Page 434 - israel water resources

ABSTRACT

This book presents the full data on water resources in Israel. The book concludes 70 years of
research and development in the fields of hydrology, ecology, technology and public policy. The text
is accompanied by hundreds of illustrations, pictures and tables for illustrative purposes.

The development of the water sector in Israel coincided with the development of the state, from
the beginning of the Zionist movement to the flourishing of the current start-up nation. In the
early days, despite the semi-dry climate and the limited water sources, and despite economic and
political difficulties, the State of Israel built, in its first years, national water plants that were able
to exploit all natural water sources and succeeded in accomplishing the state goals of settlement,
development and infrastructure necessary for a modern society. After 25 years, when the demand
for water increased and the natural supply remained constant, development stopped and a water
crisis gradually developed. Water levels in all reservoirs fell below the red lines, salination and
pollution processes severely damaged water quality, infrastructure systems were short, and the
natural environment was damaged. The crisis stemmed primarily from poor management and an
inability to make decisions. At the beginning of the 21st century, due to a series of economic and
legal reforms, a revolution took place in the water sector. As a result, the State of Israel entered
the era of desalination. It completed the recycling of wastewater effluents for agricultural use,
brought about the replenishment of natural reservoirs and restored water to nature, promoted huge
investments in water and sewage infrastructures, and prepared a master plan for the near and far
future. The extreme and rapid transition from a state of crisis and uncertainty to a stable and secure
economy has made the Israeli water sector an ideal model, worthy of imitation on an international
scale, especially in view of the global water crisis that threatens the stability of many countries.
This book presents the achievements and errors through this entire period.