea level (msl) in the Southeastern side of Gaza
Strip to about -19 m below msl in Rafah area, which is considered as the maximum water level
decline. There is another noticeable cone of depression located in the Northern area of Gaza Strip
with a maximum water level decline of -6 m below msl. On the other hand, the water level in Gaza
and middle governorates ranges from 2 m above msl to -4 m below msl.
Groundwater Level Trend
Generally, the water level decline trend is changing from well to another based on the surrounding
hydro-geological condition and can be classified in the following categories:
-
Fluctuating Trend
The wells of this trend are located mainly outside
the cone of depressions with clear influence of the
abstraction rates, particularly in the surrounded
agricultural areas. The long-term fluctuation rate
ranges from few centimeters to more than four
meters reflecting the impact of pumping rates and
duration of pumping (fig.3). Most of the fluctuating
trend wells are located in northern Gaza Strip, south
of Gaza City and in the eastern parts of the middle gov.
-
Fig. 3. Fluctuation trend
Decline Trend:
The water level decline in 2015 has continued with
the same trend as before covering most of the
monitoring wells especially that are located close
the cone of depressions in the northern and southern
area and with maximum decline of about 6 m and
19 m below msl respectively (fig.4). The reason
behind that significant and continuous decline is the
Fig. 4. Decline trend
high density of surrounding domestic wells and its
contentious intensive pumping exceeding the
potential yielding capacity of the underneath
aquifer.
-
Rising Trend:
The water level rising phenomena occurred only in
the eastern part of KhanYounis governorate
Fig.5. Rising trend
(Khuza'a and Abasan Al Kabeera), where thickness of the yielding zone (saturated zone) in that
area is relatively thin (15-20 m) with possible upward leakage from the underneath formation
(Eocene) through the cracks and fractures exist. The groundwater level in this area is about 12 m
above msl and with average yearly rise of about 0.5 m/y (fig.5).
Chloride Content
The groundwater quality assessment is based on the chemical analysis results of 249 domestic
wells in Gaza Strip in 2015. Chloride (Cl) concentration is used as a reference for salinity in the
coastal aquifer, therefore this parameter has been evaluated in terms of concentration and its trend
with time in all domestic wells. The chemical analysis results indicated clearly that the Cl has
increased in most of the wells during 2015 matching with PWA predication that was presented in
PWA water status report of 2014 except 24 wells that show dramatic Cl increase exceeding PWA
prediction. Those wells are located mainly in the western side of Gaza Strip along the coastal line
as a result of accelerating seawater intrusion. Generally, the Cl increase rate in 2015 ranges
between 150 mg/l mainly in the wells of continuous attitude trend and more that 2,500 mg/l in the
wells of dramatically increase trend.
It has been noticed that the magnitude and attitude of chloride increase trends in 2015 varies from
one well to another based on the well location, penetrated yielding zone and the pumping pattern.
Based on the chemical analysis results of year 2015 and its comparison with the analysis result for
year 2014, as well as the projections for 2020 and 2025 can be categorized as follows:
-
Exceeding the projections (fig.6):
Wells representing of this phenomena exist and/or
concentrated in the western areas along the
seashore. It is worth mentioning that the chloride
reached more than 10,000 (mg/l) in some wells
while it was expected to reach 8,000 (mg/l), and
this is due to the significant deterioration in the
aquifer and the effect of the seawater intrusion
phenomenon.
-
Fig. 6. Exceeding the projections
Matching the projections (fig.7):
Some of these wells are located in the areas affected
by seawater intrusion as well as in the areas
surrounding.
Fig. 7. Matching the projections
-
Steady state (fig.8):
The majority of these wells are located in the
eastern and middle parts of the Gaza Strip, which
are characterized originally by relatively high
salinity (more than 600 mg/l).
Fig. 8. Steady state trend
Nitrate Content
There is no certain trend for nitrate (NO3)
concentration as represented in (fig.9) with time
since it is a result of on spot effect as a result of
wastewater leaching through the unsaturated zone
mainly from the sewerage system in the residential
area. Generally, Nitrate concentration is mainly
controlled by the well location, surface wastewater
activities, thickness of the unsaturated zone and its
transmissivity.
