A brief outline of the sewage infrastructure and public health
risks in the Gaza Strip for the World Health Organisation
Authors: Fareed Ashour1, Bashar Ashour2, Marek Komarzynski3, Yasser Nassar4,
Mary Kudla5, Najla Shawa6 and Graham Henderson6 2nd April 2009
Introduction
The siege and recent violent military invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israel has put additional pressure on the long standing undeveloped sewage infrastructure of the Gaza Strip. A simple visible manifestation of this is the significant volume of raw and partially treated sewage discharging into the environment (e.g. Wadi Gaza in Middle Zone, and the Stormwater Reservoir in Khan Yunis) and the Mediterranean Sea at multiple points along the coast line of the Gaza Strip (about 80,000 m3/day, refer to the Figures below). There is considerable world literature about the risk of cholera outbreaks from contaminated and warm seawater (Lipp et al 2003; Madico et al 1996; Munro & Colwell 1996; Tauxe et al 1995). Microbiologically contaminated seawater has been found along the Gaza Strip coast (WHO 2009a), and there is evidence of sanitation-related infections in the Gaza Strip (Halileh & Gordon 2005; Issa et al 2005; Kuhail & Tulaib 2005; Abu Mourad 2004; Astal 2004; Yassin et al 2001).
Recent reports by the WHO have identified the main factors affecting the overall health of the population in the Gaza Strip, including sanitation (WHO 2009b,c). Whilst cholera has not been reported in the Gaza Strip since 1992, the
Moreover, WHO further point out that a
UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) has a long standing syndromic and clinical surveillance system in the Gaza Strip with 23 infectious diseases under surveillance through 20 reporting units at Health Centre level (UNRWA 2009). However, WHO report there are 129 comprehensive Primary Health Care centres in the Gaza Strip (WHO 2009c:6), so the surveillance and monitoring coverage in the Gaza Strip appears less than ideal in terms of sensitivity.
Outline of sewage infrastructure in the Gaza Strip
Methodology
Two of us (FA, GH) undertook a tour of all 5 governorates in the Gaza Strip on Thursday 26th March 2009 to view the major sewage plants and wastewater problems in the Gaza Strip. All authors contributed in significant ways to this report based on previous work and knowledge, and institutional support to the preparation of the report.
Observations
Figure 1 shows a map of the Gaza Strip prepared by one of us (BA) showing important locations relevant to sewage issues.
Rafah Governorate
The City of Rafah, with a population of about 184,000 people, has a water supply through the CMWU water supply system. However, only 65% of Rafah City is connected to the existing wastewater system, with 35% using septic tanks (ICRC 2008). There are 4 pumping stations, and the treatment facility consists of one treatment lagoon, and an effluent pumping station connected to 3 kilometres of force main of diameter 25cms, discharging directly to the sea. The problems and difficulties of the existing waste water treatment plant include: inadequate treatment (effluent characteristics are BOD 300ppm, COD 550ppm, and TSS 250ppm) so that virtually untreated sewage is being discharged to the sea (refer to Figure 2); overload of the system – the current flow is up to 8,500 m3/day, with a design flow of 2000m3/day; and inadequate discharge capacity – the existing pressure line has a maximum discharging capacity of 7,500 m3/day (ICRC 2008). An upgrade is currently in progress with key support and cooperation between the ICRC and CMWU (refer to Figures 3-4), with the aim of : increasing treatment capacity to 20,000 m3/day; the possibility of more house connections in Rafah; discontinuing the current pollution of the sea and groundwater; and recharging the aquifer by infiltration of good quality post-treated water (ICRC 2008). This plant was not damaged during the recent Israeli invasion.
Khan Yunis Governorate
The population of Khan Unis is about 250,000, and receives a water supply through the CMWU water supply system. However, only 25% of Khan Unis City is connected to a waste water system, with 75% of the population using septic tanks (ICRC 2008). There are 2 pumping stations, with the collected wastewater discharged to the existing storm water pond at El Amal area (refer to Figure 5) and a temporary partly completed wastewater treatment plant with anaerobic, aerobic, and settling ponds (refer to Figures 6-7). The current flow rate is about 5,000 m3/day, and there is currently no discharge to the sea. A new project (expected to be completed in 2 months time) will pump the partially treated wastewater to the sea. These facilities were not damaged in the recent Israeli invasion.
Middle Zone Governorate
The population of Middle Zone is about 190,000, and receives a water supply through the CMWU water supply system.There is currently no wastewater treatment plant in this Governorate. Most raw sewage is collected in a concrete pipe through Salah Aldeen Road and slopes to the wadi, and enters directly into Wadi Gaza at two locations (refer to Figures 8-9) and then flows to the sea (refer to Figure 10). The flow rate of untreated sewage into the sea is about 10,000 m3/day.
