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Contribution short abstract

Transboundary olive mill wastewater pollution persists in Wadi Zomer, Palestine, not due to technical limits but conflicting knowledge, power asymmetries and fragmented Hydro-Social Territories. The research shows that without a shared understanding of the problem, no lasting solutions occur.

Contribution long abstract

Decades of economic restrictions have marked the wastewater sector in the West Bank with insufficient treatment capacities and unsafe disposal practices. Transboundary pollution from illegally dumped, untreated olive mill wastewater (OMWW) in the Wadi Zomer area constitutes a persistent socio-ecological problem. High in acidic compounds, OMWW threatens groundwater and ecosystems – including downstream Alexander River, beyond Israel’s separation fence. Despite extensive donor-driven interventions, no long-term solution has been implemented, resulting in environmental degradation, financial penalties charged to the Palestinian Authority, and growing tensions among actors engaging with OMWW across a fragmented political landscape.

To understand why the problem endures, this research applies the framework of Hydro-Social Territories (HST) and socio-technical methodology. Through 42 qualitative interviews, field observations and critical mapping, the study analyses how key actors construct different imaginaries around OMWW. Disentangled into social, natural and technical spheres, these imaginaries define what actors perceive as problematic, what knowledge/truths they consider valid, and which boundaries (institutional, geopolitical, technical) shape their capacity to act.

Results show that OMWW management is less constrained by technology than by conflicting knowledge regimes, unclear responsibilities, asymmetrical power and dominant narratives that marginalize certain actors. These fragmented HSTs hinder local collaboration and obscure crucial elements of sustainable solutions.

Findings highlight that policy and scientific interventions must recognize competing territorial imaginaries and foster inclusive knowledge production. Without a shared understanding of the problem, long-term solutions cannot be found. Acknowledging actors’ diverse HST is therefore essential for socially legitimate and environmentally effective management of transboundary OMWW in Wadi Zomer.