Due to the closure of the "Tapuach" well, for fear of seepage water from Huwara, the severe shortage is expected • The Water Authority: "Aware of the consequences and working with the relevant authorities"
Sheila settlement
Photo:
Tzachi Miriam
Mekorot warns that there will be a severe shortage of water in the Samaria area in the summer, following a directive from the Ministry of Health to close the Apple drill, which supplies thousands of cubic meters of water a day to Gush Shilo and Gev Har Har and Palestinian villages in the Nablus area.
"Israel Today" has learned that the directive was given due to the fear of seepage wastewater from Huwara to the protective radius of apple drilling and damage to water quality.
The directive to disable apple drilling comes after the Horon camp drilling was shut down last November due to the discharge of wastewater from the Samaria base to the protective radius of the drilling and due to the fear of damaging drinking water.
The Civil Administration, together with the Water Authority, is working to obtain temporary licenses from the Ministry of Health to operate the two drillings at least until the end of the busy summer months until approval and promotion of a permanent solution.
A Civil Administration source said the Palestinians had pledged to present a solution that would prevent sewage from seeping into the protective radius of apple drilling, and explained that if no response was given as expected, the Civil Administration would consider their next steps.
Danny Sofer, Deputy CEO, VP of Operations and Maintenance at Mekorot: "As long as the responsible bodies do not do what is required of them to allow the water to be drilled at the back of the mountain, Mekorot will not be able to exhaust every possible drop of water for life and agricultural development in the area."
The Water Authority said: "The Water Authority is aware of the consequences that may result from shutting down the drilling and therefore we are working with the military, the Ministry of Defense and the Civil Administration to create conditions that will allow the two drillings to continue operating."
