Partnering Communities
Below are descriptions of the communities participating in the project.
Click on the MAP to view the locations of the partnering communities.
Shared Water Resource: Jordan River / Yarmuk River
The Jordan Valley Regional Council consists of numerous rural communities on both sides of the Jordan River between the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee and to Kibbutz Ashdot Ya’cov further south. The area is rich in important archeological sites documenting the wealth of human history in the Jordan River Valley. The area played a significant role in Modern Jewish history, with the first kibbutz founded in Degania and the construction of the Rotenberg Hydro Electric Power Station. Large projects whose environmental impacts were îot fully considered include the Degania Dam at the mouth of the Sea of Galilee and the Israel National Water Carrier, all leading to the diversion of waters from the Jordan River and the redirection of saline springs into the River.
The community members that have met during the year have identified the following obstacles and challenges of urgent concern:
1) Fresh water diversion
2) Untreated or partially treated sewage discharged into the Jordan River
3) Lack of access to the Jordan River
The residents, much like participants in casinos non GamStop, where responsible play is encouraged, understand that a collective and consistent commitment is essential to overcoming these challenges. Through shared responsibility and coordinated efforts, they are working together to protect and restore the region’s natural resources for future generations.
Muaz Bin Jabal is a medium sized cluster of towns and villages incorporating several communities totaling 25,000 residents. Located in the heart of the Jordan River Valley, Muaz Bin Jabal is 215-150 meters below sea level.
Many of the problems facing Muaz Bin Jabal result from poor urban planning and a lack of municipal resources to resolve the issues. Due to the lack of municipal wastewater collection system the majority of the residents maintain open cesspits. Consequently, waste water sometimes floods the village streets, ultimately reaching the Al Arab Stream and then the Jordan River.
The community members that have met during the year have identified the following areas of urgent environmental concern:
1) Lack of parks and open spaces
2) No sewage network or treatment facility
3) Limited socio-economic opportunities and revenues
4) No industrial zoning
5) High traffic density
6) Poor agricultural practices
and suggested solutions to these problems. See publication “Identifying Common Environmental Problems and Shared Solutions” under Publications.
Shared Water Resource: Jordan River and its tributaries; Ziglab stream (Jordan) / Nahal Harod (Israel)
Beit Shean is located in the Jordan Valley area of Israel, and has a population of 16,000. The Beit Shean Valley has been described with these words: “If paradise is in the holy land, Beit Shean is its door step”.
It was the capital of the great Roman Decapolis cities and is still blessed with much natural beauty.
Local wells supply the area with water. Most of the towns in the region, including the city of Beit Shean, have no sewage treatment facilities. After only primary treatment, sewage flows into the Harod stream and eventually to the Jordan River, contributing to the severe contamination of the Jordan River. A sewage treatment plant is currently being built for the region.
Beit Shean has identified the following area of urgent environmental concern:
1) Improper wastewater management
and suggested solutions to this general problem. See publication “Identifying Common Environmental Problems and Shared Solutions” under Publications.
Tabkat Fahal is a medium sized cluster of towns and villages, totaling approximately 25,000 residents. The area is home to the important archeological site of Pella, one of the great Roman Decapolis cities. Additionally, the northern Jordanian / Israeli border crossing is located in this area.
Tabkat Fahal’s main water resources for agriculture are the King Abdullah Canal, the Ziglab Dam, and the Wadi Al Arab dam. The main source of drinking water is Wadi Al Arab well, and water is pumped directly to a reservoir in North Shuneh.
The Tabkat Fahal communities have identified the following areas of urgent environmental concern:
1) Lack of parks and open spaces
2) No municipality wide sewage network and treatment facilities
3) No industrial zoning
4) Poor agricultural practices
5) High traffic density
and have suggested solutions to these problems. See publication “Identifying Common Environmental Problems and Shared Solutions” under Publications.
