Public knowledge of seawater desalination and its impacts on the environment in Gaza strip, Palestine

Abstract

The research assesses public awareness and knowledge about seawater desalination and its impacts on the environment in the coastal area in Gaza strip, Palestine focusing on the residents who live in Dier Al balh city (where the biggest seawater desalination plant was constructed). The study investigates how sociodemographics, motivational factors, and information use shape public awareness and knowledge. Data was collected using a survey from a random sample of residents in Dier Al balh city in Gaza applying criteria’s McNeill. This research followed the similar method used in previous studies for testing public awareness about desalination, marine life, and impacts on the environment. The study assessed three indicators to examine people knowledge and awareness. These indicators are Public awareness of desalination and the impacts on the environment; People self-assessed knowledge of desalination and the impacts on the environment; and Factual knowledge of desalination and the impacts on the environment. The results of the research were: Both People self assessed knowledge and factual knowledge about the desalination and its impacts on the environment were poor, with only three of thirteen factual questions answered correctly by more than 45% of respondents. Furthermore, it was found that people who were more connected with their place showed high awareness. Besides, information resources record a low relation with self assessed knowledge and awareness and lower with factual knowledge. The study encourages the public agencies to increase their efforts and be more effective in dealing with the environmental issue and to educate people more about environment. keywords: Desalination; Water crisis; Awareness; Knowledge; Environment; Palestine