Evaluation of water harvesting and managed aquifer recharge potential in Upper Fara'basin in Palestine

Comparing MYWAS and water productivity approaches

Journal article (2017)

Authors

B.M.H. Tiehatten Water Resources - CEG
K Assaf An Najah National University
Ebel Smidt SG Consultancy and Mediation Ltd
O Zayed Palestinian Water Authority
W.G.M. Bastiaanssen Water Resources - CEG
Marwan Ghaneme Palestinian Water Authority
Anan Jayyousi Birzeit University
Amer Marei Al Quds University
E. Mostert Water Resources - CEG
Sameer Shadeed An Najah National University
G.H.W. Schoups Water Resources - CEG
Research Group
Water Resources (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2017 B.M.H. Tiehatten, K Assaf, Hala Barhumic, W.G.M. Bastiaanssen, Marwan Ghaneme, Anan Jayyousi, Amer Marei, E. Mostert, Sameer Shadeed, G.H.W. Schoups, Ebel Smidt, O Zayed
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1504/IJGENVI.2017.083432
Managed aquifer recharge Palestine Water harvesting Water basin planning and management MYWAS
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Published Date

2017

Language

English

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Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Water Management

Research Group

Water Resources

Abstract

The Upper Wadi Fara' basin, located at the West Bank, Palestine, has an average annual rainfall of 500 mm, which occurs only during winter. Agriculture uses stored soil water and complimentary irrigation from groundwater. Water harvesting (WH) and managed aquifer recharge (MAR) therefore is essential for sustainable water resources management in the basin. This study focuses on the comparison between two methods to determine best practices for WH/MAR. The first method uses the change in water productivity and can be considered a one parameter cost benefit analysis (CBA). The other method concerns the multi year water allocation system (MYWAS), which uses water demand curves to evaluate economic scenarios. It is concluded that the highest cost effectiveness of WH/MAR measures in upper Wadi Fara' basin is reached when water is stored as soil water. However, this is a politically disputed measure in the Israel-Palestine shared aquifer. Both models are useful tools in decisive stakeholder participation processes