Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., April 07, 2008 Nisan 2, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:39 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 22:59 06/04/2008 Gov't study: Water usage from natural sources down since 1967 By Zafrir Rinat Tags: Israel, Kinneret Contrary to established opinion, water consumption from natural sources in Israel has actually decreased since the Six-Day War, even though the population more than doubled, a recent study found. The state Water Authority conducted the study, among other reasons, to refute a claim made by international water experts that Israel launched the 1967 war to increase its water pumping capacity. The main factor in the study's findings is the major increase in use of purified wastewater for agricultural irrigation. Half of the consumption in recent years has been met also through two large desalination plants. Advertisement Despite this, Israel is in a severe crisis because several cycles of draught years over the past two decades created steep drops in the level of Lake Kinneret and groundwater reservoirs, even though overall water consumption did not go up. According to the Water Authority's data, the annual natural water consumption for 1967 was 1.4 billion cubic meters. In 2006 it was 1.23 billion cubic meters. The rest, some 600,000 cubic meters, were supplied through purified wastewater and desalination plants. "That figure refutes the claim that we started the war to utilize more water," the official in charge of water issues with the Palestinians and Jordanians, Baruch Nagar, said. Nagar is referring to a contention made last month in an interview with Haaretz by the German hydrogeologist Clemens Messerschmid, who serves as a consultant on water projects for the Palestinians in the territories: "For Israel to consume all the water it does, it must keep that water away from its neighbors and from the people it is occupying - and this is evident in the Golan, Lebanon, Jordan and the occupied territories." When the total natural water consumption is divided per capita, it yields another surprising statistic: Annual consumption in Israel decreased from 508 cubic meters per capita in 1967 to 170 cubic meters today. The latter figure also reflects changes in agriculture, since household water consumption rose steadily. Use of treated wastewater for irrigation also influences the existing thinking on saving water. At an Israeli Water Association conference last month, the Water Authority's director, Prof. Uri Shani, said that Israeli household consumption is "perfectly reasonable." Most household water winds up being recycled for irrigation, Shani claimed, but this is not the case with water for public parks and gardens, so that is the area where savings measures are most in need. Bookmark to del.icio.us   My gay family Caryn Aviv shares her personal experience as a gay Jewish co-parent. Filmed in battle Second Lebanon War film centers on one man's choice to keep his troop out of harm's way.

Today Online Israel, U.S. plan to release details on Sept. 2007 Syria attack Responses: 118 Hamas official: Israel refused offers for temporary cease-fire Responses: 148 Border Police let settlers retake illegal West Bank outpost Responses: 63 Haredi passengers riot aboard El Al plane over screening of film Responses: 97 More Headlines 02:29 U.S., Israel to pressure N.Korea on nuclear deals with Iran 01:55 Palestinians: IDF shell kills 5-year-old in Gaza 02:09 Diskin: Egypt steps up efforts to prevent weapons-smuggling 18:35 Hamas official: Israel refused offers for temporary cease-fire 19:04 Hezbollah No. 2: IDF drills are preparation for war on Lebanon 22:05 Due to rabbis' pressure, grocery chain closes some branches on Sabbath 23:56 U.S. evangelist pledges $6 million in contributions to Israel 18:17 My big fat gay Jewish family 21:17 Woman threatens to blow herself up across from Knesset building 17:57 IDF checkpoints force Palestinian rally drivers to race indoors 19:56 Three Israeli teens detained in Tokyo after drugs found in luggage 13:33 Ultra-Orthodox passengers riot aboard El Al plane over screening of film 20:22 Shas: Selling hametz on Passover 'black stain on Israel's Jewish identity' 00:13 Israel's diamond jubilee to come with NIS 98 million price tag Previous Editions Select Day 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today Behind the Z Word Scholarly essays, commentary, podcasts, blogs and much more. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved