{"id":198161,"date":"2013-05-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T17:32:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?p=198161"},"modified":"2019-03-12T17:32:51","modified_gmt":"2019-03-12T17:32:51","slug":"auto-insert-198161","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/auto-insert-198161\/","title":{"rendered":"World Bank helps restore access to water and wastewater services in Gaza – World Bank article"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Gaza Emergency Water Project<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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Improving Quality of and Access to Water and Wastewater Services in Gaza<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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Arabic Text: <\/span>http:\/\/www.albankaldawli.org\/ar\/results\/2013\/04\/29\/gaza-emergency-water-project<\/u><\/a> <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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In spite of the serious damage inflicted on the water and wastewater infrastructure during the Intifada, the World Bank Group was able to respond quickly and effectively to restore access to water and wastewater services. As a result, water quality and services were improved for the entire population of Gaza (approximately 1.6 million at project closure) and an autonomous water utility was established for more effective management and monitoring of the system.<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n

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Challenge<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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The project was developed in the difficult context of a deep political, social, economic, and institutional crisis, which had engulfed the Palestinian territories during the second Intifada(2000-2005). This conflict not only affected the reform program, but also caused extensive damage to the water and wastewater system and other physical infrastructure. An estimated US$900 million in overall infrastructure sector damage was inflicted on the Palestinian territories between September 2000 and July 2003. The water and wastewater sector accounted for about US$140 million, or about 25 percent of the total financial cost of the damage. This situation was a result of broken water supply lines, the destruction of water pumps and water wells, damage to wastewater networks and wastewater pumps and treatment facilities, and other installations. As the crisis deepened, the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) and municipalities were unable to collect fees from an increasingly impoverished citizenry. <\/p><\/div>\n

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Solution<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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The primary objectives of the project were to improve the provision of adequate water and wastewater services in Gaza, and to establish the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) as an autonomous, well-run modern utility. In addition, the project had a secondary objective of strengthening the PWA’s capacity to regulate the sector. The project had three sets of indicators:<\/p><\/div>\n

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Services consistently meeting standards: Drinking water delivery meeting established quality and quantity standards; Wastewater collection and disposal services meeting established standards.<\/p><\/div>\n

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The CMWU fully functional and operational: Sets clear objectives and monitors the performance of its services through action plans on investment needs and priorities.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Capacity of the PWA strengthened: The PWA monitors water extraction, groundwater and wastewater qualities on a regular and comprehensive basis and publishes periodic reports about compliance with adopted standards.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Water services were expanded with the drilling of new wells, which allowed for the improvement of water quality by retiring high salinity wells. A process was initiated of continuous rehabilitation, maintenance and replacements that had all active water wells and associated equipment functioning effectively.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Results<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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Water quality data at the close of the project (January 2012) revealed disinfection rates (percent of water free from all potential infectious agents) of 99.8 percent.  The operational time for water wells reached the targeted 90 percent, and wastewater effluent quality met required standards.  The improved wells now provide water to all 25 municipalities in Gaza, and benefit the entire population of 1.6 million people living in Gaza Strip. During the period of 2006-2011, the project achieved the following key outputs:<\/p><\/div>\n