Water in Palestine: When you travel to Palestine you may be wondering about the water situation because you have read or heard negative things about water availability in the media.

Can you take a hot shower in the morning or on a daily basis? Is water turned off at different times? Can the water in Palestine be used safely for drinking?

Water shortages in Palestine

We begin by saying that the water supply and sanitation in Palestine are controlled by the Israeli authorities and that Palestine does suffer from water shortages. Besides that, the groundwater is divided according to the second Oslo Accord.

Palestinians collect rainwater

Many people collect rainwater in tanks that are situated on their roofs; however, the collection of rainwater is a limited resource in Palestine. This collection of rainwater ensures the availability of water in the event that the water is turned off during the summer months. Some inhabitants must buy water from tankers in order to meet their daily water needs.

There are about three hundred natural sources, most of which are located in the eastern part of the West Bank. Palestinians have an average water usage of approximately 72 liters per person per day. Ninety percent of small Palestinian communities have less than 60 liters per person per day. Some Palestinians in rural villages may use significantly less than these averages – in some cases, as low as 20 liters per day for a single person.

Some studies have demonstrated that a significant percentage of the households in Palestine believe their water is of good quality.

Is it safe to drink tap water in Palestine?

The tap water in Palestine is safe and drinkable for Palestinians, and they experience no ill-effects from using the water for drinking or cooking. For internationals, bottled water is readily available as an alternative water source.

Hot Water in Palestine

The vast majority of Palestinian homes do not have heating systems, which means that hot water is not always available. Every Palestinian home does have solar panels which heat the water.

Several years ago, gas or electric heating systems started to become popular among Palestinians, making hot water available during the winter months. Hotels have hot water available every day, especially the international chain hotels, such as many of those in Ramallah.