Love of the Land: World's Largest Desalinization Plant comes On-line in Israel

World's Largest Desalinization Plant comes On-line in Israel

Charlie Ettinson
Thoughts: A Buck Each
30 December 09

The world's largest water desalinization plant has begun operation in Hadera, in Israel. The plant should be able to provide 300 million cubic meters of water every year which is just shy of one third of the water Israel's National Water Carrier currently provides. The new facility will be the cornerstone of Israel's new national water carrier which, rather than relying on natural sources of water such as the Sea of Galilee--already under heavy strain--will rely on desalinized water.

As a first point, it may not be true that this plant is the largest in the world. This article, for example, suggests that the largest water desalinization plant in the world just opened in Saudi Arabia. It's possible that this plant has overshadowed the Saudi one, or perhaps it's a different type of facility. It really is immaterial, but could nonetheless be an error in the original article.

Secondly, though desalinization can have negative environmental effects, this is a project that should be welcomed. Given the extreme damage being done to the sea of Galilee by the large amount of water being withdrawn from it, any small environmental impact in the Mediterranean could be eclipsed by the benefits of reducing pressure on the Sea of Galilee and on the Jordan river and Dead Sea which it feeds.

(Read full post)

Love of the Land: World's Largest Desalinization Plant comes On-line in Israel

Love of the Land: Major water sources drying up as rain season begins

Major water sources drying up as rain season begins

Ehud Zion Waldoks
JPost
18 October 09

At the end of the 2008-2009 hydrological year which ends in October, the level of Israel's major water sources - including Lake Kinneret and aquifers - were down almost a meter compared to last year, the Water Authority said Sunday based on initial estimates.

A complete report is due out soon.

Those numbers do not bode well at all for Israel. The past five years have been very dry years. The fact that the aquifers and Lake Kinneret are down compared to last year is another indication that the situation is dire. The Water Authority has predicted that the black lines - which are even lower than the red lines - will be reached this year sometime in December. If this happens it signals irreparable damage to the environment.

The Water Authority decided to tackle the scarcity by targeting household use after cutting water for agriculture in previous years and implementing lawn watering restrictions as well. They imposed a drought levy earlier this year despite fierce objections. The Knesset is set to discuss the drought levy again on Monday.

The El Nino effect might have an impact on rainfall in the region, but it is unclear whether it will bring more rain or exacerbate the drought. Rainfall since September has been sporadic but hard when it does arrive. However, the situation is still critical.

Lake Kinneret dropped another 18 cm. to -1.24 meters below the red line and the Dead Sea dropped another 1.19 meters in 2008-2009.

In the coastal aquifer, the average water level in the southern part is down 0.6 meters compared to last year. However, the western part is down around 0.9 meters. Nevertheless, the central and northern parts of the aquifer actually rose 0.1 meters this year. Initial estimates indicate the aquifer provided 22 million cubic meters (mcm) of water in 2008-2009.

The mountain aquifer was also down an average of 0.90 meters compared to last year. The water level in the southern part was 13 cm. below the red line - a new low for the aquifer. The central part was down 67 cm. below the red line, and the northern part was 26 cm. above the red line.

While unable to make up all of the significant shortfall, the 100 mcm desalination plant in Hadera is set to come online in coming months. That 100 mcm. would join the roughly 150 mcm. to be produced this year from the Ashkelon and Palmahim plants after both plants agreed to increase their output this year.

A 150 mcm. plant at Sorek is in the planning stages. The goal is to reach 600 mcm. by 2013 or so, and to reach 750 mcm. late in the coming decade. The 750 mcm. roughly corresponds to total household consumption at present.

Love of the Land: Major water sources drying up as rain season begins