The Jewish National Fund (JNF) is developing six projects using wetlands to treat wastewater. The projects are at Lutan, Neot Smadar, and Dimona in the Negev, the Yarkon River and Alexander River in the coastal plain, and the Hula Valley in the Galilee. Some projects are already operating.
The projects use only the natural wetland vegetation to purify wastewater without added energy, which pollutes the environment. In contrast to conventional chemical wastewater treatment, no sludge is produced, which then has to be safely disposed.
The project do not represent technological breakthroughs. Thousands of similar projects are in operation worldwide, but they cannot replace conventional wastewater treatment methods. This is because the wetland projects are dependent on external factors, such as vegetation cover and temperature. Israel has very few projects of this kind because the Ministries of Health and National Infrastructures prefer the construction of regional sewage treatment plants, rather than small local plants, which are seen as inefficient to maintain.
The JNF believes that wetland wastewater treatment can be efficient almost anywhere. The system’s advantages are its low energy consumption and operating cost and aesthetic landscaping. The disadvantages are the dependence on environmental conditions and vulnerability to plant diseases.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on August 21, 2007
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