Nestled in the middle of the desert, Israel has grappled with the problem of water scarcity. It has also suitably addressed the problem. This has been achieved through a series of measures including education and information, water-sensitive planning and wise gardening.
Major water saving campaigns have been launched to increase awareness about the need for water conservation and to reduce consumption in all sectors.
The state has initiated measures to significantly increase seawater desalination. It plans to harvest almost 600 million cubic meters annually by 2013. This quantity is equal to about half of the fresh water which is pumped in Israel on an average each year. Another important source of additional water is wastewater reclamation.
The government is taking steps to ensure that local authorities comply with their commitment to establish wastewater treatment plants, this they feel will replace fresh water usage, to the tune of upto 400 million cubic meters annually.
Green tips
Installation of low-flow household faucets throughout the house -kitchen, bath, shower - may save some 28 litres -about 18% of the daily consumption.
Water savings in the garden may be achieved by choosing drip irrigation and using drought tolerant plants.
Washing the car using a system for recycling rinsing water will save 80% of the resource. A car wash facility consumes 180-250 litres of clean water per vehicle while a car wash with a system for recycling the rinsing water consumes only 15-40 litres of clean water per vehicle.
Comments