Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., November 09, 2007 Cheshvan 28, 5768 | | Israel Time: 23:27 (EST+7)
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Last update - 10:00 07/11/2007
A moment before the lights go out
By Amira Hass
tags: electricity cut, Gaza 

Alan Johnston, the BBC corresponded kidnapped in Gaza, related in an interview that at a relatively early stage, he started suffering from all kinds of aches because of the water he drank. This was the same water that the kidnappers drank, but Johnston's unaccustomed body sent warning signals: This is not water that is fit for drinking. And this is the water that reaches most of the taps in the Gaza Strip. Salty, in a few places brackish to contaminated, with an oily consistency. That is clearly felt when bathing.

The reason is an ancient one: overpumping because Gaza must make do with the waters from its aquifer alone. It is as if we were to say to the residents of Be'er Sheva: make do with the water that flows nearby. The water sources in the rest of the country are not for you.

Over the last few years, there have been some improvised private and public solutions. Private water purification plants in homes and commercial companies that sell purified water.
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The municipalities, for their part, set up large brackish water desalination facilities and several central taps. Thousands of people go there daily to fill up jerry-cans with water that will not taste like it came from a puddle and will not cause diarrhea, infections, kidney problems and who knows what else.

The electricity and fuel supply to Gaza has already been reduced to below the level of basic human needs. An additional reduction will affect the above solutions to the water problem, and beyond. "To darken Gaza," as some of the security experts among us have recently proposed, does not end merely with darkened homes at night. You don't have to be an expert in public health to realize that it would create an endless chain reaction of public health problems and environmental blights.

Today, around a year and a half after Israel bombed the transformer station in Gaza, only 193 megawatts out of the 240 or so it needs is supplied to the Strip.

The water network is the biggest energy consumer in the Gaza Strip: it requires approximately 25 megawatts of the 240 megawatts the Gaza Strip needs.

The 135 wells across the Gaza Strip that supply water, poor quality as it may be, cannot function if the electricity and diesel fuel supply is cut further. The same is true of sewage treatment plants.

Already now, each day, no water is supplied to around 15 percent of the Strip's residents. Each area receives water only every other day. The water is pumped electrically and stored in home reservoirs on every rooftop. Power outages are frequent.

When a power outage in a given area occurs on a day when the municipalities channel water to it, the houses are denied water for three, and sometimes even four, days.

The water network also needs around 150,000 liters of diesel fuel per month. The sewage system needs around 100,000 liters.

The Coastal Municipalities Water Utility, the supplier of sewage and water services in the Gaza Strip obtained only 60,000 liters of diesel fuel in October, because the quantity of fuels sold from Israel to the Gaza Strip was reduced. And this is before "the darkening" proposed by Ehud Barak and Matan Vilnai.

The water company must choose to favor the sewage system over the water system. As the deputy CEO of the company, Maher Najjar, explains: The collapse of the sewage system entails a bigger humanitarian threat.

Just imagine a huge flood of sewage. Hence, for example, the seven wells in the northern Gaza Strip that are diesel operated were allocated only 2,000 liters of diesel in early November, instead of the 10,500 liters needed to operate them.

Even before the lights go out, Israel is prohibiting the entry of raw materials into the Gaza Strip.

No one is talking any more about dozens of development projects that have consequently been frozen, such as the one to desalinate well water that serves the residents of the El Bureij refugee camp. Let them continue drinking the water that endangers their health.

Raw material is not the only thing Israel is barring entry of: Vital spare parts are also being barred entry. In the Gaza City sewage treatment facility there are several minor malfunctions.

