بلدية غزة تحذّر: 22 ألف متر مكعب من مياه الصرف الصحي تُصرف يوميا إلى البحر

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Gaza Municipality Warns: 22,000 Cubic Meters of Untreated Wastewater Discharged Daily into the Sea, Posing Severe Public Health and Environmental Risks

The Gaza Municipality has issued a serious warning regarding escalating environmental and public health hazards resulting from the continued discharge of large quantities of untreated wastewater into the sea. This crisis stems from extensive damage to sewage pumping and treatment infrastructure caused by the ongoing aggression against the city.

The Municipality explained that the wastewater infrastructure has suffered widespread destruction, affecting eight major pumping stations and main transmission lines. Significant damage was also sustained at the treatment plant in the Sheikh Ajlin neighborhood, where technical teams have so far been unable to assess the full extent of the destruction. Preliminary estimates indicate that more than 60% of the plant’s operational and technical components have been compromised.

Initial statistics show that over 30% of the city's sewage network has been partially or completely damaged, covering a total length of more than 175,000 linear meters.

The Municipality added that approximately 22,000 cubic meters of untreated sewage are being discharged into the sea daily. This includes wastewater from the Sheikh Radwan basin in the east of the city, the Samar 6A station, and several damaged stations in the west. The near-total collapse of the wastewater treatment system has been caused by direct targeting, prolonged power outages, and severe fuel shortages.

The monthly volume of untreated sewage reaching the sea now exceeds 600,000 cubic meters, posing a critical threat to the marine environment and significantly increasing the risk of disease outbreaks among the population.

Gaza Municipality stressed that the sea the only recreational outlet for more than 1.2 million residents and displaced individuals has become dangerously polluted and poses a major public health risk. This is especially concerning given the large number of displaced persons' tents along the coast, where many rely on seawater for basic daily needs such as bathing and washing. This dependency further exacerbates the environmental and health risks.

The Municipality renewed its urgent appeal to international and humanitarian organizations for immediate intervention and support in repairing the damaged sewage infrastructure. It called for assistance to enable technical teams to access affected sites and to provide the essential operational supplies needed.

It also urged international institutions to review the 2025 Emergency Needs Document, which contains a detailed outline of key priorities and necessary projects aimed at sustaining essential services and mitigating the worsening environmental and humanitarian disaster.