Palestine: the establishment of the water sector regulatory council

The water sector in Palestine faces many challenges, among them insufficient water availability, consumer orientation, lack of transparency and accountability, underinvestment in maintenance and infrastructure, and lack of cooperation between key stakeholders. These challenges have long been fully acknowledged by water-sector specialists, donors, and key stakeholders in the sector. Thus in 2009, the Action Plan for Reform was endorsed as a first step, while The Institutional Water Sector Review of 2011 and the New Water Law of 2014 constitute the subsequent milestones in the reform process that led to the establishment of the Water Sector Regulatory Council (WSRC) in 2014.

There are a number of added values associated with a regulatory council. In Palestine then, the added values of the council cover the entire water sector: the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA), donors, and service providers, as well as customers. An integrated management approach to water resources is to be emphasized and will lead to the better realization of sustainable financial strategies for the water sector. Regulation should stop the drain on the government’s budget that is due to unpaid bulk water bills; it will help to stop subsidies for utilities once cost recovery has been achieved, increase information on the situation in the sector, support the implementation of the governmental policies, and contribute to environmental safety.

[Full article by Mohammad Said Al Hmaidi here | photo by Shareef Sarhan]