Bethlehem Water Authority: 40% of water is missing and no radical solutions are imminent

Bethlehem - Ma'an - Large areas of the Bethlehem Water and Sewage Authority's concession area suffer from long periods of water cuts every year, especially during the summer, amidst the lack of solutions to this problem so far. Anton Salman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Water and Sewage Authority in Bethlehem, said that there are many problems and challenges facing the Water Authority in Bethlehem, which prevents water from reaching large areas, especially the highlands. Salman explained in a press conference held at the headquarters of the Water and Sewage Authority in Bethlehem today, Saturday, that the Water Authority's concession area in Bethlehem covers an area estimated at 25 square kilometers, and is inhabited by approximately 119 thousand people, in addition to the expatriates whose number is estimated at 30 thousand. He explained that the governorate's water resources are limited, and there are wells that have stopped working. Over the course of 20 years, the quantities of water pumpe d towards the Bethlehem Water Authority's concession area have not increased despite the increase in the population. On the contrary, they have decreased compared to the past. Salman continued, that during the recent period there were negotiations with the Israeli side to search for a new water source through the Qubba barrier north of the city, so that water would be distributed in a different way from the current situation, with the problems continuing with the pumps that do not allow water to reach the high areas. Salman said that the major problems that the Water Authority in Bethlehem suffers from are the repeated attacks and thefts, which lead to the loss of 35-40% of the water. The repeated attacks also require approximately $150,000 to repair, and the Water Authority cannot provide this amount at present, nor can it provide security from repeated attacks. Salman explained that the Water Authority in Bethlehem has debts owed by citizens estimated at 157 million shekels, and there are some homes that have debts approaching 42 thousand shekels and there is no commitment to pay the dues to the Water Authority. He continued, "About 15,000 cups of water reach the Water Authority and about 35-40% of them are lost due to theft and assault, which affects the distribution and quantities to citizens. Many cases have been submitted to the Public Prosecution, stressing that there is no discrimination in distribution between one region and another." Source: Maan News Agency