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Last update - 18:32 25/05/2008 Water Authority mulls drastic cuts due to low reservoir levels By Amiram Cohen, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Sea of Galilee  The Israel Water Authority on Sunday warned Golan Heights farmers and agriculture sector workers that the water level in the country's main reservoirs, including the Sea of Galilee and the coastal aquifer, is expected to dip below the red lines this coming June. The chairman of the authority, Professor Uri Shani, predicted that the level will reach the so-called "black line" in November. Shani added that the situation requires the country's residents to cease watering their gardens, raise the rates of water usage for all sectors of society, and to enact further cuts in the water alloted to the agricultural industry. Shani provided statistics which he says indicate that the reasonable quota for agricultural consumption of water annually over the next two years will stand at just 284 million cubic meters, a 40 percent drop from the 454 million cubic meters allotted this year and the 530 million cubic meters in 2007. Advertisement The Water Authority chief is expected to announce the new measures as well as additional plans by the Water Authority during the upcoming Water and Agriculture Conference, which opens Tuesday in the Golan Heights town of Hispin. Shani told Mei Golan water association chief Tzuki Deutsch that the slash in quotas is inevitable following the most arid winter the country has seen in the last five years, a period considered relatively dry. He also predicted that the water supply will see an increase in five years, after which the water desalination plant is expected to produce 500 million cubic meters of drinkable water annually. Currently, the plants convert 130 million cubic meters of sea water into drinkable water. By 2020, the plants are expected to produce close to 750 million cubic meters of drinkable water annually. Related articles: Water Authority to slash farmers' quotas Water Authority: Drought years threaten drinking water supplies Israel's water demand will hugely outweigh supply during 2008 Israel facing worst water crisis in decade after meager rainfall Bookmark to del.icio.us   Nuclear allegation Jimmy Carter says Israel has arsenal of 150 nuclear weapons. On penalty of death Rightist MK Eldad says those who give away Israeli land should get death penalty.   1.   Water supply low because of Palestinian piracy 18:42  |  Eitan 25/05/08   2.   water 21:22  |  wh 25/05/08   3.   The State of Chelm 03:49  |  Nov 26/05/08   4.   eitan 1 05:40  |  potobac 27/05/08

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