Water Pollution In Israel: Understanding The Crisis

Water pollution in Israel is a pressing issue with complex political and environmental dimensions. The country's water resources are shared with Palestine, and the relationship between the two has had a significant impact on water quality. Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories has resulted in restricted access to water for Palestinians, with Israel controlling water resources and infrastructure. This has led to a stark disparity in water consumption, with Israelis consuming significantly more water per capita than Palestinians. Additionally, wastewater discharge, over-pumping, and seawater infiltration have contributed to water pollution, affecting both countries. While Israel has taken steps towards wastewater treatment, the lack of infrastructure in the West Bank has resulted in the discharge of untreated sewage, polluting water streams and groundwater aquifers. The contamination of water has severe health consequences, and the situation in Gaza, where most residents lack access to clean water, underscores the urgency of addressing water pollution and improving water security for all.

Israel's control of Palestinian water resources

Israel and Palestine share three main water sources: the Jordan River Basin, the Coastal Aquifer, and the Mountain Aquifer. While Israel has been taking measures to ensure wastewater treatment, the lack of infrastructure in the West Bank has led to the continuous discharge of untreated sewage, polluting water streams and contaminating groundwater aquifers. This affects both downstream Israel and Gaza.

The disparity in water access between Israelis and Palestinians is stark. While Israeli settlers in the West Bank enjoy well-irrigated farmlands and swimming pools, Palestinians in the same area often lack sufficient drinking water. Israeli water consumption is at least four times that of Palestinians, and in some cases, even higher. This disparity is further exacerbated by the fact that Israeli-owned farms and settlements in the West Bank have access to large amounts of water, while Palestinian farmers struggle to cultivate even low-yield crops.

The issue of water sharing between Israel and Palestine is deeply intertwined with the broader political conflict between the two sides. Despite efforts in the 1990s to reach a peace agreement and cooperate on water-sharing and management, the antagonistic relationship between Israel and Palestine has hindered joint efforts. The inability to cooperate on water protection, despite the environmental and health impacts of wastewater discharge, demonstrates the challenges of finding common ground in a context of political tension.

The impact of wastewater discharge

Israel and Palestine share three water sources, with Israel located upstream on the Coastal Aquifers and downstream on the Mountain Aquifer, the most important source for both Israelis and Palestinians. Since 1970, Palestinian water use has been restricted by Israel, which has simultaneously pumped more water than is sustainable from the aquifers. This over-pumping has contributed to pollution from agrochemical products and seawater infiltration. As a result, water quality in both Israel and Palestine has suffered due to widespread wastewater discharge.

The issue of wastewater discharge is exacerbated by the lack of cooperation between Israel and Palestine. While Israel has taken measures to treat wastewater, the West Bank, which is under Israeli occupation, lacks the necessary infrastructure. As a result, untreated sewage continues to be discharged into the environment, polluting water streams that flow downstream to Israel and Gaza and contaminating groundwater aquifers. This situation has severe health implications for both Israelis and Palestinians, as contaminated water can lead to various diseases, including diarrhea, viral hepatitis, liver and kidney diseases, methemoglobinemia, and anemia.

To address the impact of wastewater discharge, Israel has implemented regulations for sanitation and wastewater treatment. These include prevention measures such as maintaining wastewater treatment plants, reducing industrial contaminants, and enforcing laws and rules. Monitoring efforts involve assessing groundwater conditions and detecting early signs of groundwater pollution through a highly developed monitoring network. However, the success of these measures relies on cooperation between Israel and Palestine, as contaminated water flowing upstream from the West Bank continues to pose a challenge to water protection in Israel.

Water protection and cooperation

Israel's unilateral measures to treat wastewater have shown some progress, but the situation remains critical. The country's consumption patterns have contributed to water pollution, with total water consumption in 2020 reaching 2.4 BCM, including usage in the agricultural, domestic, and industrial sectors. Israel's pumping of more water than is sustainable from shared aquifers with Palestine has led to pollution from agrochemical products and seawater infiltrations.

Palestine, particularly the West Bank and Gaza, faces significant challenges in accessing clean and safe water due to Israeli restrictions. The Israeli state-owned water company Mekorot controls water resources and infrastructure in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, selling water to Palestinian water utilities while determining the quantity. As a result, many Palestinian communities are forced to purchase water at high prices, impacting their monthly expenses.

