Outline of the Project

Title

Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Project for the Jericho Sanitation

Country

Palestine territories

Date of RD signed

September 22, 2014

Project Site

Jericho

Term of Cooperation

December 1, 2012 - March 31, 2018

Counterpart of the project

Jericho Municipality

Background

Sewer network coverage and treatment of the collected sewage are major issues in Palestine. In the Wes Bank region only 30% of the population has access to the sewer network and there are only four operating waste water treatment plants in the region including Jericho Wastewater Treatment Plant. Since the capacity of the treatment plants is not enough to treat all of the collected sewage, some of the generated waste water has been treated at the Israeli plants with a processing charge by the Israeli government which puts a financial burden to the Palestinian Authority.

Without a widespread coverage of sewer network in the region, the existing cesspit tanks contaminate the soil and groundwater. In houses without access to public sewer networks, sewage is pumped out from the cesspit tanks by vacuum vehicles. In many case the vacuum vehicles drain the collected sewage illegally in unsupervised areas. Soil and groundwater contamination are other consequences of poorly made or maintained cesspit tanks.

The city of Jericho is not an exception and faces several related environmental issues. Groundwater contamination by the cesspit tanks throughout the city from one hand and the increasing concentration of salt in its groundwater sources on the other hand put Jericho in an environmentally insecure situation. Cesspit tanks installed in each house and the penetrated contaminants into groundwater is a major concern in deterioration of the city`s hygiene environment. On the other hand, due to the increasing saline groundwater, more wells are not providing safe water for irrigation as well. Giving Jericho's extremely low annual rainfall, it is important to secure safe and quality groundwater both for irrigation and drinking. The city receives only a 120mm of annual rainfall and the city depends on almost 100% on the Ain-Al-Sultan spring for both urban use and farming. Securing quality water sources for agricultural activities and conservation of water quality of groundwater are, therefore, urgent issues along with improvement of the hygiene environment.

In order to improve the above situation, in August 2008, the Palestinian Authority received Japan's grant aid assistance for construction of sewerage facilities (pipe network and sewage treatment plant) in Jericho City as "Jericho Wastewater Collection, Treatment System and Reuse Project". The detailed design of the facility started in September 2011 followed by the construction in May 2012, completed and started operation in June 2014. A total of 30km of main trunks and branch lines were constructed by the grant aid. An additional of about 16 kilometers of branch network was also constructed with support of the United States International Development Agency (USAID) extending from the main trunk lines. Also, with financial contribution of the Government of Japan, a construction of the sewerage network in one of two adjacent refugee camps has begun by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

Proper functioning of the sewerage facilities after completion, however, could not be possible without related supportive organizations, institutions, and human capabilities. The Palestinian Authority and its local governments had poor experience in sewerage projects and it was difficult for them to strengthen the organizational and human capabilities on their own. A technical cooperation project as "Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Project for the Jericho Sanitation Project" ((hereinafter "the Project") was thus set and aimed at improving the Jericho municipality`s maintenance capability for the constructed sewerage system and the related business management system.

In response to the above capacity building, JICA conducted a detailed plan formulation survey in November 2011, followed by a meeting minutes (R / D) signed on May 9, 2012. This project is aimed at developing the ability to conduct proper sewerage business management in the municipality`s departments. This included establishment of financial capabilities such as establishment of a new sewerage department and establishment of regulations, establishment of system and institutional aspects, tariff fee structure and collection system from technical aspects such as operation and management of pipeline and the treatment plant.

High rate of house connection and payment of the related fees are necessary for a successful maintenance, expansion, and management of the sewerage system. For efficient operation of the treatment facility, it is necessary to secure a certain amount of sewage by maintaining a duct from every house to the treatment site. Furthermore, it is necessary to make sure that the sewerage fees are properly paid, that the municipality can expand the sewer network with this income, and further improve the connection rate.

Residents' awareness and cooperation are highly significant to succeed a properly working sewerage system. It is necessary to promote understanding of the importance of sewage treatment to the residents and in turn to improve the connection rate. In addition, in order to bring about a change in the environmental consciousness of the residents (the necessity of reducing load on the environment by appropriately treating what was conventionally dripping (free) even if the fee is paid), the project also emphasizes on educational activities such as tours at the sewage treatment plants, implementation of neighborhood meetings, etc.

Japan's aid to the Palestinians is developing around the concept of "Corridor of Peace and Prosperity". By implementing the above projects, Jericho City and its surrounding areas, especially the Jericho Agro-Industrial Park (JAIP) could also benefit from the project by utilizing the treated waste water as a new source of irrigation water. This is expected to contribute to the improvement of the living environment in the Jericho area and the development of the agricultural industry and contribute to the realization of the "Corridor of Peace and Prosperity" concept.

Goals

Overall Goal

Sewerage facilities in Jericho municipality are operated and managed appropriately under sound financial condition.

Project Goal

System for operation and management of sewage works in Jericho municipality is established.

Outputs

1. Organizational base for departments in charge of sewage works in Jericho municipality is established.
2. Capacity of Jericho municipality for appropriate operation and maintenance of the sewage treatment plant is developed.
3. Capacity of Jericho municipality for appropriate maintenance of sewer networks and promotion for connection to public sewers is developed.
4. Capacity of Jericho municipality for financial management of sewage works is developed.

Activities

[Output 1]

1-1	Establish departments for operation and management preparation of sewage works
1-2	Assigns staff in departments for operation and management of sewage works
1-3	Draft by-laws for users of the sewerage facilities
1-4	Develop a sewerage management plan for sewage works in Jericho municipality

[Output 2]

2-1	Carry out trainings/ workshops in order to obtain basic knowledge
2-2	Prepare manuals for O&M of the Jericho sewage treatment plant and carry out on-the-job trainings
2-3	Develop an effluent regulation to water discharged to sewer networks
2-4	Utilize the treated water and sludge for agricultural use
2-5	Raise public awareness and disseminate experiences on the Jericho sewage treatment plant to related organizations

[Output 3]

3-1	Carry out trainings/workshops in order to obtain basic knowledge
3-2	Prepare manuals for O/M of sewer networks and carry out on-the-job trainings
3-3	Connecting private sewers with public sewers in pilot area
3-4	Raise public awareness and disseminate experiences on the sewer network to related organization

[Output 4]

4-1	Carry out trainings/workshops in order to obtain basic knowledge
4-2	Develop structure of user charge for sewerage facilities
4-3	Develop a mid-term financial plan
4-4	Raise public awareness and disseminate experiences on financial planning to related organization.

Input

Japanese side

1. Dispatch of experts as advisors
   (Organizational management, legal systems, drainage regulation, sewage treatment plant operation and management, machinery and equipment maintenance, electrical equipment maintenance, sewage treated water and sludge effective utilization, sewer line maintenance management, financial management, public awareness)
2. Training in Japan
   (Wastewater treatment plant operation and maintenance, pipeline maintenance, Management, Water quality, Organizational development, Design)
3. Pilot project for door-to-door connection.

Palestinian side

1. Human resource allocation for representative of the C/P, and supporting staff in related departments:
   Project Director (Mayor of Jericho)
   Project Manager (Director of Engineering Department of the Municipality)
   Assign the staff of the municipality in accordance with the areas of expertise of Japanese experts
2. Other
   Provision of project office and equipment in Jericho
   Vehicle and driver