Israel water context

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This document has been prepared by the EMWIS National Focal Point of Israel (HSI) with the support of Elad Dafny for publication on the EMWIS israeli website in Hebrew and English. We provide here the English version

Abstract

Israel is a modern state that has a developed, efficient and reliable water economy. The water management of the state is based mainly on rains falling during the winter in the northern half of the country where a Mediterranean Sea climate prevails. The rainwater fills Lake Kinneret, which is in the north of Israel, and the groundwater reservoirs in the center of the country. Against this, in the southern half of the country a dry desert climate prevails as a result of Israel's location bordering the world desert belt. The water required throughout the country for drinking and for agriculture is transported through various water projects from the more rainy north to the arid southern part.

The three large water sources are the mountain aquifer, the coastal aquifer and Lake Kinneret. Small aquifers and exploitation of surface water constitute other sources. With the increase in the consumption of water and the exhausting of the natural water potential, other sources have been developed in Israel – desalination and purification of sewage waters.