The health risks associated with contaminated water are severe, including waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, viral hepatitis, liver and kidney diseases, methemoglobinemia, and anemia. The lack of functioning treatment plants in Gaza has led to the discharge of raw sewage into the Mediterranean Sea, threatening the intake of desalination plants in Israel. Furthermore, the conflict between Hamas and Israel has deteriorated Gaza's water and sanitation services, exacerbating the water crisis.

To address these issues, Israel and Palestine must work together to implement joint water-protection mechanisms. This includes ensuring equitable access to water for both Israelis and Palestinians, addressing over-pumping and its consequences, and investing in the necessary infrastructure to treat wastewater effectively. By prioritizing cooperation and taking urgent mitigation actions, both sides can improve water security and protect the health and well-being of their populations.

Water chlorination standards

The standards require periodic testing of these contaminants in surface water, groundwater, and desalinated water sources, with results reported to the Ministry of Health (MoH). While there is no requirement to add magnesium and iodine, and the requirement to add fluoride is not implemented, it is mandatory to add calcium to desalinated water. Israel's drinking water standards also include mandatory testing of supply systems for metals (iron, copper, and lead), water treatment chemicals (such as chlorine), and disinfection byproducts (total THMs, chlorite, and chlorate).

The standard for chloride concentration in drinking water is 450 parts per million (ppm), which is relatively high, and no coliform bacteria are allowed. Irrigation water has different standards as it is typically treated wastewater. The main substances tested in effluent water are coliform bacteria and the amount of organic matter dissolved in the water. There are also standards for heavy metals and biomedical materials that may be present.

One challenge for Israel is to strengthen its standard on lead content in drinking water. While 99.6% of results comply with the standard, about 150 small localities do not routinely monitor lead in the supply network as required. It is crucial that all localities monitor lead to ensure the safety of drinking water. Additionally, standards need to be set for new contaminants, such as haloacetic acid disinfectant byproducts and PFAS. Preliminary data from Water Authority surveys show significant PFAS groundwater contamination in hotspots across the country.

Israel has been addressing water shortages by using desalination, reclaimed water, and other non-traditional water sources in addition to its natural supplies. The country's water demand currently outstrips its available conventional water resources, so Israel relies on unconventional water sources for about half of its water supply. The largest part of drinkable water is produced by desalination of seawater from the Mediterranean Sea.

Water consumption and distribution

Israel's water consumption encompasses various sectors, including agriculture, domestic use, and industry. In 2020, the country's total water consumption was 2.4 BCM, including water supplied to Jordan and Palestine through bilateral agreements. Israel's water infrastructure and network have been developed to meet the demands of its population. However, the country has faced challenges in ensuring equitable distribution and access to clean water for all, especially in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel has implemented measures to address water pollution and wastewater treatment. The country's regulations focus on prevention, including maintaining wastewater treatment plants, reducing industrial contaminants, and enforcing laws and rules. Monitoring is another crucial aspect, involving the assessment of groundwater conditions and the detection of early signs of groundwater pollution through a highly developed monitoring network. Despite these efforts, Israel faces challenges due to the inflow of contaminated water from upstream sources, particularly from the West Bank.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has significantly impacted water consumption and distribution. Israel's control over water resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) has resulted in restricted access to water for Palestinians. Israeli policies, such as Military Order 158, require Palestinians to obtain permits for constructing new water installations. As a result, many Palestinian communities in the West Bank face water shortages and are forced to purchase water at high prices, impacting their monthly expenses significantly. The disparity in water consumption between Israelis and Palestinians is notable, with Israelis consuming at least four times more water per capita.

The situation in Gaza further highlights the complexities of water consumption and distribution in the region. Gaza's water systems have been severely affected by conflicts between Hamas and Israel, leading to a breakdown in water and sanitation services. The destruction of water infrastructure and wells has left most of Gaza's population without access to clean water, exacerbating health concerns and the risk of waterborne diseases. The contamination of water sources in Gaza, such as the Coastal Aquifer Basin, has also impacted Israel, as sewage and seawater infiltration have polluted intake sources for desalination plants.

Frequently asked questions