However, Israel is barring the entry of the spare parts needed to repair them. Sewage undergoes only minimal treatment before it flows into the sea. And the sea, of course, doesn't stop at the Erez or Rafiah checkpoints.
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  1.   Citizens are responsible for electing Hamas over fatah!!! 11:12  |  mary for jews 07/11/07
  2.   Appalling. 11:28  |  Maureen Ann 07/11/07
  3.   haaretz and the problems of ideology 11:38  |  victor hardman 07/11/07
  4.   Hamas - to #5 Maureen Ann 11:41  |  Gabe 07/11/07
  5.   Hamass is to blame. 11:43  |  Benjamina 07/11/07
  6.   HESS cut the crap with the Johnstone story 11:47  |  Ari ben Yisrael 07/11/07
  7.   Poor Pals, I don`t cry for them Mr. Amira Hass 11:49  |  maurice 07/11/07
  8.   #6 Gabe. You deserve better. 11:58  |  Maureen Ann 07/11/07
  9.   No shortage 11:59  |  GYBOR 07/11/07
  10.   Perhaps the kind, decent Iaraelis (if there are any)...... 12:22  |  Clickfool 07/11/07
  11.   # 9 Maurice, Get a life--cry for Sderot... 12:24  |  Dutch 07/11/07
  12.   A moment before the lights go out 12:26  |  Marlene 07/11/07
  13.   To ClickFOOL 12:35  |  Gabe 07/11/07
  14.   #5 victor paul hardhead 12:49  |  Labhras 07/11/07
  15.   Enough Supplies to Shoot Kassams 12:49  |  Jane 07/11/07
  16.   Israels worst enemy is Darwin 12:51  |  Natallie Durson 07/11/07
  17.   THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY ISRAEL AFRAID OF IRAN 12:55  |  indrajaya 07/11/07
  18.   To Natallie Durson - evolution 13:04  |  Gabe 07/11/07
  19.   All should boycott Israeli and US products. 13:12  |  Truthteller 07/11/07
  20.   CFOOLYou mean the Pals need it for the movie production facitlity 13:23  |  PETER S.M. 07/11/07
  21.   To Gabe 13:24  |  Natallie Durson 07/11/07
  22.   Loins of Amira cherish thirsty Qassam-shooting 13:28  |  Absolute Sweden 07/11/07
  23.   For Peter SM, on "peace messages" # 25 13:42  |  Clickfool 07/11/07
  24.   TRUTHTELLER.The world should boycott Global Jihad as seen by Euro 13:45  |  PETER S.M. 07/11/07
  25.   while they see machines guns we see normal people 13:53  |  Atilla 07/11/07
  26.   Iran can supply them with power 13:57  |  Herbert Kaine 07/11/07
  27.   Iran can supply them with power 13:57  |  Herbert Kaine 07/11/07
  28.   This not right,in fact it is diturbing 14:17  |  Snake Oilsalesman 07/11/07
  29.   #14labarse the phoney irishman from new york clocks in 14:38  |  victor hardman 07/11/07
  30.   A moment too soon 14:46  |  Dany Toren 07/11/07
  31.   Amnesty .Guns for water. 14:54  |  Stephen. 07/11/07
  32.   Jane , Still stuck in blaming the victims. 14:57  |  Dutch 07/11/07
  33.   Gazans spent billions on weapons and nothing on infrastructure... 14:57  |  Nannette 07/11/07
  34.   Palestinians prefer? 14:59  |  Joe Momma 07/11/07
  35.   #33 QUESTION 15:22  |  patiently waiting 07/11/07
  36.   Maureen Ann (#8) what are you talking about? 15:30  |  Gil 07/11/07
  37.   Amira Hess 15:36  |  Joel Busner 07/11/07
  38.   For "Victor Hardman" # 29 15:37  |  Clickfool 07/11/07
  39.   Gaza: The New Hollywood 15:50  |  Tony Anthony 07/11/07
  40.   Jane , Re: Still stuck in blaming the victims. 15:51  |  Dutch 07/11/07
  41.   Hamas to blame 15:57  |  Drew 07/11/07
  42.   Too Bad 15:57  |  Ron 07/11/07
  43.   #35. Billions went to Ali Baba & 40 thieves. 15:57  |  Stephen. 07/11/07
  44.   warrenpoint massacre irish catholics 16:01  |  papal bull 07/11/07
  45.   I am happy that Israelis are happy 16:05  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/11/07
  46.   You can always count on Amira 16:10  |  Gil 07/11/07
  47.   AMIRA, ISRAELI OFFICIALS NEED TO BE TAKEN IN CHAINS TO THE HAGUE 16:25  |  Dutch 07/11/07
