WaterWorX - Palestinian Territories

Supporting the implementation of the water sector reform: from 300 service providers to 10 regional water utilities

Background

The water sector in Palestine faces systemic challenges constraining its development. The political and economic situation limits the availability and access to sufficient water resources of acceptable quality. Weak capacity throughout water sector institutions and fragmentation due to more than 300 Service Providers are huge challenges. Moreover, the Service Providers face significant problems resulting from poor infrastructure and high water losses, and insufficient revenue generation. As a result services are not meeting the needs of the citizens, leading to a lack in their willingness to pay water bills, which further affects the sustainability of service delivery. In 1995, the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) was established by a presidential decree. Its functions, objectives and responsibilities are defined through a by-law, giving the Palestinian Water Authority the mandate to manage water resources and execute the water policy. The Palestinian Water Authority is faced with an ambitious reform plan that requires far reaching changes in its own institutional setup, with limited resources and in an uncertain political environment.

The Palestinian Water Authority (PWA), World Waternet and its partners have entered into a long-term partnership (2020 – 2030). This partnership is funded via the WaterWorX programme by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Activities

Build local capacities to support the sector reform and specifically create a successful Joint Service Councils for the Halhul and Salfit with lower non-revenue water and better cost recovery. The partnership will access to drinking water sector and help PWA to build experience to further implement the water reform to ensure sustainable water service delivery in all 10 regional water utilities in the Palestinian Territories.

The second phase of the WaterWorX partnership (2021-2025) focusses on the following activities:

• Financial Performance: NRW reduction and the development of cost-recovery and water cycle management are put central in all activities to support long-term climate proof planning and a sustainable water sector. 
• Asset Management: The accuracy of reported data will be further improved via data harmonization within the two pilot areas, data base development, GIS production and peer-to-peer support. 
• Water Quality: Improve the accuracy of monitoring and reporting of water quality data within the two pilot areas. Furthermore, the team will work towards the ISO certification of the laboratory at PWA.
• Wastewater Treatment: Development and piloting of unique mobile wastewater treatment plant innovations (BluElephant) within a public-private partnership of Dutch and Palestinian organizations. The innovation, a small-scale solar based waste water treatment (WWT) facility will directly address untreated wastewater discharges that may affect environmental and human health.
• Human Resource Management: Build local capacity and create a successful regional water units (RWU) within the two pilot areas; the Joint Service Council for the Halhul and North-Hebron municipalities and Salfeet area. 

Results

For the second phase of the WaterWorX partnership (2021-2025) the following overall results are foreseen:

• Setup of Geographic Information System (GIS) as solid basis for improved and informed decision-making on assets and future planning.
• Establishing standard water tariff and ensuring that water revenues are directly invested in the water sector.
• Improved monitoring and reporting of water quality data.
• ISO certification for laboratory.
• Pilot project of three BluElephant decentralized wastewater units.
• Setup of management structure for RWU Halhul/North-Hebron and Salfit with focus on reduction of Non-Revenue Water and improved cost recovery.