Innovative approaches for the construction of Gaza s largest seawater desalination plant

Transcription

1 Innovative approaches for the construction of Gaza s largest seawater desalination plant GREGOR VON MEDEAZZA, MOHANLAL PEIRIS and ZAIDAN ABU ZUHRY The Gaza Strip suffers from a severe water crisis; over 95 per cent of the water extracted from the Aquifer is considered unfit for human consumption, and inaction is leading to potentially irreversible damage to the Aquifer by To address this crisis, UNICEF, with funding from the European Union, initiated the implementation of a seawater desalination programme. It is meant to help vulnerable families access safe drinking water at an affordable price while contributing to the prevention of an environmental catastrophe. This seawater desalination plant is the largest in Gaza and produces 6,000 m 3 per day. It will be extended to produce 20,000 m 3 per day and ultimately serve a population of 250,000. Seawater desalination is an energy-intensive process and, given the limited availability of electricity within Gaza, UNICEF has focused on identifying innovative means of generating and conserving energy to tackle the energy water nexus by incorporating renewable energy and energy recovery to maximize the plant s viability. An innovative strategy to operate the plant with renewable energy sources has also been formulated to ensure self-reliant and economical operation, and awaits donor funding for implementation. This is expected to become a model to be followed for the building of other future plants in the Gaza Strip. Keywords: seawater desalination, innovation, renewable energy, project management The Gaza Strip has an estimated population of around 2 million mostly urban, with over 97 per cent connectivity to water networks (PCBS et al., 2015). However, only around 10 per cent of the population has access to an improved water source (UNICEF-WHO, 2015), as estimates indicate that 95 to 97 per cent of the water from the Coastal Aquifer in the Gaza Strip is now unfit for human consumption (WHO, 2016), and it is predicted that the damage to the Aquifer will be irreversible Gregor von Medeazza (gvonmedeazza@unicef.org), UNICEF WASH Chief, State of Palestine, is based in Jerusalem where he is Head of the Country Office WASH section overseeing the WASH programme in both the West Bank and Gaza; Mohanlal Peiris (mpeiris@unicef.org) is UNICEF WASH Specialist based in Gaza, and Manager of the EU-funded seawater desalination plant in Gaza; Zaidan Abu Zuhry (zabuzuhry@unicef.org) is at the UNICEF WASH Office in Gaza, working on the EU-funded seawater desalination plant. The views expressed in this paper do not necessarily represent the official position of UNICEF, the EU, PWA, or CMWU. The authors thank their collaborators from the European Union, the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility, and the Palestinian Water Authority. The basis for this paper was supported by funding from the European Union. Practical Action Publishing, 2017, ISSN: (print) (online)

2 244 G. VON MEDEAZZA et al. by 2020 (UN, 2012). Furthermore, the water supply is intermittent, with water supplied for only 1.5 days per week on average. The supply of fresh water to the population of Gaza depends overwhelmingly on the groundwater drawn from the Strip s Coastal Aquifer. As Gaza s population continues to grow at a steep annual rate of about 3 per cent, a 2012 United Nations report (UN, 2012) predicted that water demand would increase by 60 per cent over eight years, to reach 260 million cubic metres (MCM) in Historical records and observations indicate an annual average water deficit of 60 MCM between the groundwater exploitation and its recharge, with over 180 MCM extracted from the Aquifer in Aware of the dangers of consuming tap water, nine out of 10 people in Gaza rely on desalinated trucked water, at least for drinking and cooking purposes. Over 80 per cent of desalinated water currently available in Gaza is produced by the private sector based on groundwater (AFD, 2016). Reliance on this source for domestic water consumption poses a heavy financial burden on already impoverished families and can be 30 times more expensive than water supplied through the network. Moreover, this source also poses a health hazard: studies show that nearly 70 per cent of privately produced desalinated water has some level of contamination, despite recent efforts led by the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) to monitor its quality (CEP, PWA, and GiZ, 2015). As a result of groundwater over-exploitation, seawater intrusion, sewage and pesticide infiltration together with the natural soil conditions have had an adverse effect on groundwater quality. In 2011, a study was undertaken to address the water crisis in Gaza (GETAP, 2017). The study, referred to as the Comparative Study of Options Gaza (CSO-G), identified medium- and long-term measures and recommended several strategic interventions. Three seawater desalination plants (SDP), also referred to as shortterm, low-volume (STLV), have been identified as the key interim intervention to provide urgent relief within a short time with a relatively low volume until a largescale desalination plant, referred to as the Gaza Central Desalination Plant (GCDP), is implemented. This paper aims to discuss and elaborate the need to provide this human necessity through the municipal water system, given the poor economic conditions and significant constraints faced by the Gaza population. It also examines the process, challenges, and opportunities presented during the construction of this complex desalination plant project, which is also the largest to be implemented in the Gaza Strip in recent times. Literature and experience review The quality of the groundwater extracted has deteriorated steadily over the years and over 95 per cent of the water is no longer considered fit for human consumption. Chloride levels of water extracted from the Coastal Aquifer in over 80 per cent of the area are often more than eight times the WHO guideline levels, while nitrate levels in areas in the southern part of the Strip are over five times the WHO guideline levels (WHO, 2006). July 2017 Waterlines Vol. 36 No. 3

