Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., April 19, 2008 Nisan 14, 5768 | | Israel Time: 08:57 (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 - 03:21 16/04/2008 Israel's water demand will hugely outweigh supply during 2008 By Zafrir Rinat, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Lake Kinneret  Israel is 350 million cubic meters of water short of supplying expected demand over the coming year, without seriously endangering the quality of its water reserves, it was revealed Tuesday. According to data presented at an emergency meeting, no precipitation was measured in the central coastal or mountain areas over the months of April or May for the first time since records began, precipitating the current crisis. The meeting, called by the Water Authority and the Israel Water Association, discussed a number of tough water-saving measures proposed by an ad hoc committee that included a complete ban on watering new municipal parks and gardens. Advertisement "In the next two or three years we'll have to learn to swim in empty swimming pools," said Professor Uri Shani, head of the Water Authority. "But we don't want to spread panic. The situation is bad, but we're in control and we'll do everything we can to make sure that as little damage is done." Water experts at the meeting predicted that over the next two years water levels would drop beneath red lines in both the mountain and coastal aquifers, which provide Israel with most of its water, causing an increase in their salinity. Minister of National Infrastructures Benjamin Ben-Eliezer called for the capacity of water desalinization plants to be increased by 200 million cubic meters. He also called for a number of sewage treatment plants to be constructed. Israel's other major water reserve, the fresh water Lake Kinneret also known as the Sea of Galilee, is expected to reach its lowest level ever next year. Its water level began to drop unusually early this year ¬ in March ¬ because of the drought. According to Water Authority plans, the lake's level will ebb by two meters before next winter, after calculating the amount of water that will be pumped out. Environmentalists have protested the authority's decision, claiming a sudden drop in the lake's level will damage wildlife. Water Authority official Tami Shor said that a big cut in water designated for agriculture has been imposed alongside reducing water used to irrigate municipal parks and gardens. For the first time, Israeli farmers last year used more water originating from sewage treatment than from fresh water reserves ¬ some 615 million cubic meters of cleaned sewage to 565 million cubic meters of fresh water. "We have to realize that what we've done is merely skimmed the surface," Professor Haim Gvirtzman of the Hebrew University said at the conference. "It has not solved the serious crisis we are in." Bookmark to del.icio.us   A gentleman's word Olmert tells Haaretz he knows Iran won't have nuclear capacity. Farewell to arms B'Tselem says IDF must ban wide-range shell that killed civilians in Gaza.   1.   Cut off water to 01:20  |  Mark Lincoln 16/04/08   2.   Israel will just steal more land for water, like always 01:49  |  *BEN JABO 16/04/08   3.   This isn`t news, and has nothing to do with the Pals 02:11  |  Joe Sittizen 16/04/08   4.   Hold on.! Iran has plenty of water..So just maybe 02:39  |  Stephen. 16/04/08   5.   For Joe 03:11  |  J 16/04/08   6.   Cut of water 03:11  |  Thursty Moshe 16/04/08   7.   israel might have to get water from columbia like crack 03:16  |  a 16/04/08   8.   Remember, Bottled water from Turkey!! 03:38  |  Ronnbo 16/04/08   9.   Joe Sitizen is informed 07:02  |  Ilan 16/04/08   10.   What if Shemitta was observed? 07:29  |  Binyamin DIssen 16/04/08   11.   israel is ALWAYS in control; it`s the occupying power! 08:19  |  eric 16/04/08   12.   take an example from the Palestinians 08:52  |  Sarah 16/04/08   13.   no precipitation over April or May? 09:33  |  Steve 16/04/08   14.   Water pipeline from Turkey via the sea 09:41  |  1957 Closet Classic 16/04/08   15.   Wasting water on avocados 09:47  |  Clickfool 16/04/08   16.   #1, Mark Lincoln 09:52  |  Fritz 16/04/08   17.   For Ben Jabo # 2 09:56  |  Clickfool 16/04/08   18.   SHAME & BLAME THE "GOVERNMENT" 10:22  |  Pestalozzi 16/04/08   19.   Many a little makes a Mickle!!! 10:59  |  Jacob 16/04/08   20.   eric #11 - unpleasant post 12:34  |  S 16/04/08   21.   # 20 to "S" who i hope is still my friend... (2nd try) 07:49  |  eric 17/04/08   22.   eric #21 15:12  |  S 17/04/08   23.   My #22 contane a stupid mistake 20:25  |  S 17/04/08   24.   # 22 to "S" (2nd try) 07:59  |  eric 19/04/08

Read & React Editorial: Israel can't demolish all of Gaza Responses: 148 IDF troops do nothing as Hebron settlers threaten German MPs Responses: 162 Rice: Syria 'most certainly an issue in nuclear proliferation' Responses: 64 Carter meets Hamas leader, sets out plans for Israel-Hamas truce Responses: 70 Yishai to Carter: Tell Meshal that I want to discuss prisoner swap Responses: 41 Rosner's Domain The Passover test and The Passion of Passover Just say no to Carter Poll: What is Carter doing in the Middle East? Let the debate begin: what's a "pro-Israeli" position? Clinton: Massive retaliation if Israel attacked (WTR) More Headlines 08:56 5 IDF soldiers wounded in explosion on Gaza border 04:17 Qassam hits power line in Sderot causing blackout 07:29 Carter and Hamas' Meshal meet in Syria on Israel-Hamas truce 04:20 Israel: PA can reopen 20 police stations in West Bank 02:46 Egypt: 'Good progress' made in Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks 03:44 Pope Benedict XVI gets warm welcome at New York synagogue 07:30 IDF: Reuters reporter risked his life by going to Bil'in 23:25 Muslim preacher sentenced in Britain for supporting terrorism 19:38 Boim: 'Natural growth' reason for 100 new settlement homes 04:26 Iranian official: Asian traders make up for losses due to German sanctions 20:05 The Israeli 'settler' serving in Italy's parliament 20:22 IDF kills militant leader wanted in plot to poison Ramat Gan restaurant 18:48 IDF troops do nothing as Hebron settlers threaten German MPs Previous Editions Select Day 18 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr

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