Israel: Extreme measures may be considered due to rainfall shortage

Israeli Water Authority has been considering a change in water prices such that the average user would pay less and the wasteful one more.

Water Authority head Prof. Uri Shani clarified this month that extreme measures to conserve water would only be considered if less than 70% of the average amount of rain fell this winter.

So far, less than a third of average rainfall has fallen.

Current forecasts say that by winter’s end, about 60-70% of average rainfall rates will have fallen. The Water Authority is also preparing solutions in the event rainfall is significantly less.

Shani issued his clarification in response to various claims in the press. He clarified that prohibitions on watering grass and gardens would be considered, but that the drought levy would not return.

At the same time, the Water Authority has been considering a change in water prices such that the average user would pay less and the wasteful one more. As such, the average price of water would remain the same. A change in price would be done in conjunction with all the relevant agencies and only after a lengthy public hearing process, the authority added.

An emergency water plan was supposed to be presented to the cabinet for approval later in January, according to National Infrastructures Minister Uzi Landau. but has been delayed.

The emergency plan would generate another 200 million cubic meters a year by 2014, mainly through increased desalination, more wells and cleaning up polluted wells.