3 Ways the Middle East is Solving Their Water Problem in the Desert
3 Ways the Middle East is Solving Their Water Problem in the Desert
Israel is one of the world’s leading countries in water conservation and sustainability. Without the country’s technology and willingness to share with their neighbors, large regions in the Middle East would be without water during the deserts’ dry seasons. But exactly how is Israel helping to solve the Middle East water crisis?
Israel is one of the world’s leading countries in water conservation and sustainability. Without the country’s technology and willingness to share with their neighbors, large regions in the Middle East would be without water during the deserts’ dry seasons. But exactly how is Israel helping to solve the Middle East water crisis?
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Most of Israel’s water is reclaimed or desalinated for use. Seawater contributes to Israel’s supply through large-scale desalination. This allows for sustainable water conservation and provides the country water throughout the desert summer. Reclaimed water is recycled for irrigation and used mainly on crops. This includes agriculture on the kibbutzim, moshavim, and other farms throughout the country.
Sharing is Caring
In the Treaty of Peace Between the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, also known as the Israel-Jordan peace treaty, Israel agreed to give Jordan 50,000,000 cubic meters of water each year. Jordan also agreed to share the water from the Yarmouk River, with Jordan owning 75% and Israel 25%. Both countries decided to work together and help each other survive desert droughts. Israel has also helped Jordan use desalination technology to help the landlocked country find clean water.
River Rehabilitation
The Jewish National Fund (JNF) is working with Israel’s Ministry of the Environment to rehabilitate the country’s rivers. River restoration includes channel regulation to conduct floodwaters, reduction programs in the quantity of waste, and raising the purification level to a suitable baseline for fish breeding and selective irrigation. Thus far, over a dozen streams and rivers have benefitted from this effort, including Ein Harod River near the Jezreel Valley and the Alexander River near Netanya.