Comments on: Israel’s Water Levels Go From Red to Black http://greenprophet.com/2008/07/14/801/israel-water-crisis/ Cleantech and Green Living from the Land of the Prophets Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:27:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Daniella http://greenprophet.com/2008/07/14/801/israel-water-crisis/#comment-1675 Daniella Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:15:34 +0000 http://greenprophet.com/?p=801#comment-1675 I wrote a story on the impending Israeli water crisis for the Jerusalem Report, which came out at the end of June. What shocked me was that the Israeli water crisis is actually a regular event, one that happens around once every 7-10 years. Government reports dating back to the 1960s issue the same dire warnings and recommendations - less water to municipal gardens, reducing domestic demand, increasing agricultural efficiency - and yet in 2008 we are in dire straits. Ironically, Israelis use more water per capita than Germans, who live along an abundant river and enjoy regular rainfall. The Water Authority spokesman attributes to a 2- or 3-shower day. What I cannot understand is why a PR campaign like this one is not coupled with a painful price policy, to ratchet up the price on domestic water use, dry out private pools, and stop the growing of irrigated flowers for export in the Negev. There are price changes in discussion - but they will only take effect in January. Instead, this is a campaign with no enforcement, paired with massive funding for new desalinization plants to help Israelis keep their wasteful habits. Here's the article: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=1&cid=1212041489034&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull I wrote a story on the impending Israeli water crisis for the Jerusalem Report, which came out at the end of June. What shocked me was that the Israeli water crisis is actually a regular event, one that happens around once every 7-10 years. Government reports dating back to the 1960s issue the same dire warnings and recommendations - less water to municipal gardens, reducing domestic demand, increasing agricultural efficiency - and yet in 2008 we are in dire straits.

Ironically, Israelis use more water per capita than Germans, who live along an abundant river and enjoy regular rainfall. The Water Authority spokesman attributes to a 2- or 3-shower day.
What I cannot understand is why a PR campaign like this one is not coupled with a painful price policy, to ratchet up the price on domestic water use, dry out private pools, and stop the growing of irrigated flowers for export in the Negev. There are price changes in discussion - but they will only take effect in January. Instead, this is a campaign with no enforcement, paired with massive funding for new desalinization plants to help Israelis keep their wasteful habits.

Here’s the article: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=1&cid=1212041489034&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

]]> By: mark w http://greenprophet.com/2008/07/14/801/israel-water-crisis/#comment-1639 mark w Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:45:14 +0000 http://greenprophet.com/?p=801#comment-1639 what about all the private swimming pools? go to google earth and you can see nearly one on every other house in cesarea. a slap in the face to flushing the toilet, more like a kick in the butt. what about all the private swimming pools? go to google earth and you can see nearly one on every other house in cesarea. a slap in the face to flushing the toilet, more like a kick in the butt.

]]> By: Sophie Ohana http://greenprophet.com/2008/07/14/801/israel-water-crisis/#comment-1635 Sophie Ohana Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:19:24 +0000 http://greenprophet.com/?p=801#comment-1635 Every time I have had to venture to TA I saw these signs in north TA on the bridges and what are they surrounded by, beautiful green lawns, kind of a slap in the face really. Our local authorities still do not seem to understand the concept of leading by example. Every time I have had to venture to TA I saw these signs in north TA on the bridges and what are they surrounded by, beautiful green lawns, kind of a slap in the face really. Our local authorities still do not seem to understand the concept of leading by example.

]]> By: mark http://greenprophet.com/2008/07/14/801/israel-water-crisis/#comment-1634 mark Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:02:53 +0000 http://greenprophet.com/?p=801#comment-1634 tell the moatza now why are they still watering useless swathes of grass past 8 am? and what about all those private swimming pools, you can see how many there are in google earth, and there are loads in cesarea, nearly every other house. tell the moatza now why are they still watering useless swathes of grass past 8 am? and what about all those private swimming pools, you can see how many there are in google earth, and there are loads in cesarea, nearly every other house.

]]> By: james http://greenprophet.com/2008/07/14/801/israel-water-crisis/#comment-1621 james Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:14:15 +0000 http://greenprophet.com/?p=801#comment-1621 unfortunately, as a gardener, I'm reducing the water I give to my plants - and this year I'm planting less. and...also using recycled water from the sink and from the shower (though I realise that few will do this). One important thing we can do is encourage friends, family & neighbours (like mine here in Jerusalem) not to water in the daytime - this wastes the water that is too precious to waste. Find ways to cajole and persuade - watering between the hours of 8a.m and 8p.m in the Middle East wastes at least 60% of the water, and damages the plants which struggle to drink in the heat, and get burnt by water on the leaf surface. hope these points help the campaign! unfortunately, as a gardener, I’m reducing the water I give to my plants - and this year I’m planting less. and…also using recycled water from the sink and from the shower (though I realise that few will do this). One important thing we can do is encourage friends, family & neighbours (like mine here in Jerusalem) not to water in the daytime - this wastes the water that is too precious to waste. Find ways to cajole and persuade - watering between the hours of 8a.m and 8p.m in the Middle East wastes at least 60% of the water, and damages the plants which struggle to drink in the heat, and get burnt by water on the leaf surface. hope these points help the campaign!

]]> By: Israel’s Water Levels Go From Red to Black | Green Prophet « The Green Rabbinical Student http://greenprophet.com/2008/07/14/801/israel-water-crisis/#comment-1620 Israel’s Water Levels Go From Red to Black | Green Prophet « The Green Rabbinical Student Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:10:40 +0000 http://greenprophet.com/?p=801#comment-1620 [...] Read more: Israel’s Water Levels Go From Red to Black | Green Prophet [...] [...] Read more: Israel’s Water Levels Go From Red to Black | Green Prophet [...]

]]>