Project Profile
- Israeli Partners -- Water Commission, Mekorot Water Company.
- Jordanian Partner -- Ministry of Water and Irrigation.
- Palestinian Partner -- Palestinian Water Authority.
- External Support Agency -- Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Context -- To implement regional research projects on Water
Treatment and Artificial Recharge.
- Duration -- 1 April 2002 – 31 March 2007.

Al Qilt spring supplies raw water for the refugee camp near Jericho.
Objectives
The project aims to identify and implement pilot projects in the fields
of water treatment and artificial recharge which, if proven successful,
can be applied on a wider scale by all three Core Parties. The project
includes the implementation of five research projects, research supervision
and project co-ordination activities.
Description
This project was formulated in 1999 and implemented by IHE in April
2002. The project forms a part of the water-related activities that
are carried out in the framework of the EXACT programme for the Israeli,
Jordanian and Palestinian Core parties. The IHE - EXACT project can
also be seen as three sub-projects:
I. Small-scale Treatment Facilities for Domestic Use
Aims to identify areas and sources of natural or human-induced groundwater
contamination, to identify methods and technologies to deal with the
contamination, and to verify the application of these methods and
techniques. This process would finally lead to an improvement in the
quality of local water supplies for domestic uses.
The small-scale treatment facility can be considered as a pilot
plant which, if proven successful, can be applied on a larger scale
in the region. To maximise the project benefits, the type of contamination
should, therefore, be a common problem for all Core parties.
The EXACT meeting in London in April 2003 agreed to the following
pilot studies: treatment of water from a well in Baq’a (Jordan)
with high iron concentration, treatment of biological contamination
of the Al Qilt spring, supplying water to the Aqbat Jabir Refugee
Camp near Jericho (West Bank) and treatment of well Holon 8, contaminated
with heavy metals and located in the industrial area near Tel Aviv.

Groundwater well Holon 8 in the industrial area near Tel Aviv.
II. Artificial Recharge with Surface Water
Aims to identify areas of groundwater depletion by human or natural
causes, to identify methods and technology to artificially recharge
the groundwater aquifer, and to verify the application of these methods
and techniques. This concept would lead to the restoration and replenishment
of aquifers as essential sources for domestic water supply.
The analysis of groundwater depletion areas and application of
artificial recharge methods should benefit all Core members. Two
areas were selected (1) Wadi Madonah in the Eastern Zarqa Basin
and (2) Wadi Faria in the West Bank.

Reach of Wadi Madonah (Jordan) where the discharge is measured.
III. Groundwater Modelling
Aims to support the research carried out in the other subprojects
(if necessary) and to organise a short training course on groundwater
modelling.
The pilot studies on water treatment and artificial recharge have
a similar three-phase project cycle:
- Data collection and assessment
- Design and implementation
- Monitoring and assessment of performance
Presently (2003) monitoring equipment is being installed and water
samples analysed. The data collection phase takes about two years.

Groundwater observation well in the Madonah catchment (Jordan).
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