Gaza Governorate
The population of Gaza is about 470,000, and receives a water supply through the CMWU water supply system. The Gaza Wastewater Treatment Plant (GWWTP) is the largest in the Gaza Strip. This plant has anaerobic and aerobic ponds and 2 large (9 metre high) bio-towers, one settling pond and polishing pond, and a complete sludge management system (refer to Figures 11-13). The plant was damaged during the recent Israeli invasion when the anaerobic pond embankment was destroyed causing the flooding of more than 100,000 m3 of waste water and sludge onto agricultural areas (refer to Figure 14). GWWTP discharges about 50,000 m3/day of treated wastewater directly into the sea (refer to Figure 15). About 10,000 m3/day of untreated wastewater is currently discharging directly into the sea at 3 locations near Beach Camp in Gaza City and North Gaza (refer to Figures 16-18). The discharge shown in Figure 18a,b is from a ruptured wastewater pipe caused by the recent Israeli invasion.
North Gaza Governorate
The population of North Gaza is about 255,000, and 190,000 people from Jabalaya, Beit Lahia, Beit Hanoun and Um Al Nasser are served by the Beit Lahia Wastewater Treatment Plant (BLWTP). Current inflows to the plant are greater than 17,000 m3/day, beyond plant capacity (CMWU & InfraMan 2007). The plant consists of anaerobic, aerobic, polishing, and infiltration ponds of 400,000 m2 area that contains more than 2.5 million m3 in the middle of Beit Lahia city (refer to Figures 19-23). This plant was not damaged in the recent Israeli invasion, and no wastewater is discharging directly into the sea in this governorate.
Conclusion
The safe disposal of human excreta is critical to prevent the transmission of faecal-oral diseases. Large population centres such as exist in the Gaza Strip (Rafah, Khan Unis, Gaza City, Jabalya), are at particular public health risk if wastewater networks fail, are poorly maintained, or are damaged by conflict. The longstanding restrictions, siege and recent violent invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israel have resulted in great underinvestment in the water and sanitation infrastructure of the Gaza Strip, and serious difficulty implementing essential repairs and maintenance to existing systems. The entry of essential materials such as cement, pipes, pumps and other equipment has been blocked completely or restricted.
Whilst the existing wastewater infrastructure was not greatly damaged by the invasion, many buildings (including schools) and other structures throughout the Gaza Strip were destroyed completely or partially. Many of these buildings and structures were connected to the wastewater networks. The flow of untreated wastewater into the sea shown in Figure 18 resulted from such destruction.
A symptom of the major longer-term impediments to upgrading the existing inadequate wastewater infrastructure is the large volume (about 80,000 m3/day) of untreated and partially treated wastewater discharging into the Mediterranean Sea at 6 main points along the Gaza Strip coast. Studies in 2008 by the WHO and Ministry of Health in Gaza found polluted seawater (5,000 to >10,000 faecal coliform colonies per 100 litres of seawater, and/or >2,000 faecal streptococcus colonies per 100 litres of seawater) at a number of specific locations along the Gaza Strip coastline (WHO 2009a). This pollution of the sea represents a daily health hazard to fisherman, a health risk to the Gaza Strip population through potentially contaminated seafood (greatly exacerbated by the Israeli military restriction on Palestinian fisherman going beyond 1-2 kilometre to sea), and a health risk to Palestinian people during recreation activities in the sea. This is not to mention the loss of potentially recyclable water for aquifers, and the pollution damage to the environment. The environmental damage to Wadi Gaza and the public health risks to people living in this area are serious.
We strongly urge Israel and the international community which supports Israel to stop the blockade and allow major infrastructure works to complete repairs, maintenance, and upgrades of existing wastewater infrastructure, and enable the proposed wastewater plants along the eastern border of the Gaza Strip to be completed. The fact that no major outbreaks of faecal-oral disease has occurred in recent times reflects the dedicated work of many local public health professionals and their organisations, and the resilience of the Palestinian people. We also consider there is an urgent need to strengthen the surveillance and monitoring system of water quality and diseases throughout the Gaza Strip.
A recent (27th March 2009) wastewater emergency in the Beit Lahiya Wastewater Treatment Plant in North Gaza Governorate when 40-50,000 m3 of partially treated wastewater escaped from temporary disposal ponds (combined capacity of 250,000 m3) close to the border with Israel and flowed near to the Bedouin Um ALNasser Village highlights the urgency of the public health issues described above (WASH Cluster Gaza 2009).
1. Wastewater Treatment Plant and Stormwater Operation Manager, Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU), Abdul Nasser Street No. 7 Southern Remal, Gaza City.
2. Projects Coordinator, Palestinian Hydrology Group (PHG), Gaza City.
3. Water and Habitat Engineer, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Gaza Sub-Delegation, Al-Rimal – Jalaa Street, Gaza City.
4. Public Health Engineer, Oxfam GB, Heje Building, Al Rasheed Street, Gaza City.
5. Program Manager, Oxfam GB, Heje Building, Al Rasheed Street, Gaza City.
6. WASH Cluster Team, Gaza Strip, c/o Oxfam Office, Heje Building, Al Rasheed Street, Gaza City.
References
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Download Document Files: https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/WASH_SewageInfra-PubHealthRisks.pdf
Document Type: Report
Document Sources: United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO)
Subject: Environmental issues, Health, Living conditions, Water
Publication Date: 02/04/2009