Despite the heavy rains of the past - and coming - few days, desalination has not been forgotten as the most likely solution to Israel's water problems. Prime Minister Sharon and Infrastructures Minister Eitam took part today in the dedication of the new Ketziot desalination plant in the western Negev near Nitsana. The plant was built in just eight months, and will provide water for as far north as Mitzpeh Ramon and Be'er Sheva.
The Prime Minister told the participants today that the government has set a goal of increasing Israel's water supply by 780 million cubic meters in the coming four years. He listed a series of steps that would be taken to this end, including building additional desalination facilities, treatment of sewage, construction of reservoirs, drillings, and upgrading of wells.
The fresh water to be produced in Ketziot will then not have to be drawn from the fragile Kinneret Sea, Israel's largest reservoir. The level of the Kinneret has climbed seven centimeters in the past few days, and currently stands at 214.31 meters below sea level, 1.31 meters below the government-mandated red line.
A major storm is expected to hit Israel in the coming two days, including heavy rain and snow in some areas. Snow is expected tomorrow night in the Golan and the Galilee, and may spread southwards as well and possibly to the high mountain areas such as Shomron, Jerusalem, and Hevron. Airports in Kiryat Shmonah and Rosh Pina have already been closed because of the inclement weather.
The Prime Minister told the participants today that the government has set a goal of increasing Israel's water supply by 780 million cubic meters in the coming four years. He listed a series of steps that would be taken to this end, including building additional desalination facilities, treatment of sewage, construction of reservoirs, drillings, and upgrading of wells.
The fresh water to be produced in Ketziot will then not have to be drawn from the fragile Kinneret Sea, Israel's largest reservoir. The level of the Kinneret has climbed seven centimeters in the past few days, and currently stands at 214.31 meters below sea level, 1.31 meters below the government-mandated red line.
A major storm is expected to hit Israel in the coming two days, including heavy rain and snow in some areas. Snow is expected tomorrow night in the Golan and the Galilee, and may spread southwards as well and possibly to the high mountain areas such as Shomron, Jerusalem, and Hevron. Airports in Kiryat Shmonah and Rosh Pina have already been closed because of the inclement weather.