Mekorot National Water Company reports that there is a 12% probability that the Kinneret Black Line (214.87 meters below sea level), below which water cannot be pumped to the National Water Carrier, will be crossed some time in the coming year, and a 38% probability that it will hit by the end of 2010. The company is undertaking an emergency drilling plan to boost the fresh water available for the country by 70 million cubic meters, and reduced pumping of water from the Kinneret at mid-year, which has prevented reaching the Black Line until now.
Mekorot notes that the 2008-09 rainy season was a poor one, during which 208 million cubic meters of available water was obtained, 61% of the multiyear median value of 340 million cubic meters over the preceding 35 years. It also notes that the weather station at Kfar Giladi, on the Kinneret shore, shows a clear decline in the average precipitation by about 6 mm a year since 1930.
Mekorot has initiated its emergency “Drought Drilling” program, which is focused on 39 new sites, mostly in northern Israel. These are new wells at new sites found and tested by Mekorot during the past year, which enable the addition of more than 70 million cubic meters of fresh water to the water economy. The company plans to expand the emergency program in 2010, and it is also expanding the Lahat and Granot brackish water desalination plants on a tighter schedule. The company is also moving forward on the 100-million cubic meter Ashdod seawater desalination plan, which is due to come on line by the end of 2012.
At the end of 2009, the Kinneret water level will be 214.50 meters below sea level, on the basis of the annual pumping plan of 137 million cubic meters of water, but will probably not fall below that level.
Mekorot notes that the Kinneret water level rose by 117 centimeters during the 2008-09 winter season. This rise was double the rise in the preceding 2007-08 winter season, but two and four times less than the corresponding rises in the 2003-04 and 2002-03 winter seasons, respectively.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 1, 2009
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