3 SEAWATER DESALINATION PLANT IN GAZA 245 UNICEF installed a dozen small-capacity brackish water desalination plants in the Gaza Strip between 2011 and 2013 as emergency interventions. However, with over 150 brackish water desalination plants now within the Gaza Strip continuing to exacerbate the deterioration of the Coastal Aquifer, UNICEF embarked on the construction of Gaza s largest seawater desalination plant, in line with the Palestinian Water Authority s (PWA) adopted strategy to implement three SDPs, totalling 35,000 m 3 of daily production, as an urgent interim measure. The three SDPs consist of the Southern Gaza plant with a capacity of 20,000 m 3 per day, the North Gaza SDP with 10,000 m 3 per day, and the Middle Gaza SDP with 5,000 m 3 per day. The GCDP is planned for implementation in two phases to produce a total of 110 MCM of desalinated water annually, with 55 MCM per year (150,000 m 3 daily) during each phase (El Sheikh and Nigim, 2016). The first phase of the Southern Gaza SDP (SG-SDP) has now been completed, producing 6,000 m 3 per day, and is currently being extended to produce its full capacity of 20,000 m 3 per day. Method The European Union (EU) finalized a Financing Agreement with the Palestine Authority and a Contribution Agreement with UNICEF to execute the first phase of the SG-SDP project. The agreements embodied a Memorandum of Understanding between the EU, UNICEF, the PWA, and the Coastal Municipal Water Utility (CMWU) as the key stakeholder partners on the modalities and responsibilities for the implementation led by UNICEF. A dedicated project management team was established at UNICEF to lead the project and work in close coordination with the key stakeholder partners. Joint committees between partners, specifically the project owner, PWA, and plant operator CMWU, were set up at various technical, management, and strategic levels to ensure the implementation process was undertaken collaboratively. A local engineering consultancy firm with an international joint venture partner was contracted to carry out feasibility investigations and the preliminary design component. An independent environmental engineering consulting firm was also contracted to carry out an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA), the recommendations of which were incorporated into the detailed/outline designs and bid documents produced. The development of the tender/bidding packages of the project were separated and progressed under four distinct contract packages based on the fields of specialization, technical skills, and resource requirements for each of the packages. The four contract packages consisted of: (i) the seawater desalination plant utilizing the reverse osmosis process (Photos 2 and 3) and associated works (Figure 1; Photo 4); (ii) the drinking water trunk main (Figure 2); (iii) civil works (Photo 1); and (iv) power supply and electrical works. The main objective of adopting this approach was to enhance competitiveness for advancing cost efficiencies, risk reduction, and ensuring closer financial control

4 246 G. VON MEDEAZZA et al. Photo 1 Arial view of plant during construction Photo 2 Sand and cartridge filtration, prior to the reverse osmosis process Photo 3 Two of three reverse osmosis membranes stacks, with a 2,000 m 3 per day capacity each July 2017 Waterlines Vol. 36 No. 3

5 SEAWATER DESALINATION PLANT IN GAZA 247 Figure 1 Layout of the desalination plant with its four beach wells

6 248 G. VON MEDEAZZA et al. Photo 4 North view of the plant s main buildings, equipped with PV panels Figure 2 Location of desalination plant with beneficiary/distribution areas via 18 km bulk water transfer main July 2017 Waterlines Vol. 36 No. 3