Fig. 9. Nitrate Concentration Trends
Pumped Water Quality
The chloride concentration map for 2015 (fig.10) shows the areas which was affected previously
by seawater have expanded compared to 2014, which mainly occurred in the north-west of Gaza
City, south-west of Rafah and west Deir El-Balah. That expansion is due to the continuation of the
intensive pumping from the surrounding domestic wells.
On the other hand, the Nitrate (NO3) concentration map for year 2015 (fig.11), shows that most of
the Gaza Strip has NO3 more than WHO recommended limit (50 mg/l). It is generally in the range
of 100-200 mg/l and is mainly occurred beneath the residential areas reflecting the percolation of
the wastewater from the sewerage system and stretched to new areas in the northern area and
southern part of Rafah compared to the NO3 map of 2014.
Fig.10. Chloride Contour Map, 2015
2015
Fig.11. NO3 Contour Map, 2015
Regarding the domestic water acceptability for drinking use and based on the pumped water
quality in 2015 the followings can be illustrated (fig.12):
- 19.3 % (48 wells out of 249 wells) of the pumped water is with Cl less than WHO limit (250
mg/l).
- 80.7 % (201 out of 249 wells) of the pumped water is with Cl more than 250 mg/l.
- 12.4 % (31 out of 249 wells) of the pumped water has NO3 less than 50 mg/l (WHO limit).
- 87.6 % (218 out of 249 wells) is with NO3 more than 50 mg/l exceeds the WHO limit.
- Taking in consideration both the Cl and NO3 concentration it is clear that 96.4 % of the domestic
pumped water exceeding the WHO acceptable limit and only 3.6 % is matching with the WHO
limit while it was 4 % in 2014.
Fig.12. Cl and NO3 acceptable % based on WHO limit
Conclusion
Based on the above assessment, the following can be concluded:
1. Network distribution efficiency is 51% in Beit Hanoun municipality and 43% in Beit Lahia
municipality, where it is the lowest value in the Northern governorate.
2. Al Moghraqa and Al Zahraa municipalities in the middle governorate have system efficiency
of 43 % and 51 % respectively.
3. KhanYounis municipality has system efficiency of 61 %, where it is the lowest value in
KhanYounis governorate.
4. The highest system efficiency is recorded in Al Nasser municipality (82%), Al Zawaida
municipality (77%) and Al Fakhari municipality is (76%).
5. The maximum per capita consumption from the water production was recorded in Al Zahra
(312 l/c/d), Al Moghraqa (217 l/c/d) and Beit Lahiya (186 l/c/d).
6. The average per capita consumption from the total water supply is about 140.4 l/c/d while the
actual consumption after consider the system efficiency (60%) is 86 l/c/d.
7. Regarding to the groundwater levels in the Gaza coastal aquifer, there is a continuous decline
with different behavior, and it is expected increase significantly with time.
8. Two cones of depletion have occurred in Rafah governorate and in the center of the Northern
governorate and north of Gaza governorate.
9. The decline water level rate in the Gaza coastal aquifer ranges between few centimeters per
year, to about one meter per year.
10. The monitoring wells that have highest groundwater decline are located in the area that
characterized relatively fresh groundwater and with the existing of intensive municipal wells.
11. With the continuation of the over pumping, the seawater intrusion influence will expand in
land with time to cover more area and water wells.
12. Most of the coastal area and with a distance of about 2km in land was affected by the seawater
intrusion phenomena with different degree.
13. The yearly Cl increase rate in some wells increasing in chloride reached to more than 2,500
mg/l/year.
14. It is expected the water quality deterioration will increase significantly with time.
15. Only 3.6 % (9 of 249 wells) of the supplied domestic groundwater in 2015 was matching with
WHO drinking limit in terms of Cl and NO3 and that means the pumped groundwater quality
has degraded by about 0.4% through year 2015 in terms of WHO acceptable limit.