The Kinneret is the highest it's been in six years, standing at 210.30 meters below sea level - and only 1.4 meters below the maximum level. A Mekorot Water Company official explained that the Deganya Dam might have to be opened for the first time in 10 years if the level approaches the maximum height, in order that Tiberias and Ein Gev not be flooded.
Water expert Prof. Moshe Gofen told Arutz-7 that in order not to avoid wasting the plentiful blessing of this year's rains, the water must be diverted to the coastal aquifer. "The Kinneret has seen ups and downs throughout history, and it will be OK," he said, "but the coastal aquifer has never been as endangered as it is now." He said that even though the Mekorot Water Company has started diverting a million cubic meters of water a day to that aquifer, "they could divert even more - up to 1.5 million a day - and it wouldn't be too much." If water is not diverted quickly enough and the Deganya Dam has to be opened, much water will be wasted, as occurred in 1969, 1992, and at other times, the professor explained.
The warning itself is ironic, notes Arutz-7's Yosef Zalmanson, because the Kinneret level was so low three months ago that no one even entertained the possibility that the optimal level could be reached this year.
Water expert Prof. Moshe Gofen told Arutz-7 that in order not to avoid wasting the plentiful blessing of this year's rains, the water must be diverted to the coastal aquifer. "The Kinneret has seen ups and downs throughout history, and it will be OK," he said, "but the coastal aquifer has never been as endangered as it is now." He said that even though the Mekorot Water Company has started diverting a million cubic meters of water a day to that aquifer, "they could divert even more - up to 1.5 million a day - and it wouldn't be too much." If water is not diverted quickly enough and the Deganya Dam has to be opened, much water will be wasted, as occurred in 1969, 1992, and at other times, the professor explained.
The warning itself is ironic, notes Arutz-7's Yosef Zalmanson, because the Kinneret level was so low three months ago that no one even entertained the possibility that the optimal level could be reached this year.