49. Khatib, N. Potential Water Resources in the West Bank, Facts and Figures. Palestinian Hydrology Group, 1990, 15 pp.

In 1989, the West Bank had a population of approximately 1,275,000. During the same year, domestic water demand was estimated at 70 million cubic meters. Agricultural use was limited to 90 million cubic meters per annum.

The main water source in the West Bank is groundwater, either from springs (60 million cubic meters/year) or pumped bore holes (44 million cubic meters/year). Other minor sources include collected and stored rainwater and surplus water from Israeli bore holes. The average annual rainfall is estimated as 380 mm and the replenishable groundwater is estimated at 609 million cubic meters.

Although the groundwater potential is much higher than the water consumption, the existing water restrictions set by the Israeli water commissioner are the main cause of the water shortage in the West Bank. Under these restrictions, the solutions to the water problem can be through the development of rainwater harvesting methods, storage of the surplus water available to the new Israeli settlements and developing new water sources where feasible.