Ramallah: Head of  Water Authority, Eng. Mazen Ghneim, met  in his office today the chairman and members of Halhoul and Surif municipalities to discuss a number of issues, including the establishment of a joint services council for water and sewage for northern Hebron, which includes the towns of Halhul, Beit Ummar, Surif, Sa'ir, Shoioukh, Bani Na'im, Shoioukh al-Urub, Kharas, Nuba, Bayt Ila, Hatta, AL-Deir, Musafir Bani Naim, and the steps that have been accomplished and the requirements needed  to start the work of the council  and organize it according to clear mechanisms and systems.

Minister Ghoneim stressed the importance of this step for its impact on consolidation efforts and coordinate work in a manner that serves the communities equally, in the framework of water sector reform programme and the water authority plan to upgrade the provision of water services and the establishment of water facilities. In the same context, he pointed out to the importance of putting foundations that ensure the success of the work in various administrative, technical, financial and development aspects, stressing the need to develop a strategic plan for the Council for the next five years to ensure work and achieve the desired objectives.

The meeting addressed a number of needs which focused on the request for rehabilitation of the internal water network and the need to secure water pipes in different diameters as well as the issue of sanitation and the need for alternative solutions for absorbent drilling which have become a health and environmental pollution until the establishment of purification plants.

Minister Ghoneim instructed the competent authorities to examine the needs of the Council especially sanitation issue and develop visualization on technical and financial aspects to find appropriate solutions to avoid wastewater problem.