Water Crisis in Hebron Governorate: Engineer Issues Warning and Calls for Reform

Engineer Issam Arman, Director of the Southern Stations at the Water Authority, confirmed that the loss rates in some water supply lines in the Hebron Governorate reached 50% during the summer, highlighting the severity of the water crisis. The crisis is attributed to widespread water encroachments, slow procedures in the Public Prosecution and judiciary, and inadequate deterrent penalties for those responsible. Engineer Arman stressed the need for reform and cooperation from the municipalities in the Hebron Governorate to alleviate the crisis.

Key Takeaways:

• The loss rates in some water supply lines in the Hebron Governorate reached 50% during the summer, with the Deir Shaar system experiencing a 50% loss.
• 20 2-inch diameter connections were closed in the Deir Shaar system, which supply water for agriculture and consume between 20-50 cups per day.
• The Water Authority has been working to repair and maintain the lines since April, but progress is slow due to slow procedures in the Public Prosecution and judiciary.
• The laws related to water encroachments are inadequate and must be reformulated to include deterrent penalties for those responsible.
• Water pumping to the governorate has decreased during the summer, with the Deir Shaar line decreasing from 30-32 thousand cups per day to 26 thousand cups per day.
• The Tarqumiya-Hebron line, controlled by Israeli company Mekorot, has seen a significant decrease in water pumping, with 21-23 thousand cups per day decreasing to 17 thousand cups per day.
• The Palestinian Authority's wells have been working to pump approximately 18-20 thousand cubic meters per day, and new wells are expected to be opened in the coming days.
• Israeli Mekorot connections have decreased by very large percentages.

Statistics:

• 20 2-inch diameter connections were closed in the Deir Shaar system.
• The Deir Shaar line was supposed to pump 30-32 thousand cups per day, but it decreased to 26 thousand cups per day.
• The loss in the Deir Shaar line increased from 1000-2500 to 8000-9000 cups per day.
• The Tarqumiya-Hebron line used to pump 21-23 thousand cups per day, but this number decreased to 17 thousand cups per day.
• Water authorities expect to open new wells in the coming days, in addition to the Palestinian Authority's existing wells, which pump approximately 18-20 thousand cubic meters per day.

Sources:

• Maan News Agency, 28 Jul 2025.