Shared Water Resource: Jordan River
Bardala (Phase I Palestinian community) is in the Jordan Valley area of Palestine, and has an estimated population of 3,000. The area has fertile land, and substantial groundwater potential. Mekorot, the Israeli national water company, has a pumping station in the middle of the village that supplies water to the residents but also to nearby Israeli settlements – an issue that causes animosity. The village water network has recently been upgraded to reduce leakage and improve service but remains inadequate. There is no sewage treatment system, and residents depend on cesspits for sewage disposal, which leads to contamination of the groundwater. The main industry of the village is agriculture.
Auja (Phase II Palestinian community) lies 12 km. north of Jericho City along the Jordan Valley’s main road. The town dates back to the Roman period, when it was part of the Roman city of Archillas. It has an area of about 10 square kilometers, and a population of about 4,500 people. The main source of income is agriculture but there is also commercial activity, although to a lesser extent.
The main water supply for the village comes from seven local springs. The water supply network is old and in need of rehabilitation, and the wastewater is disposed in cesspits. The community lacks a sewage network as well as any place for the disposal of their solid waste. The village has great potential for local eco-tourism as the springs of Auja are well reputed and the nature in the area is quite beautiful.
The Auja community has identified the following areas of environmental concern:
1) Lack of water supply
2) Improper wastewater disposal
3) Improper solid waste disposal
4) Agriculture and livestock keeping
5) Wadi Auja, pollution
and have suggested solutions to these problems. See publication “Identifying Common Environmental Problems and Shared Solutions” under Publications.
Jericho is located in the Jordan Rift Valley, approximately 8 km west of the Jordan River and 10 km. north of the Dead Sea. It lies 250 meters below sea level and is therefore the lowest city in the world! It is also one of the world’s oldest cities, at 10,000 years old. The area within the municipality borders extends over 45 square kilometers, with an estimated population of 20,500. The average annual amount of rainfall is 150 millimeters, which is less than that of the surrounding mountains and the coastal region. Therefore the entire area relies exclusively on subterranean wells and springs for drinking and irrigation. The spring of Ein Al-Sultan is the main source of water. It has an output of 680 cubic meters an hour and a salinity of 600 ppm and provides a steady output throughout the year.
In addition to its historic and tourist sites, Jericho is considered to be an important area for agriculture. It is famous for its citrus fruits, dates, bananas, flowers and winter vegetables.
The Jericho community has identified the following areas of environmental concern:
1) Improper wastewater disposal
2) Improper solid waste disposal
3) Improper pesticide usage
4) Wadi Qelt, pollution
5) Kaser el Yehud baptism site, lack of access
and have suggested solutions to these problems. See publication “Identifying Common Environmental Problems and Shared Solutions” under Publications.
Dier Alla is in the Middle of the Jordan valley of Jordan. The area extends from Al Zarqa River south to the Kofranja triangle north, which is nearly 10 km long. This area is unique in the Jordan Valley and characterized with the highest educational percentage. The population is approximately 25,000 and the majority works in the agricultural sector. The area is famous for green house agriculture which mainly produces cucumber, tomato, eggplants and strawberry. The main water resources are the King Talal Dam and the seasonal Wadi Rajib spring.
The Deir Alla communities have identified the following areas of urgent environmental concern:
1) Lack of parks and open spaces
2) Improper wastewater management
3) Improper solid waste management
4) No industrial zoning
5) Heavy traffic
and have suggested solutions to these problems. See publication “Identifying Common Environmental Problems and Shared Solutions” under Publications.
Shared Water Resource: Wadi Abu Nar / Mountain Aquifer
Baka al Sharkia is located in the West Bank about 16 kilometers north of Tulkarem city, with a population of approximately 4,200. There are four privately owned artesian wells in the village that are used for irrigation and domestic purposes. Following the construction of the Security Barrier and the isolation of the community from trading with neighboring communities, more than 70% of the residents now depend solely on agricultural revenues for thier livelihood.
