Introduction:
According to a report by the UNHCR, about 90% of the groundwater in Gaza is unacceptable for drinking as a result of contamination by nitrate and chloride. While ground water is the only dependable and regular source of water in the Gaza Strip. It is a source for drinking, domestic, agricultural and industrial supplies. Families have virtually no access to drinking water: humanitarian access has been severely restricted, water infrastructure has been destroyed and systems are in need of repairs, and stagnant, standing water fills the streets. According to the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) – the water and wastewater service provider for the Gaza Strip – some 500,000 people are without access to running water at all, another 500,000 residents are limited to 4-6 hours of running water every 5-7 days, and the remaining population receives 4-6 hours of water every 2-3 days.
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip would generally get water supply for their families from desalination plants around Gaza, however the capacity of water processed daily does not meet the needs and demand of the people considering the population density.
For these reasons, PGPF acted on the urgent need to establish a desalination plant in the Gaza Strip. The project is primarily an endowment, therefore any returns from the plant will be used to cover operation expenses. The income from operating the desalination plants are also used to invest in other projects that benefit the people in Gaza, especially those affected by the Israeli siege.