  48.   Jewish Collective Punishment = Warsaw Ghetto 16:25  |  POP 07/11/07
  49.   #2 Maureen Ann - Yes, you are appalling 16:39  |  * BEN JABO 07/11/07
  50.   Amira the Angry Jewess-Still? 16:45  |  Gabe1 07/11/07
  51.   strategy... 16:49  |  Tess 07/11/07
  52.   #25 Atilla 16:49  |  * BEN JABO 07/11/07
  53.   #32 DEMENTED DUTCH 16:51  |  * BEN JABO 07/11/07
  54.   As the poor Gazans are starving 16:51  |  Jonathan S 07/11/07
  55.   A FRACTION OF HAMAS TERROR WOULD FUND BOTTLED WATER FOR DECADES 16:55  |  Mitch Iginer 07/11/07
  56.   Amira, go to the Israeli Supreme Court 16:59  |  Tosefta 07/11/07
  57.   Guess What? 17:01  |  David Samson 07/11/07
  58.   #38 clickfool has no mirrors to see he is a fake cowardly poster 17:06  |  victor hardman 07/11/07
  59.   just maybe this is a good moment for them to stop waging a war ? 17:23  |  felix 07/11/07
  60.   HASS -ve chalilah & G.LEVY too. 17:30  |  Jordan 07/11/07
  61.   Commenced Genocide 17:33  |  Gemayel 07/11/07
  62.   to #2: Appalling Maureen Ann 17:36  |  felix 07/11/07
  63.   There`s only one thing Gazans are low on. 17:39  |  Mark 07/11/07
  64.   ...in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter.. 17:49  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 07/11/07
  65.   Hamas & Amira 17:51  |  Yehoshua ben Aharone 07/11/07
  66.   For David Samson # 52 17:53  |  Clickfool 07/11/07
  67.   Ignorance and blindness 17:54  |  Yakov 07/11/07
  68.   ILUSION OF JUSTICE 17:56  |  Jorge 07/11/07
  69.   Dutch Never Gets the Fact Right 17:58  |  Joseph 07/11/07
  70.   It gladdens the heart 17:59  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/11/07
  71.   Maureen and Friends 18:02  |  Yakov 07/11/07
  72.   Ask the red army to solve de Pals problem like 18:04  |  maurice 07/11/07
  73.   dear #11 Dutch, you are very lucky not to be... 18:08  |  maurice 07/11/07
  74.   to#11 Dutch, Don`t hesitate, come and visit me 18:10  |  maurice 07/11/07
  75.   # 37 ref Amira 18:10  |  Bamber G 07/11/07
  76.   Clickfool, et al 18:13  |  Yakov 07/11/07
  77.   For clickFOOL #55 18:30  |  Ari ben Yisrael 07/11/07
  78.   # 32 Dutch 18:34  |  Mordechai Ben Tzur 07/11/07
  79.   "Gaza must make do with water from its aquifers alone". SO??? 18:34  |  Dr. L. Brnd 07/11/07
  80.   Dutch(?) 18:36  |  Yakov 07/11/07
  81.   Why is this Israel`s Problem? 18:39  |  Yaakov Ish Tam 07/11/07
  82.   the best thing written by L A B H R A S 18:44  |  Labhras`s admirer 07/11/07
  83.   Amira , This is unconscionable of Israeli officials. 18:46  |  Dutch 07/11/07
  84.   Who are you kidding Gemayel!!!! 18:47  |  Yakov 07/11/07
  85.   gaza 19:01  |  tom 07/11/07
  86.   Food and water 19:09  |  Sabra 07/11/07
  87.   When do yo become a legal citizen of Gaza Mrs. Hass 19:10  |  siem 07/11/07
  88.   #79 Are you seroius.?? 19:12  |  Stephen. 07/11/07
  89.   Natalie Durson again 19:12  |  Sabra 07/11/07
  90.   TO DIE KILLING ISRAEL IS HOLY,TO SUFFER IS `UNFAIR`-BUNCHA BABIES 19:17  |  Mitch Iginer 07/11/07
  91.   Reduction in enrgy supply to Gaza - a legal aspect 19:27  |  Tosefta 07/11/07
  92.   Amira Hass: desperately low on brain power 19:31  |  pace306 07/11/07
  93.   The pals own fault 19:36  |  Adrian de Klerk 07/11/07
  94.   Yakov gets out his violin # 76 19:36  |  Clickfool 07/11/07
  95.   Those who live in glass houses 19:37  |  Yakov 07/11/07
  96.   amira hass 19:38  |  JL 07/11/07
  97.   Collective Punishment By A Morally Bankrupt State 19:43  |  chet 07/11/07
  98.   linthwaite doesn`t question just addles along 19:48  |  peter 07/11/07
  99.   We couldn`t hear his muffled speech so a Zionist stood up # 82 19:49  |  Clickfool 07/11/07