7 SEAWATER DESALINATION PLANT IN GAZA 249 over respective packages, introducing the concept of successfully managing critical interfaces between various contractors and packages collaboratively. The adopted method facilitated three out of the four contract packages to be completed in 2015 and the other in mid-2016, despite significant challenges faced with the importation of crucial materials into Gaza and the long, disruptive period of increased hostilities in summer Results The desalination project has brought about a multitude of positive outcomes, foremost of which is the glimmer of hope that Gaza could still be a liveable place in Innovations UNICEF has carried out several innovative and environmentally sustainable initiatives during the planning, design, and implementation stages of this project. A package implementation strategy, with critical interfaces between packages, was adopted for the first time in Gaza. Having witnessed the success and significant advantages for a project of this magnitude and complexity, the strategy is now being replicated elsewhere on similar projects. During the feasibility/design stage, the selection of materials focused on assessing various alternatives not only considering their suitability, durability, and environmental sustainability but, most critically, identifying materials permitted to enter into Gaza, which has been under blockade for 10 years. Construction materials including ordinary Portland cement (OPC), aggregates, and reinforcement steel are all classified as restricted dual use materials that, according to the Israeli authorities, can be used for both civil and military applications. High strength, rapid hardening or sulphate-resisting cements, epoxy resins, steel tubes/pipes and so on are classified as prohibited dual use materials by the Israeli authorities, citing security concerns. Internationally tried-and-tested materials and techniques which are innovative and revolutionary to Gaza have been gradually introduced during the implementation of this project. Convincing partners to introduce high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes in preference to the traditionally used PVC or the import-restricted steel and ductile cast iron pipe materials has been a significant result in the advancement of pipeline construction in Gaza. Introducing the use of close-circuit television (CCTV) techniques to assess the condition of long-disused existing pipelines for rehabilitation has resulted in making use of available assets, providing significant cost savings. Advocating and incorporating solar energy systems for this project, for the first time, has given the strength, courage, and impetus for the ongoing transformation of Gaza s landscape. An off-grid solar energy system to sustain the entire needs of the operations and administration building was initially implemented, which was subsequently extended to harness the maximum renewable energy potential at the site.

8 250 G. VON MEDEAZZA et al. Energy and efficiency A performance-oriented design and build contractual modality to harness the latest energy-efficient reverse osmosis seawater desalination technological advancements with inbuilt energy recovery systems was pursued. In the absence of high-voltage electricity in Gaza, variable frequency drives (VFD) have been introduced for the pumping system to further mitigate the energy requirements and to allow pumps to operate under medium-voltage power supply. In line with industry standards, the performance efficiency of the plant was set at a maximum of 4 kw per cubic metre of desalinated water. The modality adopted has enhanced plant efficiency by over 5 per cent of the specified target, and the energy required to produce a cubic metre of desalinated water is less than 3.8 kw. PV solar systems have been installed on the roofs of structures to generate up to 12 per cent of the peak 1.2 MW power requirement of the plant (Figure 3; Photos 5, 6, and 7). A feasibility study has been conducted by the EU to further expand the share of renewable energy up to 80 per cent, with advances in technology and availability of funds (EU, 2016). Project management UNICEF and key partners worked as a joint team and formed the Project Steering Committee, Project Management Committee, and technical committees. The committees met periodically as defined within the Memorandum of Understanding between the project partners, to address strategic matters, and monitor progress and technical issues, respectively. A first-of-its-kind design and build contract format was introduced for the first contract package, with a local contractor forming a joint-venture partnership with a reputed international contractor. As a result, this helped to build the local contractors confidence to undertake similar complex projects. Construction management and monitoring A four-tier construction supervision and project monitoring mechanism involving the relevant stakeholder partners, engineering consultant, and contractor was established to manage day-to-day activities during the construction stage of the project. Engagement of the plant operator CMWU in the construction supervision activities from the outset resulted in the operator taking full ownership of the plant. Environment The potentially adverse environmental impact of the high carbon footprint and discharge of effluent consisting of hypersaline brine and other waste has been substantially mitigated by optimizing the use of renewable energy as well as enhancing the dilution and dispersion of the brine discharged through diffusers, based on computational fluid dynamics modelling. The environmental impact assessment concluded a net environmental gain through reduction to the deterioration of the Aquifer. July 2017 Waterlines Vol. 36 No. 3

