Israel declares water crisis is over

Monday, February 04, 2013 |  Israel Today Staff  

 

 

 

Israel's Water Authority on Monday officially declared the national water crisis to be over, and lifted its "severe drought advisory."

"The water crisis is over" and the situation is stable, but Israelis must not become complacent lest the nation find itself in a drought situation again, stated Water Authority Head Alexander Kushner.

Israel has suffered from dryer than usual winters for the past seven years, resulting in an overdraft of its national reservoirs, in particular the Sea of Galilee.

But, heavy winters rains and snow this year, combined with increased desalination efforts and conservatory behavior on the part of the public, has brought the Sea of Galilee to within two meters (six feet) of its capacity.

Experts believe the lake will fill the rest of the way when the winter snow atop the Golan Heights melts later this year.

Over the past seven dry years, Israel established three large desalination plants along its Mediterranean coast that today provide the nation with nearly half of its drinking water. Two more plants are scheduled to come online in the near future.

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