World Bank and partners invest $117m in Gaza water project
The World Bank has announced a $15 million grant to the Water Security Development - Gaza Central Desalination Program — Associated Works Phase I Project.
The project aims to improve the quality and quantity of water in Gaza and will benefit from a coordinated aid of $42 million from donors, members of the Partnership for Infrastructure Development Multi-Donor Trust Fund administered by the bank, and 60 million in parallel financing form the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.
The project - which wil see the construction of a desalination plant with initial capacity to produce 55 MCM per year - will provide additional fresh water of 30 million cubic meters per year to 16 municipalities in the southern and middle governorates of Gaza by supporting the construction and rehabilitation of necessary infrastructure.
The Associated Works project will construct a south water carrier, including storage reservoirs to convey and properly blend the above-mentioned desalinated water along with water purchased from Mekorot, the Israeli national water company, and groundwater sources.
In addition, the project will also work on strenghening the capacity of water institutions, including establishment of a small unit to manage bulk water supply operations in Gaza.