9 SEAWATER DESALINATION PLANT IN GAZA 251 Figure 3 Isometric view of plant as designed Photo 5 Plant s administrative building, part of the civil works component, equipped with PV panels Photo 6 South-east view of the plant s main building and 2,000 m 3 storage tank (right-hand side), equipped with PV panels

10 252 G. VON MEDEAZZA et al. Photo 7 South-west view of the plant s main buildings equipped with PV panels, and the three stand-by generators of 680 kva each (yellow structure in the middle of the photo) Costs and socio-economic impact From the social impact assessment conducted for the project (EU/UNICEF and GVC, 2013), it was evident that consumers paid exceptionally high prices of over US$10 per cubic metre to purchase safe drinking water from private (mostly unregulated) vendors supplied through water tankers. This is not only a heavy burden on already impoverished families, but it also represents a health hazard. In brief, drinking water supply in Gaza had compounded the households economic situation, further exacerbating poverty while contributing to poor health conditions; it had become a tool for poverty creation. The consumers have however demonstrated their ability and willingness to pay if the water services are of good quality. A public awareness and social mobility campaign has thus been initiated to inform the beneficiary households about the SG-SDP s high water quality standards from which they will benefit to boost their willingness to pay and to improve cost recovery. This project envisages the provision of safe water for drinking and domestic purposes through the distribution network, at less than 10 per cent of the cost paid to unregulated vendors. It is envisaged, however, that upon delivery of adequate service level, consumers will be encouraged to pay the reasonable tariffs charged by the local water utility to generate the revenues that will ensure the desalination plant is operated and maintained sustainably. Geopolitical constraints The change of the political environment in the Gaza Strip in 2006 culminated in the current blockade of Gaza with severe goods and movement restrictions imposed by both Israel and Egypt. There are only two crossing points into Gaza opened by Israel (one for goods and one for people). The only crossing point with Egypt has been predominantly closed since early July 2017 Waterlines Vol. 36 No. 3

11 SEAWATER DESALINATION PLANT IN GAZA 253 Against this backdrop, the management, monitoring, and reporting of construction materials imported into Gaza is a tedious and onerous task that must be adhered to under the entry restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities operating under the purview of the Israeli Ministry of Defence. The material coordination process much depends on building confidence with the Israeli authorities. Success in this area resulted in the project being permitted to import some of the hitherto prohibited materials such as sulphate-resisting cement and epoxy paint. Access restrictions, together with security and safety concerns, have also limited the number of internationally reputed consultants and contractors specialized in desalination technology that could participate in the competitive bidding processes. Restriction on the importation of advanced, appropriate, and sustainable materials has forced substandard alternatives to be considered, while encouraging the use of non-traditional materials and innovative design and construction processes. Despite these restrictions and difficulties, the successful completion of this desalination plant under these extreme geopolitical constraints is indeed a tribute to the collective and collaborative efforts of the project partners and has become a model being emulated for projects of this nature. Conclusions The desalination project is a major first step towards addressing the acute water crisis in Gaza, in line with the strategy of the PWA. The key objective of the project has been to mitigate the health and socio-economic impact of the difficulties of accessing safe drinking water on the population of the Gaza Strip. In its first phase, the project will provide 75,000 of the most vulnerable people, half of whom are children, with access to their most fundamental of human rights: safe drinking water at affordable prices. A critical objective underpinning this seawater desalination plant project is to help slow down the rapid deterioration of the Coastal Aquifer by limiting extraction, to mitigate a potential environmental catastrophe. The plant will ensure that the water provided to the target communities meets minimum WHO drinking water quality standards. The desalinated water produced by the plant will be blended with water from municipal wells, which contains minerals, to mitigate the need for costly remineralization and increasing access to at least 90 litres per capita per day of safe water for drinking and domestic purposes. Extensive public awareness-raising campaigns promote the rational use of safe drinking water and encourage a gradual change in mindset to embrace the health and economic benefits of using water supplied through the municipal system, while promoting the payment of water bills to ensure the sustainability of the plant. The successful implementation of this project has become a catalyst for future projects of this nature, with significant donor interest in funding similar ventures. The project has also facilitated the capacity building of the local partners to implement, operate, and maintain water sector facilities of this complexity and magnitude in the future.

