According to Environment Ministry Chief Scientist Dr. Yeshayahu Bar-Or, that figure is in addition to the 6.5 billion shekels spent on building sewage treatment plants to prevent sewage from leeching into the rivers.
Dr. Bar-Or cited the figures in his introduction to an Environmental Ministry publication, “The Rivers of Israel: Policy and Planning Principles," by environmental planner Moti Kaplan.
The book is meant to act as a guideline for government ministries, local authorities, water treatment agencies and NGOs, including information on river rehabilitation gathered from Israel and around the world.
Bar-Or says Israel's rivers were neglected for years, with water diverted for consumption and sewage taking its place.
About ten years ago, the government began to realize the urgency in restoring the country's rivers and environment. A river rehabilitation administration at the Ministry of the Environment and the Jewish National Fund began to defend the river corridors by removing sources of pollution and educating the public.
The process was not easy. Rehabilitating a river requires massive resources. Sewage treatment and the development of water reservoirs involve large initial investments and ongoing investment in maintenance and management. Bar-Or, however, says that despite the difficulties, reclaiming rivers has many economic advantages as well. In addition to facilitating sport, education and recreational areas, a recent study found that property values of apartments along rehabilitated rivers go up.
Though many rivers have been rehabilitated already, there is more work to be done. Bar-Or is emphatic that further cleanups will not only make Israel a more beautiful place but be financially beneficial as well.
The 150 million shekel clean-up cost for the polluted Kishon River, he says, would yield a return of 300-800 million shekels.