The Mountain Aquifer: Shared Groundwater Resources Environmental Hazards and Technical Solutions /
Dr. Dror Avisar
One of the largest freshwater sources in Israel and Palestine authority is the Mountain Aquifer, a vulnerable resource that provides about 50% of Israel's drinking water and the only source of water for Palestinians in the West Bank. The weakening conditions of other water sources will force Israel in the not too distant future to lean even more heavily on this resource. However, the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians over shared water resource of the Mountain aquifer is one potential obstacle in the path of peace in the Middle East. It’s undisputed that the pollution sources are both Palestinian and Israeli, threat the coming future water supply. Evidence shows that groundwater in some locations has already been polluted. The main purpose of this chapter therefore is to detail the hydrological and geological characteristic of this major fresh water resource, to specify its vulnerability and to suggest technical solutions for shard Israeli-Palestinian management of it.
Shared Groundwater Resources: Environmental Hazards and Technical Solutions in Palestine / Dr. Karen Assaf
The gap between water demands and water supply in Palestine poses severe adverse effects on both current and future socio-economic development in this region. Existing water resources of Palestine are derived from four aquifer basins (the Western, Eastern, Northeastern, and Coastal) as well as a series of springs that emanate from the groundwater. However, the shared and most significant Western aquifer is being utilized mainly by the Israeli side, while many springs have dried out completely. This chapter opens with a description of the existing groundwater resources in the West Bank and Gaza from an important transboundry perspective. Then it outlines possible frameworks for cooperative groundwater management, which includes a comprehensive strategy for sustainable development and environmental protection of shared water resources between Palestine and Israel. In particular, this chapter considers specific measures that need to be implemented to change the present trends.
