نوعية مياه الشرب في مخيمي بيت لحم للاجئين الفلسطينيين/ مخيم عايدة والعزة، فلسطين
Date
2018-04-23
Authors
شذى محمد عبد الفتاح العزه
Shatha Mohammad Abdelfttah Alazza
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AL-Quds University
جامعة القدس
جامعة القدس
Abstract
This study investigated drinking water quality in two Palestinian refugee camps (Aida
and Alazzah; Bethlehem, West Bank). Water samples (n = 720) were collected at three
different sampling points along the water distribution line, including community tanks,
network pipes and house taps, and analyzed for total coliform and E. coli bacteria and
residual chlorine. Samples were collected over 16 months from March 2016 to June
2017. The results show that water from the community tanks, where water is delivered to
the camps, were relatively free of bacterial contamination and had the highest residual
chlorine concentrations. In contrast, water quality deteriorated downstream of the tanks
in both camps. A total of 15/200 and 2/77samples of network-pipe water from Aida and
Alazzah Camps, respectively, had elevated levels of total coliform bacteria, and a total of
51/281 and 7/100 samples collected inside homes in Aida and Alazzah Camps,
respectively, had elevated levels of total coliform bacteria. E coli was detected in 2
samples from Aida Camp and 1 samples from Alazzah Camp The average residual
chlorine was 0.02 mg/L, network pipe and tap water samples, which is significantly less
than WHO recommendations (0.2 - 0.8mg/L). These results indicate that the water from
the community tap was mostly clean. Conversely, the drinking water in the two camps iscontaminated both in network pipes and water tanks. The concentration of residual
chlorine is interlinked with water quality which decreases over the distance the water
travels through the system. Thus, the water samples from the households farthest from
the community tap were most contaminated by bacteria. The study recommended forBethlehem Water Authority to increase the chlorine in drinking water according to the
international standards, and should work with UNRWA to restore and replace the water
pipe networks; also they should take action for regular water testing and share the results
with the residents of the camps. NGOs that work across the camps can host workshops
for the community to inform the residents about water safety and conservation.
Moreover, future studies shall be conducted by responsible parts from Bethlehem water
authority, UNRWA, and NGOs to better understand water quality in the camps..
Description
Keywords
الكيمياء الحيوية والاحياء الجزيئية , Biochemistry & Molecular Biology