Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., April 17, 2008 Nisan 12, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:15 (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

Israel faces 350 million cubic meter shortage in water supply By Zafrir Rinat 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 yesterday. 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. Advertisement 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. "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 Binyamin 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. Farmers' water supply reducded 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   Breaking with the ZOA Is Harvard University's Progressive Jewish Alliance inciting against Israel? Rising in the polls New survey finds Nasrallah is the most admired leader in the Arab world.

Read & React UN calls for disarming of Hezbollah, Israel-Lebanon solution Responses: 152 Report: Netanyahu says 9/11 terror attacks good for Israel Responses: 217 Three IDF soldiers killed in clashes near Gaza border Responses: 159 15 Palestinians killed in IAF strikes in central Gaza Responses: 165 Arrow successfully simulates intercept of mock Shihab missile Responses: 62 More Headlines 01:41 20 Palestinians killed in IDF operations in Gaza 23:38 Obama slams Carter for meeting Hamas, tries to reassure Jewish voters 14:37 Survey: Nasrallah is the most admired leader in the Arab world 17:34 Report: Netanyahu says 9/11 terror attacks good for Israel 02:11 EU: Israel resumes supply of fuel to Gaza power plant 00:45 Demolition order issued for home of soldier killed in action 19:43 Swedish court reduces Palestinian terrorist's life sentence 01:19 Supreme Court ruling raises questions on definition of battered wife 22:16 Court extends remand of man accused of threatening Leviev's brother 00:06 New Jewish-American lobby wants to be alternative to AIPAC Previous Editions Select Day 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr

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