Nitrate Water Pollution Risk in the Lower Jordan Valley

This paper focuses on the assessment of the spatial dimension of nitrate pollution of groundwater that supplies the Lower Jordan Valley. The major risk factors are domestic wastewater and sewage from human settlements in the valley and in the recharge areas. Solid waste dumps and industrial sources are of minor concern. The risk of pollution of the shallow groundwater in the valley through application of fertilizers depends on the water table and the poten-tial leakage depth. Hot spots of nitrate pollution of the shallow groundwater are in date palm and banana cultivation areas in wadis or near rivers.