Title: Stormwater availability in the Gaza Strip, Palestine

Authors: Sami M. Hamdan, Uwe Troeger, Abelmajid Nassar

Addresses: The Palestinian Water Authority, 00000 Gaza, Palestine; Technical University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany. ' Technical University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany. ' Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine

Abstract: Stormwater harvesting has become an important water resource. The rational runoff formula has been applied using GIS as a tool to estimate runoff amounts from different landuse categories. These amounts have been estimated to be 37 Mm³ in the existing landuse and will reach 43 Mm³ for planned landuse, i.e. urban development expansion. Continuous urbanisation will result in more wastage of rainfall that could be used for replenishment of groundwater. The Gaza Strip was divided into seven geographic zones, the potential amounts of rainfall runoff in each zone were estimated, and accordingly, conveying infrastructures and infiltration systems are identified. Of course, this will add a new resource to the water budget, which will suffer from a deficit estimated to be 100 Mm³ per year by the year 2020. This and other non conventional resources will together bridge the gap between supply and demand.

Keywords: Gaza Strip; groundwater recharge; land use; Palestine; stormwater harvesting; water budget; water resources; runoff formula; urban development; rainfall runoff.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2007.018582

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2007 Vol.1 No.4, pp.580 - 594

Published online: 30 May 2008 *

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