Monthly Progress Report No. 23: Well Flow Monitoring Project

Government efforts with the peace process by improving Palestinian access to basic infrastructure and services throughout the West Bank, and if conditions and funding permit, in Gaza. The program focuses on the rehabilitation and construction of roads, schools, water, and wastewater projects. The USAID objective is to help the Palestinian economy by improving Palestinian access to basic infrastructure and services. The objective of Task Order 00007 is to construct a well flow monitoring system for 47 existing potable water wells, booster stations, and reservoirs located at sites throughout the West Bank. The system will transmit data via radio-based Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to a central control room to be located in the West Bank's Water Department (WBWD) operations headquarters in Ramallah. The purpose of the monitoring system is to reliably and accurately record the volume of water pumped from the underlying aquifers and into the West Bank water system. Implementation of the well flow monitoring system began in April 2015. During this month, activities focused on completing the installation of the SCADA system and conducting site visits to ensure that all necessary equipment was in place. The team also conducted training sessions for WBWD staff on the operation and maintenance of the monitoring system. By the end of April, all 47 wells, booster stations, and reservoirs were equipped with the necessary monitoring equipment. The project's progress was evaluated against the planned schedule, and it was determined that the project was on track to meet its objectives. The team also identified several issues and constraints that needed to be addressed, including the need for additional training for WBWD staff and the requirement for a backup power source for the SCADA system. Looking ahead to the next reporting period, the team plans to complete the installation of the monitoring system and conduct final testing to ensure that the system is functioning as intended. The team also plans to provide additional training for WBWD staff and to address any issues or constraints that may arise during the implementation of the project. The project's overall objective is to improve the ability of the PWA/WBWD to manage the water resource in the West Bank, and the well flow monitoring system is a critical component of this effort.