Alternatives to tap water: a case study of the Gaza Strip, Palestine |
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| Authors: | H A El-Nakhal |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Environment and Earth Science, The Islamic University of Gaza, PO Box 108, Gaza, Palestine |
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| Abstract: | Gaza Strip is a highly populated, small area in which the groundwater is the main water source. During the last few decades, groundwater quality has deteriorated to a limit that the municipal tap water became brackish and unsuitable for human consumption in most parts of the strip. To overcome this serious situation, several attempts were made to replace the tap water or to improve its quality by water desalination applying the reverse osmosis (RO) technology, bottled water, importing water, and storm water harvesting. Water desalination, which is widely applied in the strip, has environmental and health risks. Brine water resulting from the RO systems has adverse environmental effects, whereas the produced fresh water with very low chemical concentrations may have harmful effects on human health. Therefore, introducing international water quality standards to delineate the harmless minimum limits is necessary. Storm water harvesting can provide a partial solution for the water problems in the strip. |
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| Keywords: | Tap water Desalination Reverse osmosis Gaza Palestine |
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