Interview Loay Alatrash - Young Expert Programme Palestine

Meet Loay!

Before we get to know you better, could you tell us how Palestine is dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak?

I am glad to say that the impact of COVID-19 is very limited so far over here. Currently (20 May 2020, rev.) less than 400 people are infected and there were two fatalities. We are however in lock-down since a few weeks, so that could be the reason why the virus didn’t get the chance to spread a lot.

Good to hear the impact of COVID-19 is not so severe in your country. So how did you learn about the YEP programme?

I was a member of the Palestinian Water Authority Youth Committee. Through them, I was informed about the YEP programme. I sent them my CV and motivation, and then luckily I got selected.

Wastewater quality testing for potential agricultural use in the laboratory of the Wastewater Treatment Plant

How did you started working in the water sector in the first place?

I got my bachelor's degree in Water engineering and my master’s degree is Water Resources. Before I started participating in the YEP programme, I worked for a private water supply and wastewater company as Supervisor and Engineer.

From childhood, I dreamed of working internationally, and to use the knowledge and network gained abroad for the benefits of my country. Eventually I hope to work partly abroad and partly in Palestine. My ultimate goal is to become an expert on water governance and improve that in my country. After all, I am Palestinian, and my wish is to work on a solid governmental structure for water management for my people. We need this very badly. Water is managed by 300 different service providers, obviously this is too fragmented. Our government had mandated us to merge them and reduce the amount to ten service providers by 2030. Not all service providers like this, as they will loose their autonomy, but in order to be able to manage our water resources properly, this needs to be done. 

Brine water quality sampling resulting from desalination, to verify its impact on the environment

What are biggest water challenges in Palestine?

Without a doubt is water scarcity our primary concern. The water resources are managed by the Israeli administration so we are not able to exercise control ourselves. The availability of water per capita is limited, on average 50 litres a day. Though it varies, for example in Salfit, where I live, it is 80 litres a day. Although in other areas they have to do with merely 20 litres a day. The majority of the wastewater is currently not treated, nonetheless, reuse of wastewater effluent could offer huge opportunities to combat our limited water resources.

Furthermore, infrastructure is a problem. Our water network is very old, around 60 to 70 years. Large amounts of water are lost due to leakages. Also the water service delivery varies greatly, some places are supplied 24 hours a day, others only 45 minutes a day.

Have you already been to the Netherlands for the first training weeks of the YEP programme?

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, I have not been able to travel to the Netherlands yet. But the Dutch are, in my view, the number one water experts in the world. I am so lucky to have been given the chance to learn from them. In the meantime, I am doing a lot of online courses from home. Also, I saw very little of my new colleagues at the Palestinian Water Authority, only via online meetings. It would be great to see them face to face as well.

Did you ever visit the Netherlands before?

Not yet, but I am hoping that maybe this fall I will get the chance. I will meet the other YEP participants online in the coming month. I am excited to meet them in real life too and learn from them. And also, to finally visit the Netherlands and meet my water colleagues over there!