Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1457842 1 HEALTH EFFECT DUE TO POOR WASTEWATER TREATMENTS IN GAZA STRIP Amani Alfarra and Sami Lubad Amani Alfarra, Bank of Palestine Center Bldg. Gaza El Rimal, App.910/911, P.O.BOX:1388, Gaza - Palestine, Email: alfarra1@dar-elkhebra.com Sami Lubbad, Head of Water Department –Public Health Lab. “M.O.H”, Gaza – Palestine, e- mail: samiLubbad@yahoo.com Abstract: In eastern Mediterranean countries including Palestine, the demand on water is growing rapidly due to rapid population growth, urbanization and socioeconomic development. Both the West Bank and Gaza Strip are facing a series of wastewater and sanitation-related problems, large-scale discharge of untreated wastewater, leaking of collected wastewater from sewer systems and cesspits, water treatment plants that do not function or function only badly and uncontrolled reuse of untreated wastewater by the irrigation sector. This paper has three objectives: • To demonstrate the link between wastewater and health and show the profound influence of water supply and quality on public health in Gaza. • To highlight the environmental and health impact resulting from poor wastewater treatment in Palestine. • To describe the basic classification of water-related diseases in Palestine, mainly Gaza Strip. • To describe how improvement and proper management in water treatment will lead to improvements in health and a reduction in morbidity and mortality rates. The paper also assesses the environmental and human health impacts associated with the current practices of wastewater management and sanitation in Gaza, especially: • Soil and groundwater pollution resulting from discharge of untreated wastewater. • Direct human health risks as a result of exposure to wastewater in open systems. • Indirect human health risks as a result of consumption of polluted crops and fish In this paper I focus on the Gaza Strip only. Currently, about 70%-80% of the domestic wastewater produced in Gaza is discharged into the environment without treatment, either directly at the source, after collection from cesspits or through the effluent of the sewerage system or overloaded treatment plants. Most of the wastewater flows into the sea; a small part infiltrates and contaminates the soil and the groundwater. Moreover, the discharge causes public health risks through direct exposure as well as through reuse of untreated wastewater on irrigated lands. Diseases related to contaminated drinking water (poor water treatment) constitute a major burden on the health of people in Palestine and are among the leading causes of ill-health. Sustainable health, especially for children, is not possible without an effective and adequate water supply and healthy water treatment. Key words: health, poor treatment, Wastewater .Introduction Gaza is situated in an arid area with scarce water resources. There is no permanent surface water in Gaza Strip; the ground water is the only source for drinking water and agriculture. The groundwater is recharged from different sources, including rainwater, sewage irrigation; sewage