12 254 G. VON MEDEAZZA et al. Recommendations and lessons learned The most variable, and potentially largest, operational cost of the SG-SDP is energyrelated. The operator must thus continue to strive to minimize the plant s energy cost by maximizing its energy efficiency and increasing the share of renewable energy, along with parallel efforts to secure reliable energy supply from the grid. Efforts to reduce energy-related costs must be further complemented by a significant improvement in cost recovery throughout Gaza s water sector. The household level campaign initiated in mid-2016 is thus key to raising awareness of the rational use of the high-quality water produced by the SG-SDP and the importance of paying water bills as the only way to sustain the plant s operations and improve the quality of water services in Gaza. Another key lesson learned has been to avoid underestimating the timelines required in implementing such projects due to the Gaza blockade and the severe access and import/export restrictions it imposes. Drafting of the technical requirements and specifications as well as contractual terms and conditions must be undertaken with due care and attention to the specificities of the procurement and implementation processes, recognizing the unique set of constraints applicable to Gaza. Involvement of all stakeholder partners in the management of the project has also proved critical for its successful implementation and the plant s operator(s) ought to be closely associated with every aspect of the development of the project from the very outset. In the specific case of Gaza, close negotiation with the Israeli authorities was also instrumental in ensuring the plant s successful construction in a relatively short time frame. References AFD (French Development Agency) (2016) Public private NGO partnership for adaptation to the drinking water crisis in the Gaza Strip, Concept Paper, Jerusalem: AFD. CEP (Centre for Engineering and Planning), PWA (Palestinian Water Authority), and GiZ (German Corporation for International Cooperation) (2015) Survey of Private and Public Brackish Desalination Plants in Gaza Strip which Will Provide the Necessary Data and Information to Improve the Drinking Water Supply in the Gaza Strip, September 2015, Jerusalem: GiZ. El Sheikh, R. and Nigim, H. (2016) Gaza Desalination Project: renewable energy considerations, presented at the Desalination for the Environment: Clean Water and Energy Conference, Rome, Italy, May EU (2016) Pre-Feasibility Assessment Study on Renewable Energy System for the STLV Desalination Plant in Gaza, Assignment No GT#09/GPVDP-PFA, Jerusalem: EU. EU/UNICEF and GVC (Gruppo di Volontariato Civile) (2013) Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Short Term Low Volume (STLV) Sea Water Desalination Plant for Southern Governorates of Gaza Strip, Jerusalem: EU. GETAP (Gaza Emergency Technical Assistance Programme) (2017) Gaza Emergency Technical Assistance Programme on Water Supply to the Gaza Strip. Component 1: The Comparative Study of Options for an Additional Supply of Water to the Gaza Strip (CSO-G), updated final report, Report 7 of the CSO-G 31 July 2011, Jerusalem: Phillips, Robinson & Associates. July 2017 Waterlines Vol. 36 No. 3

13 SEAWATER DESALINATION PLANT IN GAZA 255 PCBS (Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics), UNICEF and UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) (2015) Palestinian Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2014 [pdf], Palestine: PCBS < mics-surveys-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/mics5/middle%20east%20and%20north%20africa/ State%20of%20Palestine/2014/Final/State%20of%20Palestine%202014%20MICS_English. pdf> [accessed 6 June 2017]. UN (2012) Gaza in 2020: A Liveable Place? A Report by the United Nations Country Team in the Occupied Palestinian Territory [pdf], Jerusalem: UN < gaza/gaza%20in% pdf> [accessed 6 June 2017]. UNICEF-WHO (2015) Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water: 2015 Update and MDG Assessment [pdf], Geneva: WHO; New York: UNICEF < JMP-Update-report-2015_English.pdf> [accessed 6 June 2017]. WHO (2006) Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality: First Addendum to Third Edition [pdf], Geneva: WHO < [accessed 6 June 2017]. WHO (2016) Report of a Field Assessment of Health Conditions in the OPT, Jerusalem: WHO.