Employees of the Water Authority are back to work after a two-month strike, and report that the Kinneret Sea has risen dramatically while they were away.
The last daily measurement of the Kinneret occurred on Dec. 3, when the level of the country’s largest reservoir of water was found to be at 214.31 meters below sea level – signifying a dangerously low national water supply. In fact, it was only 16 centimeters higher than the lowest level ever recorded.
Since then, it was estimated as having risen 25 centimeters in just over three weeks, and then another 16 centimeters in the following four weeks.
Now, however, with the return of the Water Authority employees to regular work, they have officially reported that the Kinneret rose 87 centimeters in the past two months, and now stands at 213.44 meters below sea level. The rainy month of January was very helpful in this regard, and the runoff from its heavy preciption is still filling the Kinneret.
This coming week is also expected to be rainy, especially on Tuesday and Wednesday, and less so on Thursday and Friday.
The strike ended on Saturday night after the Finance Ministry promised to enter into negotiations with the workers regarding new work conditions and salary raises.
The Kinneret is measured in relation to three levels, known respectively as the optimal red line, the minimal red line, and the black line. The first is the level beyond which it is not allowed to rise, and at which the dams are opened; 208.8 meters below sea level.
The second line is the level below which the Kinneret should not be allowed to drop, namely, 213 meters below sea level. The lake is currently 44 centimeters below this line.
The black line is the level below which the Kinneret is in fact not allowed to drop – 215 meters below sea level. If the drought reaches such proportions, water will not be drawn from the Kinneret, so as not to endanger the sea itself, as well as in order not to supply Israel’s population with unhealthful water.