Water Transfers in Israel

• Israel = poor climate + geographical situation for adequate water supplies
• Political issues present ; centered over West Bank aquifer
• Sustainable management through:

  • Adopting strict conservation techniques
  • Charging 'real value' prices for water to reflect supply and ecosystem management
  • Recycling sewage water to use for agriculture for up to 65% of crops
  • Importing foods with high virtual water content to save on agricultural water demands
  • Using smart irrigation systems where water drips slowly to roots through a pipe and value system so decrease of waste and evaporation
• Israel built one of world's largest desalination plants which uses reverse osmosis to treat 624000 m^3 of sea water per day
• Sorek desalination plant in Tel Aviv covers 10 hectares with investment estimated to be $400 mn
• Plant aims to produce 650 m^3 of freshwater by 2020 hence providing 10% for drinking water and 20% domestic