Allocating gaps of shared water resources (scarcity index): Case study on Palestine-Israel

Abstract

The chapter proposes a cooperative support model for Palestine and Israel, using both technical and managerial tools that could eventually improve the water supply situation in the whole Middle East area. The model suggests improvements in the patterns of information exchange to include information collection, sharing information on catchments, desalination, reuse techniques, etc., institutional capacity building such as a qualified labor force, organization and management. Cooperation can be applied in many areas of water management: a) management of water resources (management of underground and ground water), b) management of the water supply network (operation, monitoring, maintenance), and c) wastewater management (water reuse). To assist the management of shared water resources a mathematical model (scarcity index) has been developed to evaluate water resources gaps on the national and international level. The need is measured by the value of the scarcity index, which considers most of the elements that affect structural demands and ecosystem conditions of the water bodies. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.