  100.   A moment before they put out Sderot`s lights 19:57  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 07/11/07
  101.   #4, Gabe to Maureen Ann... 20:11  |  Silvienne 07/11/07
  102.   #62, Felix & Maureen Ann... 20:16  |  Silvienne 07/11/07
  103.   Amira Hass - A Court Certified Liar 20:16  |  David Samson 07/11/07
  104.   hass 20:21  |  eva 07/11/07
  105.   Amira Hass 20:22  |  Michael 07/11/07
  106.   NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON 20:29  |  R.Olex 07/11/07
  107.   get your facts straight first, amira 20:43  |  Igor D. 07/11/07
  108.   Gaza Water & Electricity 20:52  |  Chris 07/11/07
  109.   Hass and the palestinians 21:02  |  Connie 07/11/07
  110.   #98 Peter of Montreal 21:09  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/11/07
  111.   #88 Stephen - Wow, morality lecture from a Swiss. I`m gonna puke! 21:14  |  Dr. L. Brnd 07/11/07
  112.   Yakov & others Re: The land belongs to the Palestinians 21:14  |  Dutch 07/11/07
  113.   Just a thought 21:28  |  David 07/11/07
  114.   CFOOL Why?Because they do not stand for peaceful co existence 21:47  |  PETER S.M. 07/11/07
  115.   Imagine if.... 21:48  |  Scharker Yid 07/11/07
  116.   AMIRA one of the Haaretz writers who failed the"lynch test" 21:52  |  PETER S.M. 07/11/07
  117.   CHET Hamas was democratically elected,Islamofascist Charter &all 21:56  |  PETER S.M. 07/11/07
  118.   #103 David Samson, Re: Amira`s word... 21:58  |  Dutch 07/11/07
  119.   To Clickfool #94 22:10  |  Oetis 07/11/07
  120.   For Peter SM # 114 22:17  |  Clickfool 07/11/07
  121.   CLINTHWAITE"happy" as in dancing in the streets&handing out candy 22:20  |  PETER S.M. 07/11/07
  122.   Dutch, Context and Prespectives 22:21  |  Yahsra 07/11/07
  123.   Clickfool (#94) re Yakov on Dir Yassin (1) 22:38  |  Gil 07/11/07
  124.   Clickfool (#94) re Yakov on Dir Yassin (2) 22:39  |  Gil 07/11/07
  125.   Clickfool (#94) re Yakov on Dir Yassin (1) 22:40  |  Gil 07/11/07
  126.   Clickfool (#94) re Yakov on Dir Yassin (2) 22:41  |  Gil 07/11/07
  127.   #118 Dutch/Doris Profanes Eleanor Roosevelts Name 22:46  |  Sandman 07/11/07
  128.   Amira Hass: Let Them Eat Cake! (part 1) 22:49  |  Jeff Northridge 07/11/07
  129.   Linthwaite 22:50  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 07/11/07
  130.   "Clickfool" is a British Neo-Nazi 22:58  |  Dave 07/11/07
  131.   #110 Linthwaite - I`ll tell what u have done to upset ME 22:59  |  * BEN JABO 07/11/07
  132.   #101 Silvienne - why do insist on ignoring facts 23:07  |  * BEN JABO 07/11/07
  133.   #102 Silvienne - Maureen 23:10  |  * BEN JABO 07/11/07
  134.   THERE NO SHORTAGE OF ROCKETS 23:20  |  ISSY HASS 07/11/07
  135.   Amira Hass: Let Them Eat Cake! (part 2) 23:21  |  Jeff Northridge 07/11/07
  136.   Independence Means Taking Care of Your Own Lazy Selves 23:27  |  Efox 07/11/07
  137.   re: Dutch 23:29  |  Efox 07/11/07
  138.   #101-2 Silvienne - Just saying it, doesn`t make it true 23:33  |  * BEN JABO 07/11/07
  139.   THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLE 23:37  |  zionist forever 07/11/07
  140.   #127 Margie of tel Aviv 23:45  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/11/07
  141.   56 23:47  |  zionist forever 07/11/07
  142.   #129 Ben Jabo 23:49  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/11/07
  143.   #120 well aren`t you happy 23:54  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/11/07
  144.   Amira..The Princess of Humanity.. 00:00  |  ali 08/11/07
  145.   Amira 1.6 Billion people live with out Electricity 00:04  |  Gil 08/11/07
  146.   Chinese wisdom for Slowman 00:08  |  Amira Hass 08/11/07