The Baka al Sharkia community has identified the following areas of urgent environmental concern:
1) Poor water supply and quality
2) Improper wastewater management
3) Improper solid waste management
4) Wadi Abu Nar, pollution
5) Lack of public green spaces
and have suggested solutions to these problems. See publication “Identifying Common Environmental Problems and Shared Solutions” under Publications.
Baka al Gharbia-Jat is located in Israel, to the west of Baka el-Sharkia, and has a population of approximately 33,000. Land use is divided between agriculture (55%), housing (30%), and public buildings and other uses (15%). Since the 1950s, Mekorot has provided water to the town. There is no sewage system in the town, though 35% of the houses have pipes installed for a sewage network that does not yet exist. Domestic garbage is collected once a week and transferred to an area solid waste treatment plant in the area.
The Baka al Gharbia-Jat community has identified the following critical issues:
1) Wadi Abu Nar, pollution
2) Unauthorized garbage dump
3) Lack of sewage and drainage infrastructure
4) Industrial Zone
5) Neglected open areas
6) Abu Ful garage, noise pollution
7) Route 61
and have suggested solutions to some of these problems. See publication “Identifying Common Environmental Problems and Shared Solutions” under Publications.
Shared Water Resource: Wadi Zomar (Nablus) / Alexander River / Mountain Aquifer
Tulkarem is a major Palestinian city, with a population of 88,000 people. The city is known for its fertile land and for its agricultural production. Groundwater is the only source of water supply. Domestic water is supplied through 10 water wells, of which the municipality owns 4, and 6 are privately owned. The water network is old and water losses can reach up to 35%. The sewage network is outdated and covers 56% of the population with the sewage flowing into the Alexander / Schem River. The main public dumping site is located upstream of Tulkarem. The soil is not sealed, and no protective measures have been taken to avoid infiltration into groundwater resources.
The Tulkarem community has identified the following areas of urgent environmental concern:
1) No sewage network or treatment facility
2) Improper solid waste disposal
3) Improper use of pesticides
4) No public awareness in neighboring communities
and have suggested solutions to some of these problems. See publication “Identifying Common Environmental Problems and Shared Solutions” under Publications.
Emek Hefer is a regional municipality with a jurisdiction of 130,000 dunams, of which 80,000 are agricultural, irrigated, and cultivated. The municipality is comprised of 30,000 residents, from 29 Kibbutzim (collective villages) and Moshavim (cooperative farms). Agriculture and small factories are the main industries. The Alexander/Schem River flows through the middle of the region, and suffers from pollution due to domestic, agricultural, and industrial sources.
The Emek Hefer community has its own website describing activities of the Good Water Neighbors project.
The residents of the Emek Hefer Regional Council have identified three primary environmental issues that have a direct and dangerous impact on ground water resources:
1) Untreated wastewater disposal in Nablus and Alexander Rivers
2) Untreated solid waste dumping
3) Mosquito outbreaks
and have suggested solutions to these problems. See publication “Identifying Common Environmental Problems and Shared Solutions” under Publications.
Wadi Fukin is located in the West Bank to the west of Bethlehem, and has a population of approximately 1,200, mostly farmers, who sell their produce to the Bethlehem area.
The Fukin Valley is one of the Judean Hill’s most impressive natural landscapes. The village of Wadi Fukin is an outstanding, well preserved model of a traditional agricultural way of life, developed over 10,000 years ago. The community has harnessed the water flowing from the valley’s eleven springs to nourish their fields. Kilometers of aqueducts direct the spring water to storage pools and onwards to agricultural plots. Currently, the agricultural way of life and natural landscape is endangered by massive urban development surrounding the village.
Information on the threats facing the ancient, fragile agricultural system and livelihoods of the village of Wadi Fukin can be found in this Background document as well as on the webpage entitled The Major Threats to Wadi Fukin and its People
Tzur Hadassa is located in the Jerusalem district, in the Judean Hills of Israel. The town has a population of approximately 4,000. Drinking water is pumped from wells on the west side of the Mountain Aquifer into a local water reservoir. Sewage is pumped through a main pipeline to the Nahal Soreq sewage treatment plant. The community is considered middle class with most residents working in the service sector in the Jerusalem area.
