33. Applied Research Institute Jerusalem. Environmental Profile for the West Bank, Volume 5: Nablus District. Jerusalem: ARIJ, 1996, 316 pp.

The Applied Research Institute launched a project to produce a series of environmental profiles for each district in the West Bank. This is the fifth volume in the series aimed to assess the environment in Palestinian Territories and to reflect on specific problems in the Nablus district. It provides information needed for future planning of development projects. The information and data used in the report were collected by the project team and are based on primary field research. The report provides an overview of the district in terms of the location, land use, roads, military and Jewish settlement areas. It also contains information regarding the topography and the climate of the region. There are four refugee camps in the Nablus district. The population density reflects this in combination with the fact that 70% of the land in the district is still controlled by Israeli military forces. The report also provides an overview of the geology and soil quality of the Nablus district, water resources including the ones under Israeli occupation, water quality and consumption. In terms of agriculture, the report sums up plant production, land tenure, forestation, and pesticide use. Wastewater from different sites in Nablus district flows without treatment into the wadis (valleys) bringing with it harmful live micro-organisms and hazardous chemicals. Thus raw wastewater generated in Nablus is both polluting the aquifer, and is being used for irrigation in adjacent villages. The report classifies solid waste generated in the Nablus district, both domestic and industrial, and surveys the entities responsible for waste collection and disposal. Finally, the report delves into the issue of air and noise pollution in the district, especially in the center of Nablus City where it is vey over crowded.