Clean Water and Sanitation Resilient Communities

Ensure availability and sustainable management Meeting the basic needs of our communities
of water and sanitation for all Ensuring sustainable environment

Safe and affordable drinking water

6.1. By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking
water for all.

6.1.1. Proportion of population using safely-managed drinking water services 2%

59%
Surface 3%
Palestinians face political constraints and economic barriers to access water resources, which have enormously 6%
impacted various aspects of life including health and economy. In Gaza, almost 25 percent of child morbidity Unimproved 3% 38%
cases are caused by water-borne disease. Access to safely-managed water also varies dramatically between the Palestine Limited
West Bank and Gaza, and between urban, rural, and refugee communities. 18%
95% Basic

West Bank
71%
97% 11% Safely managed
59%
Syria Gaza Strip
BASIC

71%
Lebanon
59%
Iraq

59%
Palestine World Palestine

94% Urban 54%

99% Jordan Rural 94%
Egypt
BASIC Refugee 41%
Camps
Global Average 71%
Safely managed Basic Limited water
Source: UNICEF and WHO, JMP WASH Data 2018, 2019.

Sector policy priority:

Improve the quality and reliability of water supply services; Free of Water Free of Within a No protection Within a
ensure fair water distribution through safe, sustainable and contamination source on contamination 30 minute from 30 minute
affordable water supply for all citizens; improve the premises roundtrip contamination roundtrip
efficiency of water distribution systems.

Source: PCBS, Water Statistics 2018, 2019; UNICEF and WHO, JMP WASH Data 2018, 2019.

27 Atlas of Sustainable Development 2020

Daily consumption rate per capita per day Jenin
Average daily water consumption of Palestinians connected to a water network is less than the World Health 50.2 L/C/D
Organization’s minimum recommended daily allowance and about one-third of the water daily consumption rate
in Israel. Some of the vulnerable communities in Palestine have a daily water consumption rate less than 50 Tulkarem Tubas
l/c/day, constituting a severe water shortage. In Gaza, though the daily rate per capita is 83.1 l/c/d, the water 99.3 L/C/D 118.4 L/C/D
quality is not fit for human consumption due to high nitrate and chloride concentration.

Qalqiliya Nablus
147.4 L/C/D 82.9 L/C/D
Palestine
87.3 L/C/D
Salfit
155.5 L/C/D
Israel 240 - 300 L/C/D
West Bank
WHO Recommended Ramallah & Al-Bireh

Minimum 100 L/C/D

90.5 L/C/D 97.3 L/C/D
Jericho
Palestine 87.3 L/C/D Gaza Strip 268.7 L/C/D
!
In Area C, 95,000 people 87.3 L/C/D 83.1 L/C/D Jerusalem
receive less than 50 L/C/D
97.3 L/C/D

Bethlehem
78.5 L/C/D
Sector policy priority:
Integrate management and sustainable development North Gaza
of the water resources through increasing available 89.9 L/C/D
water quantitatively and qualitatively and ensuring the Gaza Hebron
protection of water resources from pollution and
decrease water losses.
85.8 L/C/D 78.5 L/C/D
Deir Al-Balah
80.6 L/C/D
Khan Younis
81.3L/C/D
Rafah
70.2L/C/D

* The actual per capita consumption rate in

Jericho is estimated to be much lower, as
this rate also reflects water usage for
Source: PCBS, Water Statistics 2018, 2019; Palestinian Water Authority, Records, 2019. touristic and commercial activities.

Atlas of Sustainable Development 2020 28

 Water resources in Palestine
Due to limited access to natural water resources in the West Bank, Palestinians have become dependent upon
purchasing water from the Israeli national water company Mekorot for domestic use. This has resulted in high 40% Palestine
58% Local Resources
uncertainty in water supply and increased financial burdens. Purchases water from Mekorot have increased in
recent years to address the needs of the growing population; nevertheless, the amount purchased does not meet
demand, resulting in constant water shortages.
Israeli
Water Company 2% Desalination
37%
63%
Jenin
62%
West Bank
5%
Israeli 71%
Water Company 38% Local Resources 95%
Tulkarem
29%
Tubas
28%
13% Gaza Strip 16%
84% 72%
Israeli 83% Local Resources Qalqiliya Nablus
33% 31% 38% 39% 40% Water Company 4% Desalination
67%
33%
Salfit
65% 67% 60% 59% 58% 42%
58%
93% 7% Jericho
2% 2% 2% 2% 2% Ramallah
& Al-Bireh

100%
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 0%
Jerusalem
Local resources Purchased from the Israeli Desalination plants
Water Company

69% 31%
Hebron &
Bethlehem
Sector policy priority:
Increase the capacity of the Palestinian Water
Authority in planning and management of 13%
water resources and improve access water 83%
resources. Increase the capacity of service Gaza
providers to improve collection rates and 4% Desalination
reduce non-revenue water.

Source: PCBS, Water Statistics 2018, 2019.

29 Atlas of Sustainable Development 2020

Water in the Gaza Strip Deficit in Water Supply
The coastal aquifer, Gaza’s primary water source, has been polluted by over-pumping and wastewater Actual deficit in meeting domestic needs
contamination. As a result, only 4 percent of the water pumped from the aquifer is safe to drink due to the high
concentration of chloride and nitrates as well as contamination of the aquifer from wastewater infiltration to
ground water. Israeli restrictions limit the import of spare parts, materials and energy needed for the day-to-day
functioning of the water and wastewater networks.
66%

Nitrate (NO3 ) concentration in underground water Chloride concentration in underground water Palestine
mg/Litre mg/Litre 11.7 McM
105.9 McM 34% Jenin
21%

42% of the needed quantities of water 3.5 McM

Tulkarem
0.7 McM
Tubas
45%
2%
West Bank
0.1 McM 9.7 McM
57.8 McM Qalqiliya Nablus
40% of the needed quantities of water
-0.2 McM
Salfit
Gaza Strip
35%
47.9 McM
< 50 < 250 45% of the needed quantities of water
50 - 100 250 - 600 9.5 McM
100 - 150 600 - 1000 Ramallah & Al-Bireh
& Jerusalem
150 - 200 1000 - 1500
-2.2 McM
200 - 300 1500 - 2000
Jericho
> 300 > 2000

Source: Palestinian Water Authority, Gaza Database, 2019.

9%
Open Defecation 48%

6.2.
9%
Unimproved 8.4 McM
8% North Gaza 40%
Limited 25 McM
15.7 McM Hebron &
Sanitation and Hygiene 29%
Gaza 43% Bethlehem

By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable Basic 99.7% 99.8%

96%
99.2%
7.2 McM
sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, Deir Al-Balah 46%
paying special attention to the needs of women and girls 9.6 McM
and those in vulnerable situations. Khan Younis 46%
45% 7 McM
6.2.1 Proportion of population using safely Safely
Rafah 53%
managed sanitation services, including a Managed

hand-washing facility with soap and water

Source: PCBS, SDGs Database 2019, 2020. World Palestine Urban Rural Sources PCBS, Water Statistics 2018, 2019.

Atlas of Sustainable Development 2020 30