1. Palestinian Lands: Understanding the Physical Environment of the Wadi el-Far’a as a Means for Assessing Environmental Problems

2. Project Sectors Pollution Historical Sites Physical Environment Land Use & Built-up areas Water Rights & Resources Project Sectors

3. Physical Environment: GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, HYDROLOGY, HYDROGEOLOGY Physical Environment Sector

4. GeographyGeography

5. Tectonic Map of the West Bank Source: Ghanem, 1999. Structural Map of the Wadi el-Far’a Source: Ghanem, 1999. GeologyGeology

6. Water Balance Total Precipitation = 138.8 MCM/yr Total Evaporation - 71.3 MCM/yr Total water for infiltration and runoff = 67.5 MCM/yr Total runoff - 7.5 MCM/yr Total well pumping - 18 MCM/yr Total Spring discharge - 14.1 MCM/yr Water Balance =+27.9 MCM/yr HydrologyHydrology

7. Transmissivity map (m 2 /day) of the upper aquifer: 500 meter contour interval Source: Ghanem, 1999. Contour Map of the Groundwater- phreatic zone (meter, relative to sea- level) Source: Ghanem, 1999. HydrogeologyHydrogeology

8. Assessment of Environmental Problems Water Balance equation reveal water surplus, but wells and springs running dry, indicating poor management and monitoring. Water Quality is worse than poor, it is TOXIC. BUT, based on Physical Environment, solutions to these problems exist.

9. Remediation Proposals i.Environmental Remediations a. Water and Soil monitoring and sampling; b. Extract toxic groundwater; c. Air pumping wells ii.Engineering Efforts a. Recharge areas; b. Dams; c. Reservoirs; d. Wastewater treatment factility iii.Palestinian Management and Control a.Laws promoting beneficial and sustainable use; b. Create agency to act as watchdog; c. Develop water projects iv.Introduce Efficient Irrigation Techniques a. Drip vs. open canal irrigation; b. Friendly fertilizers v.Teaching and bringing awareness vi.Drill new wells in high quality deep aquifer (NOT EXHAUSTIVE)

10. Some Realities I.Israel is unwilling to pass authority of water in the West Bank to the Palestinians, as they control over 80% of all water resources II.Palestinians are unlikely to have an adequately established government with enough financial capital to act implement environmental recommendations III.Israel has not allowed any water projects that increase Palestinian water supply since 1967, and will doubtfully will begin allowing such projects

11. Conclusions The solution to the many problems discussed above may lie in the use of foreign agencies like USAID to help understand, assess, recommend and implement such projects that bring about the sustainable use and allocation of water throughout the West Bank.

12. For more Information Visit our Website at: http://www.calvin.edu/~dvrb Contact Information: Dr. Bert de Vries: dvrb@calvin.edudvrb@calvin.edu Abi Tan: ltan84@calvin.edultan84@calvin.edu Sebastian Naslund: snaslu22@calvin.edusnaslu22@calvin.edu