By Eli Ronen, Chairperson, "Mekorot" National Water Company.
In the light of the Israeli State Control Committee's decision on July 28th 2008, to set up a
Parliamentary Board of Inquiry to examine the causes of Israel's current water crisis, the
Chairman of the National Water Company, "Mekorot", presents solutions to the problem
and recommends immediate implementation.
Some of these solutions include:
Education and dissemination of information:
It is vital that children in Israel should be educated about the necessity of reducing water wastage and the
need to conserve water. This educational program is essential and must be tackled immediately if we are
to bring the younger generation to the understanding that it is vital to conserve and protect Israel's dwindling
water resources.
In addition steps should be taken to change the way in which local authorities utilize and manage water
resources including increasing the ability to enforce water regulations and punish those who do not abide
by them. Steps must also be taken to improve the efficiency of dealing with leakages as this is a major
contributor to the problem of wasted water..
Recycling and Reuse of Waste Water
Today, in Israel, approximately 130 million cubic meters of waste water of differing quality, is poured away
through the drainage system each year – for a country suffering from such an acute water shortage this is
unacceptable. Waste water is the cheapest source of water available to the Israeli water system.
The decision to allocate one billion NIS for water reclamation projects over the next five years is the correct
one but will only be enough for one or two such projects each year.
There is an urgent need to invest even larger amounts so that within two to three years all proposed water
reclamation projects will be completed and we will be able to return 130 million cubic meters of water to the
country's water reserves. This addition is critical to the agricultural sector and its use will help prevent
environmental pollution and increase the amount of clean, drinkable water available for urban consumption.
In addition, the waste water treated should be of a standard that complies with the "Inbar Ordinanace" so that
there will be no restrictions on their usage. It should be noted that for a period of five years reclaimed waste
water will have a lower salt content due to desalinization and the waste material produced and therefore the
quality of the reclaimed water will be exceptionally good for agricultural use.
Some water reclamation projects are not brought to fruition due to financial and market drawbacks
(for example, a low financial yield per project). In cases where the financial yield is low, the project should be
brought to completion by a fully qualified and professional agency and a guarantee given for a return on the investment.
Treatment of Contaminated Wells
Over the past few years, some 150 wells have been shut down due to water pollution from urban, industrial
and agricultural sources. Anti pollution regulations should be strictly enforced and action taken against the
polluters. At the same time, the process of rehabilitating the polluted aquifer should be started by constructing
water purification plants appropriate to the different pollutants found in the water.
Projects such as these are viable, and the treatment of water is substantially cheaper than desalination
projects. An additional advantage is that the aquifer will be cleaned of contaminating agents and in the
coming years will be refilled by rain water, which will, in the future, allow for almost unlimited pumping of
clean water.
Sea Water Desalination
There can be no doubt that the government's decision to set up sea water desalination plants will greatly
increase the amount of available water. This project should be allowed to continue and should not be
stopped even if in the next two or three years there is abundant rainfall.
The desalination process provides water of good quality but at a high price. The search for means of reducing
the amount of energy needed to produce one cubic meter of fresh water, including the use of renewable
energy sources, must continue. In addition, we should aim at finding solutions for treatment of the
concentrated salt water produced by the desalination process.
Using "Green" Energy
By increasing the use of turbines that utilize excess water pressure, we can produce electricity using clean energy. This system is implemented by "Mekorot" at one of its facilities in the north of Israel. The benefits gained by using
this system, reduce carbon emissions by some 2000 tons a year and therefore help reduce air pollution.
The average amount of electricity generated by such a turbine is in the region of 700 Kw. which amounts to 4,000,000 Kw. a year.
"Mekorot" is constantly working to improve the environment and is dedicated and committed to its activities
for nature conservation and protection of the natural landscape. At the same time "Mekorot" strives to
increase the efficiency of pumping stations, thus saving energy used to provide drinking water to the public.
As of today, the company has achieved an 88% efficiency rate.