  147.   Another demotion, this time from Dave # 128 00:17  |  Clickfool 08/11/07
  148.   Why will they Lose 00:30  |  Sandman 08/11/07
  149.   CFOOL.There are NO Israeli checkpoints& No Israelis in Gaza. 00:33  |  PETER SM 08/11/07
  150.   JEWISH wisdom for Amira. 00:43  |  PETER SM 08/11/07
  151.   CLINTHWAITE.Who says they are "HAPPY"?.Quote ALL the posts saying 01:00  |  PETER SM 08/11/07
  152.   #142 Linthwaite, what gives with you..??\ 01:11  |  * BEN JABO 08/11/07
  153.   #Ben Jabo, # Felix. Your immaturity is showing. 01:13  |  Maureen Ann 08/11/07
  154.   when they 01:39  |  Daniel 08/11/07
  155.   Amira, you are giving them 02:00  |  Mark Lincoln 08/11/07
  156.   128 Jeff I`m sure Amira has a better handle on things in Gaza.... 02:04  |  Dutch 08/11/07
  157.   CLINTHWAITE Waiting(a)for photos of dehydrated Gazan Children 02:25  |  PETER SM 08/11/07
  158.   #111 The good doctor.!!!!!!! get outta town. 02:33  |  Stephen. 08/11/07
  159.   # 16 Durson Well you Could Fooled Me.If Israel has not Evolved 03:10  |  l 08/11/07
  160.   # 143 Chris Linthwaite.have you Realized IT IS AMIRA`S PROPAGANDA 03:22  |  I 08/11/07
  161.   You get bake what you put out 03:36  |  Neil Golan 08/11/07
  162.   plead that buddy Egyptians can smuggle in food, sch text bk,H20 03:44  |  mary for jews 08/11/07
  163.   Thank you Amira 04:14  |  peacelover 08/11/07
  164.   Queen of the caffers margie from SA 04:19  |  Labhras 08/11/07
  165.   victor the fool from belfast 04:26  |  Labhras 08/11/07
  166.   Fatah Can Call New Elections Whenever They Want... 04:27  |  Reader 08/11/07
  167.   # 43 Steven In Geneva 04:28  |  Lynn 08/11/07
  168.   If Israeli-Egyptian Accords Didn`t Close the Gaza border... 04:54  |  Reader 08/11/07
  169.   #127 chris 05:04  |  danny 08/11/07
  170.   Amira of Haaretz 05:07  |  Ish Hassid 08/11/07
  171.   #132, Ben Jabo, now really!!! 05:21  |  Silvienne 08/11/07
  172.   #133, Ben Jabo... 05:24  |  Silvienne 08/11/07
  173.   Where are the Borders of the Zionist Lebensraum? 05:29  |  Reader 08/11/07
  174.   LIGHT EM UP BOYS 05:31  |  NEIL GOLAN 08/11/07
  175.   SOS 05:32  |  NEIL 08/11/07
  176.   #94 CLICKFOOL 05:34  |  DANNY 08/11/07
  177.   #44 PAPAL BULL 05:36  |  IRISH JEW 08/11/07
  178.   NO SHOWERS 05:39  |  NEAL J 08/11/07
  179.   Linthwaite - That the babies of Dresden didn`t fire V2s at London 06:02  |  Dr. L. Brnd 08/11/07
  180.   #139 All so easy, hey, zionist forever 06:02  |  Johnboy 08/11/07
  181.   #139 Simple-minded solutions from zionist forever 06:11  |  Johnboy 08/11/07
  182.   Simple solution Johnboystop firing Qassems &stop renouncing peace 06:54  |  PETER S.M. 08/11/07
  183.   #154 Silvienne. 07:25  |  Maureen Ann 08/11/07
  184.   LETS WAIT A MOMENT THEN. . . . . . . 07:44  |  B.Rainless 08/11/07
  185.   #177 ANd then its all peace and brown rice, hey, PETER 08:06  |  Johnboy 08/11/07
  186.   MAUREEN N.You are pretty good at telling others to move 08:09  |  PETER S.M. 08/11/07
  187.   Israel, you are planting the seeds of more hatred and violence 08:39  |  Kol ha-Nevi`im 08/11/07
  188.   Margie in tel Aviv #5 - Israel`s dedicated apologist 08:44  |  dana 08/11/07
  189.   Palestine Is Still The Issue 12:10  |  Traude 08/11/07
  190.   Haniyeh shot himself in the foot and now asks for 12:59  |  MaryRose 08/11/07
  191.   #149 PETER SM NO Israeli checkpoints& No Israelis in Gaza 13:13  |  Traude 08/11/07
  192.   Ben Jabo... 20:23  |  Silvienne 08/11/07
  193.   Peter: The Simplicity Is What Confuses Johnboy, Clickers, Gnat 22:40  |  Tex 08/11/07
  194.   will never lead 20:13  |  Susan 09/11/07
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