The Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) waterline is up by 2.16 meters.
Mekorot National Water Company director general Amos Epstein said today that despite encouraging data on rainfall quantities, and the rising Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) waterline, the public must bear in mind that water resources were very low at the outset of the rainy season. Israel still needs major amounts of rainfall to rehabilitate its water economy, he said.
Epstsein noted that rainfall for the month of February contributed greatly to the water economy, due both to large volume and wide area coverage. Rain that falls in northern Israel creates a strong influx to the Kinneret, hence its importance.
He noted that since the beginning of winter, Mekorot stations had captured 31.5 million cubic meters of water, of which half was in February. Floodwaters are diverted to Israel's reservoirs and aquifers, and are a very important element in raising aquifer levels.
The Israel Meteorological Service reported today that since the rainy season began, the Kinneret waterline has risen 2.16 meters, meaning there are an additional 350 cubic meters of water in the lake.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on 24 February 2003