Adnan Azazmeh: Bringing Water Management Practices Back to Palestine
- Brenda Gao
- Mar 26
- 3 min read
Adnan Azazmeh is an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alum from the West Bank who traveled to eastern Iowa for a program entitled “Public Utility Providers” in September 2023. He was one of four participants from the West Bank, a group of professionals specializing in fields such as water regulation, natural resources, and infrastructure development.
Adnan worked most of his career with projects funded by the United States Agency for International Development in water, wastewater, and infrastructure in West Bank and Gaza. Five years ago, he joined the Office of the Quartet, an organization that works in mediating Middle East peace negotiations while supporting Palestinian economic development and institution building as a water coordinator.
Before participating in the IVLP program, Adnan had visited the United States different times as a tourist or for business-related work. He has worked with various American companies, such as MWH Constructors, Inc. and Trigon Associates, on engineering and construction management.
Upon arriving in Iowa, Adnan had a great first impression of the university, the nice buildings, the students, and the social life. "I like the people there. I find them very friendly. I like the college town,” Adnan said. “I like the nature, the open space, the wide roads, and the green areas. It was very interesting coming from a semi-arid area in the Middle East.”
While in Iowa, Adnan and his group visited the Iowa City Water Treatment Plant and met with Sam Fosse, plant operator, and Jon Durst, engineer, to learn about how the plant draws water from wells and the Iowa River to purify water. Adnan remembered touring the facility and having a great discussion with them regarding infrastructure development from their different perspectives.
The group also visited the Solid Waste Agency of Linn County, which includes a landfill, Resource Recovery building, and compost/yard waste facility. There, they met Jason Evans, Education/Operations Director, and learned about how they manage solid waste and think about recycling. “He was very passionate about his work and understanding, loving the environment and how to be very friendly with the environment,” he said. A takeaway Adnan had from the Solid Waste Agency was a special area for people to dispose of electronics such as TVs and mobile phones to be safely recycled. That night, Adnan and one of his group members attended an Iowa Table Dinner hosted by a Palestinian family. Coincidentally, Adnan knew their relatives from Nablus, Palestine.
Recently, Adnan has been attending a one-year executive program through Harvard on Negotiation and Leadership in a variety of European cities. In the program, he is learning how to examine complex negotiation scenarios and discover a range of competitive and cooperative negotiation strategies. Harvard faculty travel to Europe to administer this program. “I find it very interesting and it’s a compatible experience with the IVLP,” Adnan said.
At the Office of the Quartet, Adnan is currently working heavily to help people in Gaza gain access to safe water and sanitation to avoid pandemics and waterborne diseases. He spends most of his time communicating with international organizations, various NGOs, and the Palestinian Water Authority regarding the reconstruction of Gaza and emergency response and recovery for water and wastewater facilities and services.
From his time in eastern Iowa, Adnan learned about best practices on managing water utilities, planning waste management dump sites, and educating people on waste management and increasing environmental awareness. Adnan liked Iowa City and found it active with friendly people.
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