Increasing 1.5 centimeters over the past 24 hours, the lake still has 9.3 feet to go to reach its optimal level.
Also known as the Sea of Galilee, it began to rise last month, after the usual summer evaporation and dry season lowered its level to its lowest point in over two years. It stood some 33 inches higher at this time last year.
The exact numbers: The Kinneret now stands at 211.64 meters below sea level. The optimal level is 208.8 meters below sea level, such that another 2.84 meters of water is desired this winter.
Each ten centimeters (4 inches) of Kinneret height mean another 17 million cubic meters of water.
Like other countries, Israel faces water shortage problems - but has taken technological steps to deal with the problem. Some 60% of the country's sewage water is recycled, and just a few months ago, it opened the world's largest desalination plant of its kind. The new Ashkelon Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) plant is set to ultimately provide an annual 100 million cubic meters of water – roughly 5%-6% of Israel’s total water needs, and approximately 15% of the country’s domestic consumer demand.
The current weather reports call for heavy rains over the next few days. If the maximum Kineret level is reached, authorities must open the dams in order to prevent flooding in Tiberias and Ein Gev.
Also known as the Sea of Galilee, it began to rise last month, after the usual summer evaporation and dry season lowered its level to its lowest point in over two years. It stood some 33 inches higher at this time last year.
The exact numbers: The Kinneret now stands at 211.64 meters below sea level. The optimal level is 208.8 meters below sea level, such that another 2.84 meters of water is desired this winter.
Each ten centimeters (4 inches) of Kinneret height mean another 17 million cubic meters of water.
Like other countries, Israel faces water shortage problems - but has taken technological steps to deal with the problem. Some 60% of the country's sewage water is recycled, and just a few months ago, it opened the world's largest desalination plant of its kind. The new Ashkelon Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) plant is set to ultimately provide an annual 100 million cubic meters of water – roughly 5%-6% of Israel’s total water needs, and approximately 15% of the country’s domestic consumer demand.
The current weather reports call for heavy rains over the next few days. If the maximum Kineret level is reached, authorities must open the dams in order to prevent flooding in Tiberias and Ein Gev.
