BIRZEIT, April 6, 2016 (WAFA) – Birzeit University held Monday a conference that addressed an analysis on the importance of rainwater harvesting to secure sufficient and safe water quantities to the Palestinians.
The Palestinian Conference on Rainwater Harvesting and Management focused on rainwater harvesting techniques and methods, in addition to the Palestinian experience and challenges in this field.
Other sessions highlighted the best practices and lessons learned from the artificial recharge of rainwater to groundwater aquifers, the role of the Ministry of Health and the assessment of socio-economic and water-related topics at community scale in Palestine.
The first opening speech of the conference was by delivered Prof. Issam al-Khatib, faculty member at Institute of Environmental and Water Studies and the chairman of the conference steering committee. The conference sessions were facilitated by three associate professors at the Institute of Environmental and Water Studies, Birzeit University: the Director of the Institute Maher Abu-Madi, Nidal Mahmoud and Rashed al-Sa‘ed.
“Birzeit University seeks to establish a dynamic research platform which can articulate and exemplify the vital contribution of research in raising awareness about the water problems and provide smarter water management in Palestine, especially that we suffer from severe water shortages and acute water quality problems attributable to the discriminatory water policies and practices that Israel has instituted across Palestine”, said Vice president for Academic Affairs, Henry Giacman.
“The conference is designed to facilitate the sharing of experiences in rainwater harvesting and management through the presentation of papers on planning, research and development activities in harvesting rainwater”, said al-Khatib.
“The collection of rainwater for beneficial use is highly recommended. Rainwater harvesting has various constructive benefits to the agriculture sector. It is inexpensive and highly decentralized and leads to increase in food production which will bridge the supply-demand gap and enable Palestinian products to compete locally and internationally,” said Mohammed Al Shahbari from Ministry of Agriculture.
“We strive to ensure water-quality standards and public health. We devote a considerable amount of attention to this issue, and will forward to enact rainwater harvesting policies”, Director of the Ministry of Health’s Environmental Health Section Ibrahim Atiya assured.
The conference was organized by the Institute of Environmental and Water Studies, in collaboration with The University of Toledo, the University of Utah and National Science Foundation (NSF), USA as part of the “Rainwater Harvesting Analysis using Water Harvesting Evaluation Tool (WHEAT) project.
The project is supported by USA- funded partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program and implemented by the U.S National Academy of Sciences.
K.F
