Since 1982, CEOHS has been involved in water monitoring. Monitoring of long term changes in the quality of Palestinian aquifers is an important priority at the Center. Research on water quality and health is one of the bulwarks of its activities. CEOHS has contracts with some water distribution authorities and municipalities to perform routine biological and chemical water quality monitoring. We have extended our water analysis to include monitoring of pesticide and othetoxic residues especially after we have added a GC/MS to our laboratory.
Highlights of past and current activities of this unit include:
In 1982/83, we surveyed the chemical quality of rainwater cisterns in the villages surrounding Birzeit University.
We studied water quality in Gaza Strip focusing on fluoride content and the development of dental fluorosis. Fluorides are naturally present in the water of Gaza Strip and the combination of consuming water with a high fluoride content a public health problem as evidenced by a moderately high dental fluorsis index in the population of the Gaza Strip.
At the request of the Union of Physicians and Dentists we performed an extensive survey of fluoride levels in all drinking water wells in the West Bank as a prerequisite to the prescribing of supplementary dietary fluorides to reduce the incidence of dental carries. The results indicated a generally low level of fluorides. As a bonus, during this survey, we measured water conductivity tests to determine the degree of salinity in West Bank water supplies. We found salinity to be variable depending on region with the central and southern regions having the sweetest water.
In 1990, we signed a contract with the Jerusalem water Undertaking/Ramallah District to do a long term study of the quality of water in all their water resources and network. Their network is the largest in the West Bank and covers four metropolitan areas and 52 villages. CEOHS does biological and chemical monitoring of water drawn from 170 sampling stations. Thus far, we have found the water in this network to be of high quality. A long term water quality assessment program covering Gaza and the West Bank is currently under way.
In 1994, the Center has opened a branch of CEOHS in Gaza City to serve the Gaza Strip. This laboratory specializes in biological chemical monitoring of water quality. Co-sponsored by the Gaza Environmental Program, a Gaza NGO, the laboratory is located in Gaza City. CEOHS will remain the mother laboratory and will be responsible for scientific directorship of the Gaza laboratory. CEOHS will perform those tests for which the Gaza laboratory is currently equipped for.
CEOHS offers its services to a wide variety of organizations, including grassroots organizations, institutions and factories by determining the quality of water samples brought to it be they for domestic, agricultural or industrial use.
CEOHS is also involved in the optimal solid and liquid waste disposal methods for our area, taking into consideration cost effectiveness, protection of public health and the preservation of the environment. Our expertise is being utilized to evaluate sewage treatment projects.