Together, the communities of Tzur Hadassa and Wadi Fukin have identified specific areas of urgent environmental concern, and have suggested solutions to these problems. See publication “Identifying Common Environmental Problems and Shared Solutions” under Publications.
Shared Water Resource: Wadi Gaza / Be’er Sheva Stream
Abasan (Abasan Al-Kabira) is located to the east of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. The population is estimated at 21,000, with a growth rate 5.5-6.0%, significantly highter than the 3.97% natural growth rate average across the Gaza Strip. Water for agriculture use is supplied through 17 wells, in addition to water imported from the Al-FAO Company. Wastewater is disposed through cesspits, which are emptied by municipal and privately-owned tankers. Solid waste is collected by the Solid Waste Council located in Deir Al-Balah.
The Abasan Al-Kabira community has identified the following areas of urgent environmental concern:
1) Water resources scarcity
2) Lack of wastewater collection and treatment services
3) Improper solid waste collection service
4) Poor agricultural practices
Eshel Hanasi is a regional school and youth village for students from the northern Negev rural communities in Israel. The school emphasizes community service, tolerance, professional training, and personal development. Work is considered a key educational component and each student spends one day a week working on the school’s farm. As a GWN community, Eshel Hanasis water focus is centered on the Beer Sheva stream, the largest water basin in the country. The Beer Sheva stream flows into Wadi Gaza. The stream is mainly polluted by solid waste, urban wastewater, and quarry waste.
See plan of Eshel Hanassi’s Agricultural Garden
The Eshel Hanassi community has identified the following areas of environmental concern:
1) Better environmental management
2) Wastewater management, model recycling program
Shared Water Resource: Dead Sea / Southern Dead Sea Springs
Ghour Al Safi is in the Jordan valley of Jordan. The area extends from the Mujib Bridge south to the Al Gheibah area which is nearly 115km long. The population is nearly 40,000 with the majority of the people working in the agricultural sector. This area is known for its agricultural products, especially tomatoes. The main water resources come from the Al Mujib dam and springs including Al Karak spring, Al Hesa’ spring, Wadi Bani Hammad spring, Al Numaira spring, Faifa spring and Al Naqe’ spring.
The South Ghors municipality communities have identified the folowing areas of urgent environmental concern:
1) The receding waters of the Dead Sea
2) Few public gardens and parks
3) Improper wastewater collection or treatment
4) House fly infestation
and have suggested solutions to several of these problems. See publication “Identifying Common Environmental Problems and Shared Solutions” under Publications.
Tamar Regional Council is situated along the Dead Sea, bordered in the north by the Green Line (the ’67 border), to the east by the Dead Sea and the evaporation pools, to the south by the Upper Arava Region and to the west by the Mashosh Region and Arad. It is one of the biggest regions in Israel (1,650,000 dunams) but with the smallest population (1,300 residents), although 1,400,000 tourists do pass through yearly.
Most of the Tamar Region is declared as a nature reserve as all of the Judean desert is a nature reserve. It is home to unique wildlife and fauna and some very important historical sites, such as Massada.
The biggest and oldest community is Kibbuz Ein Gedi. The area of Ein Gedi is badly affected by the declining Dead Sea level and by sinkholes along the shore.
Ein Gedi gets its water supplies from 4 natural springs and suffers from a shortage of water. Neot Hakikar and Ein Tamar get their water supply from high ground water in the area. Salinity levels are high and water is not available in sufficient quantities.
Organic waste and agricultural overproduction are not properly discarded on both sides of the border (Israel and Jordan) and as a result, residents suffer from huge amounts of flies and mosquitoes.
Agricultural plastic waste is also a great environmental hazard.
Certain areas contain mines and suitable agricultural ground is not readily available. Neot Hakikar and Ein Tamar are in close proximity to the Dead Sea Works and its chimneys. It has to be examined whether the high amount of asthma and respiratory diseases stand in any connection to the air pollution.
