South East Mediterranean- Environment

The water and sewage problems of the Gaza Strip in general and Gaza City and its environs in particular are interrelated. Over-exploitation of the aquifers is accelerating deterioration of groundwater quality, leading to ever-increasing groundwater salinity. At the same time, there is no proper sewage disposal system so that much of the sewage, (more saline than the water source), reaches the groundwater, whether through direct percolation or as residue/excess after reuse in irrigation. As a result, a cycle of accelerating salinity is created, further exacerbating the water problem. In many cases, the high salinity content in sewage prevents the reuse of treated sewage effluent in irrigation.

The project proposed is designed to resolve the water and sewage problems of Gaza City by the construction of a sewage treatment and disposal system which will prevent contamination of groundwater, and help avoid health and environmental hazards.

Gaza City has been selected as the target for the project as it is the most densely populated and largest water consumer in the Strip. Its severe water and sewage problems constitute a real obstacle to economic development.

The sewage project consists of two main components:
1) construction and operation of a sewage treatment plant and effluent disposal system to the sea;
2) strengthening and improving the sewage collection system in Gaza City.

The plan is designed to meet sewerage system requirements of Gaza City to the year 2010. The plan is based on a forecast population increase from about 300 thousand residents to about 435 thousand residents by the end of the planning stage.

The citys present water consumption is approx. 14 MCM/yr. The entire quantity is pumped from local wells For the planning horizon (to the year 2010), an increase in water consumption to about 24 MCM/yr is forecast. Sewage production should increase accordingly from 7 MCM/yr to about 14 MCM/yr during the same period.

	Popu- lation 1995 (thousands)	Per capita water consu- mption liters/day	Water 1995 (MCM)	Sewage pro- duction 1995 (MCM)
1. Northern Region: (Beit Hanun, Jaba- liya, Gaza City)	403.5	130	19.1	9.6
2 Central Region: (central refugee camps, El-Boreij, Nuseirat, Deir El Balah)	115.7	100	4.2	2.1
3. South Central Region: (Khan Yunis, Abasan, Bani Suheila)	156.9	110	6.3	3.2
4. Southern Region: (Rafi)	98.7	115	4.1	2.0
Total	774.8		33.8	16.9

Note: Calculations for the table are based on assumptions of an annual increase of 3.5 % from 1991 to 1995, and sewage production 50% of water consumption.

b. Gaza City Sewage Treatment and Disposal Plant

The immediate sewage problem to be addressed in Gaza is the removal of the environmental nuisance caused by untreated sewage. An immediate practical solution to the acute sewage problem of Gaza City and its environs would be the construction of a sewage treatment plant and disposal of the effluent to the sea.

The proposed treatment plant is based on the mechanical biological treatment process which requires a relatively small area (approx. 25 thousand sq. m.). The plant will comprise two modules with a sewage intake capacity of 20 thousand cu. m per day each. The proposed project also includes a conveyance system to the sea as an immediate short term solution for sewage disposal. With the development of effluent reuse in agriculture at a future date, the function of the sea outlet will be redefined as an emergency facility designed to handle excess effluent, should the need arise.

An alternative based on the semi-extensive treatment process was also examined, and although found to be more economical than the mechanical alternative, requires a much larger area (approx. 500 thousand sq. m.), and was therefore deemed unfeasible.

Schedule and stages of construction; One year will be required for detailed planning, preparation of an environmental impact study and licensing arrangements. Construction is estimated to take two years.

The sewage collection system in Gaza City consists of two sub-systems:

• Neighborhood sewer system for collection of domestic waste to the pumping stations located in each of the sewage drainage basins.
• Main collection system, consisting of pumping stations and two force mains with an overall length of 15 km, via which the sewage is pumped from the pumping stations to the treatment plant.

Upgrading the neighborhood system, will in all likelihood, be the responsibility of the Gaza City municipality. The main collection system, on the other hand, could be constructed and run by a contractor from the private sector.

The total investment in a treatment plant based on the mechanical process alternative is estimated at US$22 million dollars, versus US$12 million for a plant based on the semi-extensive method. An economic analysis for the proposed plant is summarized in the table below.

	Mechanical- Biological	Semi- extensive
Investment (millions $)	22.0	12.0
Present value at 7.00% (millions $)	48.8	23.5
Treatment price ($/cu.m of water)	$0.172	$0.083
Treatment price (S/cu.m of sewage)	$0.298	$0.144
Land usage (thousand sq. m.)	500	25

Assumptions underlying this analysis include:

• A 40 year project life span and an interest rate of 7% per annum.
• The construction and operation of the treatment plant will be conducted by the private sector, with the municipality committed to supplying a minimum quantity of sewage and paying treatment fees at a predetermined price. An indicative price for the entrepreneur, based on cost + 10%, calculated for a 15 year horizon, is 39 cents per cu.m of treated sewage (or 22 cents per cu.m of source water).

The total investment in the strengthening and improving of the main sewage collection system is estimated at US$3 million, and the average cost per cu.m of sewage at 3.3 cents. This cost is o above the treatment cost. The total investment in strengthening and improving the neighborhood sewage collection system is estimated at approx. US$12 million, and the average cost per cu.m of sewage at approx. 9 cents. Hence the total required investment comes to $27 -$37 million, depending on the technology (mechanical or semi-extensive) chosen for the plant.

The average cost per cu.m sewage for treatment and disposal in the mechanical alternative is estimated at 30 cents per cu.m of sewage, versus an average cost of 14 cents per cu.m of sewage in the semi-extensive alternative. Despite the higher investment and operating costs, the mechanical alternative is preferred. This alternative is also preferable in terms of compliance with the standards, and effluent quality, providing a broader range of reuse possibilities in the future.

6.2 Integrated Coastal Zone Management in SEMED

The South East Mediterranean coastline from Alexandria to Haifa constitutes the Nile Littoral Cell. The shape of the coastline is determined by the flow of sediment from the Nile to the Mediterranean. Subsequent to the construction of the Aswan High Dam, little sediment is carried down the Nile, leading to erosion in the Nile Delta. The eroded sand is transported along the coast to Haifa, affecting the North Sinai, Gaza and Israeli coastline. The continued transport of sediment along the coast is vital to the stability of the shore; hence coastal management is an important part of planning in the region.

This project is proposed within the framework of the SEMED subregional development effort. Its objective is to ensure that economic development of the SEMED coastal zone is carried out without causing deterioration of land and sea resources. It entails establishing a coordinated system of management and providing a common standard to serve as a guideline for environmental policy.

The Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency has prepared environmental guidelines for the development of the coastal zone. Generally, the coastal zone is defined as a strip 200 m wide landward from high tide.

The proposed guidelines incorporate fundamental principles:

• Any action or activities resulting in the deterioration or destruction of the natural environment is prohibited;
• It is forbidden to harm animals or plants on land or sea or to pollute soil, water or air;
• Land and sea living organisms must not be hunted killed, collected, transferred or disturbed;
• The establishment of new special protected areas should be considered and encouraged;
• Implementing projects or starting construction in areas which constitute unique and rare natural reserves is prohibited, whether these areas are inside or outside protected areas;
• All new project proposals must include an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with application for licensing; these assessments must be evaluated by an independent organization.

A multilateral coastal zone management strategy can be derived from these guidelines. The program, which would include institution strengthening, pollution prevention and resource management components, can be incorporated into the Environmental Technical Programme for the Mediterranean Region (METAP) initiated by the World Bank.