Illegal connecton to water pipeline
Photo: Israel Water Authority
'Grave phenomenon.' Landau
Photo: Gil Yohanan
State goes to war against West Bank water thieves
Campaign to root out water pilferage in south Mount Hebron leads to arrests, disconnection of 230 illegal pipelines. 'Phenomenon must be dealt with seriously, especially in country where water is scarce resource,' says Minister Landau
Putting an end to water pilferage in the West Bank – Recent cooperation between state authorities led to the disconnection of 230 pipelines that were illegally linked to Mekorot National Water Company's main water source.
In addition, authorities arrested suspects and confiscated more than 85,000 meters (278,000 feet) of pipelines at the south of Mount Hebron, National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau announced on Sunday.
Water Thieves
Shmulik Grossman
Irregular water supply on IDF bases, settlements near Mount Hebron has become routine recently. Via pirate connections to source, Palestinian neighbors are stealing millions of shekels of water per year. Situation growing worse
The minister's bureau stated that water pilferage seriously harmed the residents of south Mount Hebron, who on certain days opened their faucets and discovered that no water was coming out.
In addition, extensive agricultural areas have been nourished along the roads of the West Bank on the expense of both Israeli and Palestinian residents' drinking water.
After several appeals from Minister Landau, Mekorot decided to take measures against the phenomenon, along with the coordinator of gov't activities in the territories, military officials, the police and Israel Water Authority.
As part of their joint activity, a number of pools that were collecting stolen water have been destroyed.
The national infrastructure minister lauded the cooperation between the authorities and said they will continue "to root out the problem that harms the living routine of regional residents."
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