Drinking water crisis in Gaza Strip

The authority has warned that 95 percent of Gaza's coastal aquifer, which is the main source of drinking water in Gaza, is undrinkable due to high saline and overuse.

Palestinians struggle with water crisis in Gaza

GAZA CITY, GAZA - SEPTEMBER 09: Palestinians fill water inside containers from a water truck at Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, Gaza on September 09, 2015. At least 120,000 Palestinians face water crisis just because infrastructure systems have not been repaired due to intense air strikes of Israel on Gaza last year. Especially people, living west coastal region of Gaza, are exposed to harsh conditions such as one week water cut. 

This family struggles on a day-to-day basis with their water supply. Their routines are much more risky because of the unsafe and unreliable water source. They are just one of many families in Gaza City that are heavily impacted by the Palestinian water crisis.

The quest for drinking water in Gaza

Gaza's water crisis came into the light following a report by the UN in 2008 which predicted that the needy strip won't be livable by 2020. According to the report, 95 percent of Gaza’s water comes from coastal aquifers, and isn't safe to drink. The UN says only one-quarter of the waste water in Gaza is preserved and the rest, including raw waste, goes into the Mediterranean Sea. According to Palestinian officials, only one fresh water source occurs in Gaza today, and that’s shared with Israel and Egypt. Palestinians believe that Israel is employing Gaza's water shortage as a method against the civilian population.

95% of Gaza waters not safe for drinking

Gaza's water crisis came into the light following last week’s report by the UN which predicted that the needy strip won't be livable by 2020. According to the report, 95 percent of Gaza’s water comes from coastal aquifers, and isn't safe to drink. The UN says only one-quarter of the waste water in Gaza is preserved and the rest, including raw waste, goes into the Mediterranean Sea. According to Palestinian officials, only one fresh water source occurs in Gaza today, and that’s shared with Israel and Egypt. Palestinians believe that Israel is employing Gaza's water shortage as a method against the civilian population.

Gaza Crisis

Would you drink this water? What if that is your only choice? WHAT IF you couldn't even get this water everyday- it was just sporadically? 

 Generally, the water quality is considerably worse in the Gaza strip when compared to the West Bank. About a third to half of the delivered water in the Palestinian territories is lost in the distribution network. As for the "waste water", the existing treatment plants do not have the capacity to treat all of the produced "waste water", causing severe water pollution. 

The high water loss rates are due to old pipes and other dysfunctions. Because of finances, the water supply is getting worse and less routinely.