Middle East Peace Process
Working Group on Water Resources – EXACT
Regional Water Data Banks Project -
"A Real-Time Monitoring System on Water Resources in the Region"
French project funded through
The French Global Environment Facility (FFEM)
(FFEM-Fonds Français pour l'Environnement Mondial)

Execute in whole or in part, three out of the forty Recommendations (Rec.) in the Regional Water Data Banks Project (OSLO II Agreement)

• Middle East Peace Process;
• Jordan River Basin with several Riparians. However, neither the Syrians nor the Lebanese are taking part in the Peace Process Water Issues.
• Existing conflicts with regard to water sharing over and above the political conflicts;
• High Water stress, water scarcity, water quality deterioration, and three severe droughts in the years 1999-2000-2001, led to a higher competition between the riparians and the water sector users

• Water scarcity and the successive droughts in a semi-arid region;
• Cumulative fresh water deficit since the sixties and particularly after 1991
• Population increase, especially since 1991 (just after the first Gulf war and the implosion of the former USSR, where Palestinians returned home from the Arab countries, and Russian Jews migrated to Israel respectively);
  
• Dramatic increase of Streams and Aquifers pollution (to a lesser extent in Jordan), mainly due to the lack of appropriate sanitation systems (sewers and treatment plants) and to the rapid population growth.

• Overall Objective
• The aim of the project was to develop a real time monitoring system through the setting up of a pilot system for hydro-meteorological data measurements, transmission, processing, storage and interpretation. This pilot system was composed of various tools for data acquisition units and measurement instruments. Ultimately, the data collection system was aimed at improving capabilities for preventing and managing critical changes in drainage areas and river basins including groundwater conditions.
  
• The final and overall aim was to develop technical co-operation and dialogue among the Jordan River riparians (governmental water institutions) restricted to the Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian Core Parties.
  
• Targets
• Improve measurement networks in the conflicting areas;
• Implement a suitable data transmission system;
• Develop a real time monitoring system;
• Process and use data in real time and transfer to data banks;
• Provide a Common operational experience using tools that are common to the three Core Parties (sensors and transmission systems).
  
• Means
• Field equipment using appropriate technology (automatic data logger, data Transmission via GSM or Satellite);
• Decision support tools (Data storage, interpretation, dissemination);
• Technical assistance from 13 EU experts to about 30 local specialists, Co-ordination meetings, Workshops and on-the-job training.
  
• Main Activities of the project are the procurement, installation and operation of equipment, database development and training:
• Site selection: this task was carried out in 2000 in close collaboration with the three core parties' experts and professionals.
  
• Measurement stations: 26 hydro-meteorological stations were to be constructed or rehabilitated:
  
• Surface water level (piezoelectric transducer) and rainfall measurement: 8 stations.
  
• Rainfall, surface water level and 2 quality parameters (conductivity and temperature): 6 stations.
  
• Rainfall, surface water level and 4 quality parameters (conductivit, temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen): 1 station.
  
• Meteorological station (temperature, humidity, solar radiation, wind speed and direction): 3 stations.
  
• Rain gauge: 6 stations.
  
• Groundwater level, conductivity and temperature: 2 stations.
  
• Gauging station with cableways: 2 stations.
  
• Gauging station with Parshall Flume: 2 stations.
  
• Transmission System including transmitter, receiving equipment and software:
• Transmission by satellite (METEOSAT system): 5 stations.
• Transmission by modem (GSM): 11 stations.
• Ancillary and Complementary Equipment (cartridge reading modules, six computers & printers, current meters, rods, cables and torpedoes); and spare-parts and consumables.
• Databases Development: Develop specific routines for transferring automatically gathered data into the databases.
• Training, on-the-job, for installation and operation, workshops on data interpretation, a study tour in France, and a study tour in the Region.
  

• Implementation of a suitable data transmission system;
• Development of a real-time monitoring system;
• Processing and use of data in real-time and transfer to data banks;
• Same standard equipment has been installed for the three Core Parties for the first time in the field to obtain the same set of parameters. Common procedures were set up for data measurements, storage, transmission and processing, which is a crucial step towards future data exchange;
• Communication & Dialogue between Professionals through the use of a common language, and the organisation and facilitation of multilateral negotiation meetings and seminars. It must be noted that despite the critical political situation, all the local professionals demonstrated their willingness to co-operate and to keep the activities going on;
• Building links with Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian water organisations;
• Development of Capacity Building within each core party.
  

Lessons learned from this "Pilot" project lead to a better understanding of the regional adequacy between objectives and needs related to local conditions in order to define the most appropriate hydro-meteorological equipment and data transmission technology. Adapt the choice of equipment to the local conditions (climatic, remote areas, vandalism, available staff, etc.). Assessment of spare parts that are necessary for the provided equipment. Ascertain a list of actions and equipment enhancement to prevent vandalism.

Privatisation: In order to ensure better efficiency of the station and equipment maintenance, the French expert team strongly recommends the Core Parties to move the Monitoring Sector (measurements and maintenance) towards the private domain.

The project had been very successful, bringing many benefits to the Core Party participants and their constituents. The project had also proved to be successful in terms of confidence building. This is shown by the fact that the Project continued functioning despite the critical situation which surfaced since September 2000.

There is still a long way to go. However, foundations have been laid since 1996 through dialogue and communication "canals" among Israeli, Jordanian, and Palestinian Professionals.
To maintain and enhance the "spirit" which is prevailing through the different EXACT projects, the following actions are suggested:

• Priority 1: Maintain the dialogue and communication between the professionals of the three core parties.
• Priority 2: Continue the current activities (follow-up on past activities, projects and installed equipment), and reinforcement of the technical co-operation and exchanges between the parties by organising more frequent common meetings and field trips.
• A strong recommendation: Privatisation of the Monitoring sector (measurements, station and equipment maintenance).
• Enforcement: Endorsement of the technical agreements by the politicians.

This is a step forward from "Sharing experience and information" to "Exchanging data".