Mekorot CEO promises surplus water in 2014

Shimon Ben Hamo told the Knesset Economics Committee: First we will have to make up the shortfall, then we'll begin managing the surplus water economy.

Israel will have surplus water by the beginning of 2014, Mekorot National Water Company CEO Shimon Ben Hamo told the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee today. "First we will have to make up the shortfall, then we'll begin managing the surplus water economy. We'll have to prepare for this," he said.

The assessment is based on Mekorot's two-year development plan, which includes the construction of two more large seawater desalination plants at Ashdod and Soreq, which will boost Israel's desalinated water production capacity to 600 million cubic meters a year.

The Water Authority told the committee that while Israel's water economy has improved, the country should continue water discipline and conservation of resources due to the increased desertification in the Middle East. Both Mekorot and the Water Authority warned that it was premature to fill swimming pools, as there is still a water shortfall of 1.5 billion cubic meters.

The winter rains so far this season have raised the water level in the Kinneret toward the upper red line, but the water level is still 4.18 meters below what it should be. Mekorot is not pumping water from the Kinneret while it carries out maintenance on the National Water Carrier.

The Water Authority says that the seawater desalination plants at Ashkelon, Palmachim, and Hadera are now supplying 40% of Israel's water needs.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 7, 2012

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2012

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