Facing drought, Israel to direct desalinated water to Sea of Galilee, in world first

With severe drought continuing to grip much of the Middle East and North Africa, Israel is also planning for another dry winter and a world first: channeling desalinated water into the northern Sea of Galilee, whose surface has dropped below the minimum level at which pumping is recommended. The so-called lower red line is at -213 meters (-699 feet) below sea level. Pumping beyond this risks damaging the ecosystem. On Wednesday, the lake’s level was measured at -213.125 meters.

Firas Talhami, who is in charge of the rehabilitation of water sources in northern Israel for the Water Authority, told The Times of Israel that pumping of small amounts (several million cubic meters) of desalinated water into the lake is planned to start in November, in the first such operation of its kind in the world.

Furthermore, in contrast to regular years, when some 200 million cubic meters of water would be pumped out of the Sea of Galilee into the national water carrier, just 10 percent of this would be drawn in the coming year. Last winter, only half of the yearly average rainfall of 515 million cubic meters fell, with just 40% of the average in and around the Sea of Galilee.  (Ed note: At the closest point, the Sea of Galilee is just 27 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. Think what this will mean for future agricultural efforts of Israel.)    (Read More)