In 2010, the UN recognized “the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights.”
Water in Israel has become a commodity under the management of the Water and Sewage Corporations and marginalized groups are affected adversely. Today In Arab towns in Israel, 77.1% of the water networks are old, 39.4% have areas with no water network, 22.5% have pollution in the drinking water, 31% suffer from drinking water shortages and 42.3% suffer from weak water pressure.
Over 10% of the Palestinian population report not having access to a safe wastewater system in the locality. In addition, effective stormwater management is absent in nearly 30% of Palestinian localities , placing these communities at risk of local flooding, safety issues, disease and infrastructure problems.
The Environmental Justice Center at the Galilee Society addresses these issues through gathering accurate data and advocating for:
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Water as a public good for all
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Improving water infrastructure in Arab towns
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Saving water in the household level for environmental and economic reasons.
Let’s raise awareness of these issues in the Palestinian and Israeli community and call on our leaders to improve water management for all – a great way to celebrate 2019’s World Water Day theme of ‘Leaving no one behind,’
(Data source: Rikaz Databank).
