EXACT: Small-scale Water Treatment Facilities for Domestic Use and Artificial Recharge with Surface Water

The project carries out pilot studies in the fields of water treatment and artificial recharge which, after a successful implementation during pilot phase, will be applied on a wider scale in the region.

Besides the pilot studies a capacity building programme is carried out to increase the knowledge of the partner institutes on water-related issues. Within the EXACT project special attention is given to dissemination of knowledge and experiences to a broader public.

So far the EXACT project has, amongst others, successfully implemented:

• Identification and setting-up of 3 pilot study sites for small-scale treatment facilities for domestic use;
• Identification and setting-up of 2 pilot study sites for artificial recharge of surface water;
• Joint research activities on water treatment and artificial recharge of surface water;
• Training course on Groundwater modeling;

The project forms part of the water-related activities that are carried out in the frame of the Middle East Multilateral Working Group on Water Resources, which was established in 1995 as part of the Middle East Peace Process.

The activities are coordinated by the Executive Action Team (EXACT), which includes the Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian Core parties as well as several donor countries.

The Netherlands participates since 2002 with the project with the activities described above. In 2006 the donor approved the extension of the project until April 2010.

The EXACT project is based on applied research and demonstration activities carried out at pilot sites in the region. The following pilot sites were selected by the consortium:

For water treatment facilities:

• A water well for domestic use in Baq’a, Jordan, contaminated with high iron concentration;
• The Al Qilt spring, supplying water to the Aqbat Jabr Refugee Camp near Jericho, West Bank, Israel, and biological contaminated;
• Well Holon 8, located in the industrial area near Tel Aviv, Israel, and contaminated with heavy metals.

For artificial recharge of surface water:

• Wadi Madoneh, a small catchment some 20 km east of Amman, Jordan;
• Wadi Far’a, a basin on the West Bank, east of Nablus, Palestine.

The problems tackled in the fields of water treatment and artificial recharge, are of interest to all stakeholders in the region. Therefore, dissemination of the research results forms an important aspect of the project and several scientific workshops will be organized for professionals involved in the research as well as stakeholders from outside the consortium.

Other project activities include amongst others the supervision of local MSc research, the organization of a short course on groundwater modeling and training of technicians.

Within the EXACT project the partners have established a long-term working relation in which they collaborate and govern the project. Regular project meetings and workshops foster the partnership and staff members of the institutes work closely together on the implementation of the various project activities.

The progress of the EXACT project per project component is as follows:

Small-scale Treatment Facilities for Domestic Use

The plant in Jordan has been completed and is in operation since October 1994. In December 2006 the upgraded water treatment plant near Jericho was inaugurated. The installation for the removal of heavy metals from the groundwater in Holon will be in operation by the end of 2007.

Artificial Recharge with Surface Water

In 2007 four small retention dams have been constructed in Wadi Madoneh, 15 km east of Amman to enhance the infiltration of surface water in order to recharge the depleting underlying aquifer. A similar artificial recharge project is carried out in Wadi Far’a on the West Bank. For this pilot study no decision has yet been taken on the method to enhance the infiltration of surface water.

Groundwater Modelling Course

In January/February 2006 a two-week short course on Groundwater Modelling was held in Cyprus. The course was attended by five Israeli’s, five Jordanians and four Palestinians.

The course covered theory and hands-on experience of both flow and contaminant transport modelling. The groundwater modelling course on Cyprus was regarded by all participants as a good example of practical training on this topic.

The knowledge acquired can be applied in the Core Parties countries.

The course is a fine example of a joint activity in good harmony by staff from all three Core Parties.

Supervision of MSc research

The EXACT project includes fellowships for two local MSc studies related to each of the five pilot projects. The MSc students are often staff members of the associated organisations, or otherwise related to the research.

Graduation occurs at a local university (University of Jordan, Mu’tah University, Hebrew University, Birzeit University and An Najah University) with staff from UNESCO-IHE as an external examiner. UNESCO-IHE staff is also involved in the supervision of the MSc students.

The research topics are also used for regular MSc students at UNESCO-IHE in Delft, who have graduated on aspects related to the pilot projects.

Workshops on Water Treatment and Artificial Recharge

The problems tackled in the fields of water treatment and artificial recharge, are of interest to all three Core Parties.

To share the experiences at the various study sites and to disseminate the results of the research, workshops have been planned for all professionals involved in the research, the (former) MSc students, staff from UNESCO-IHE and anybody else who has interest in the research topics.

The first of a series of workshops is foreseen in September 2007 in Jerusalem.