print this page Water Issues in Israel While in Israel, my goals include seeing as much of the country as possible and learning about the hydrogeology and water supply issues of Israel. In comparison to temperate and wet Ontario, this is an arid country with relatively low precipitation of 50 to 600 mm/year (up to a high of 1000 mm in the Golan Heights) and extremely high evapotranspiration rates ranging from 1400 mm/year to more than 2600 mm/year in the desert. I had the pleasure of meeting with Professor Ronit Nativ of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem whose office is conveniently located just up the street from the Weizmann Institute. In addition to research and applied projects, Professor Nativ teaches a course in water management and has written an issue paper on the subject for the journal Ground Water (abstract available at http://www.ngwa.org/publication/gw/04absseptoct.shtml#1 ). The information provided here is based on an interview with Professor Nativ and the issue paper. Israel’s sources of water include the Sea of Galilee, the Coastal Plain Aquifer (Pleistocene sand and sandstone), the Mountain Aquifer (Cretaceous karstified limestone), and marginal water from treated wastewater and brackish groundwater. The first three are drinking water sources and are integrated into one pipeline system called the National Water Carrier. As a result, tap water in most parts of the country is a mixture from the Sea of Galilee, the Coastal Plain and Mountain Aquifers. Problems related to water quantity and quality exist with each of these sources. The Sea of Galilee is actually a fresh water lake fed by the Jordan River and supplies 25% of total water consumption. In the past decade the water level elevations have dropped 4 metres and there are concerns about salinity levels due to high evaporation and saline springs below and around the Sea. As its name suggests, the Coastal Plain Aquifer is located along the Mediterranean coast, which is the most heavily populated area. In places, this aquifer is being mined which is leading to salt water intrusion. Other quality problems include salinization due to irrigation with treated wastewater (chloride levels around 350 mg/L) and contamination due to the usual suspects (pesticides, fertilizers and industrial waste). The Mountain Aquifer lies within the contentious West Bank area where control of the aquifer is a major source of tension between Palestinians and Israelis. Although the water table is about 450 m below land surface, it is a karstic limestone and hydrogeologists in Ontario are well aware, from the Walkerton tragedy, how quickly groundwater can travel in that environment. Contamination by nitrates and organic compounds has been detected in some areas of the Mountain Aquifer. In her issue paper in Ground Water, Professor Nativ provides a variety of possible solutions to address the water quantity issues and to close the gap between water demand and supply. These solutions include the following:
In addressing quality issues, her recommended solutions focus on measures to reduce salinity and to enhance the flushing of contaminants from the aquifers. Such measures include desalinating waste water used for irrigation to prevent salt buildup in soils and to recharge aquifers with urban runoff. Despite the differences in water wealth between Ontario and Israel, there is an unfortunate similarity. The water resource professionals of both places are aware of the problems and potential solutions regarding water quality and quantity. And, in both places it appears to take a crisis for those in power to actually listen. For the next issue of Field Notes, I will report on water management in the Negev Desert and research by hydrogeologists at Ben Gurion University. |
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