Sheikh Radwan Pond sewage contamination triggers emergency repairs in Gaza

The Palestinian Water Authority is implementing urgent interventions at the Sheikh Radwan Pond and a pumping station in Gaza City to mitigate health and environmental risks caused by sewage contamination. Damage to sanitation facilities has allowed sewage to enter the pond, causing water levels to rise and increasing the risk of flooding and pollution.

The Sheikh Radwan Pond, which holds approximately 500,000 cubic meters of water, serves an area of about 20 square kilometers in Gaza City and parts of Jabalia. Due to damage to electricity, pumps, and transport lines, the station's capacity has dropped to roughly 30% of its previous level. So far, two out of six main pumps have been restarted, and one of two generators has been maintained.

To reduce the inflow of sewage, authorities have stopped pumping through two of the three sewage pumps, with work underway to stop the third. A rehabilitation project for the pumping station and transport lines has been prepared, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNICEF, with an estimated cost of $500,000. The goal is to restore the pond's primary function of rainwater collection and protect the local environment and population.