The Coastal Municipalities Water Utility, which runs the Gaza water system, said it was struggling to disinfect water due to shortages of chemicals as well as spare parts for pumps and other equipment.

The CMWU said 52 of Gaza's 140 water wells had no chlorine and the others were fast running out. The utility posted a newspaper advert on Wednesday warning the Gaza Strip's 1.5 million residents the situation could prompt an epidemic.

"Until we resolve the problem, the people of Gaza should boil water to disinfect it," CMWU official Monther Shoblak said.

Peter Lerner, spokesman for Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, said the CMWU should have requested that chlorine be allowed into Gaza earlier.

Gaza's water supply has been patchy for some time. The CMWU says it cannot import spare parts to repair old pumps due to Israeli sanctions.

Humanitarian groups have denounced the blockade as collective punishment.

Agencies

Güncelleme Tarihi: 28 Şubat 2008, 12:20