The Water Authority Council yesterday detailed its emergency plan to deal with the country's water crisis, and launched a media campaign, entitled "Israel goes from red to black". The reference is to the red line, which mark the minimum safe water levels in the Kinneret and aquifers and the black lines that mark the point of irreversible damage.
Water Authority Council chairman Uri Shani said Israel was at a low point "not seen since measurements began in 1932." For the past five years, he has warned that the water level in the country's three strategic sources - the Kinneret and the mountain and coastal aquifers - was nearing the black line. "Falling below the black line will cause irreversible damage to the water sources," he warned.
As part of the emergency plan, the Water Authority is preparing to immediately drill wells to tap water slated for use after 2010. "In practical terms, we're mortgaging future water reserves," said Shani. "Israel will invest NIS 12 billion in the water economy in the coming years. In the immediate term, tens of millions of shekels will be invested in treating contaminated water sources. Current desalination facilities will also be expanded."
The emergency plan calls for the desalination of 600 million cubic meters of water by 2013 and 750 million cubic meters by 2020.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 9, 2008
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2008