Minister of National Infrastructures Uzi Landau submitted to the cabinet today a plan to increase seawater desalination at current facilities and build more plants, dig more emergency wells to tap aquifers, and review the import of water. The Water Authority prepared the plan to meet Israel's seventh consecutive year of drought. Landau urged the cabinet to adopt the plan immediately and remove bureaucratic obstacles that could hinder it.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the plan, but the cabinet took no vote at today's meeting. Netanyahu said, in order to boost desalination, he is immediately instructing the tenders committee to increase output by 100-120 million cubic meters a year, and for the immediate resolution of the problems related to the construction of the Ashdod desalination plant by Mekorot National Water Company.
The Water Authority is deeply concerned about the country's water condition, despite the weekend storm. Although the water level of the Kinneret rose thanks to the two centimeters of rain that fell directly onto it, the storm is not as wet as initially predicted. "This is the first time this winter that the Kinneret's water level has risen. Despite the two-centimeter rise, there is still a shortfall of 530 centimeters," said a senior Water Authority official.
The proposed emergency water plan also includes water discipline measures to reduce water demand by both local authorities and consumers. The Water Authority is preparing for a possible instituting of the so-called drought law next summer to reduce water consumption, including a ban on all watering of public and private lawns and gardens, and imposing further quota cuts on farmers.
A source close to the matter told "Globes", "No decision will be taken on these measures before February. Only then will we know how much rain fell this winter. It's hard to be optimistic."
Water Authority officials warned that the recommendation for desalination plants to go over to a 24-hour production schedule was made without considering the high production costs caused by using electricity at peak daytime hours, and the risks of breakdowns by non-stop use without downtime for maintenance.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 12, 2010
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