The first heavy winter rains dropped more than 100 mm of precipitation on the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) drainage basin in three days, according to the Water Authority Council. 130 mm of rain fell at Ben Gurion Airport, 20% of the annual average, 100 mm fell along the Mediterranean Coast, and 85-100 mm in the Jordan Valley.
Water flow in rivers is strong, which is uncharacteristic of November. In the north, Nahal Harod, Nahal Taninim, Nahal Kishon, Nahal Hadera, Nahal Alexander, Nahal Eilon and others are in full spate. Nahal Harod had the strongest flow, 40 cubic meters per second, the usual rate in February, not November.
The water level of the Kinneret has risen 1 cm from direct rainfall, amounting to an additional 1.6 million cubic meters of water. The lake's water level is 3.83 meters below what it should be, equal the capacity of ten large desalination facilities.
Water Authority Council director general Prof. Uri Shan said that, despite the rain, people should avoid wasting water, because Israel faces a nationwide shortfall of 1 billion cubic meters. He says that even if rainfall this winter is average, water levels will reach the red warning lines, even though desalination facilities are already producing 130 million cubic meters of water a year.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 22, 2007
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