Water Issues in Israel/Palestine

View of Dead Sea from Masada.

Water is life.

Water in Israel

Rain in Israel

• Rainfall is unevenly distributed - north to south

• In the extreme south, rainfall averages near 30 millimeters (1.18 in) annually

• In the north, average annual rainfall exceeds 900 millimeters (35.4 in)

• Canberra has average annual rainfall of 629mm

Where do people live in Israel?

Tel Aviv – Annual Average Rainfall

Deuteronomy 11:14

“. . . I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains”

Literally “the first rain and the latter rain”

Cliffs of Arbel

Summer Autumn

Masada Cistern.

Cistern

Baths

Mikva/Swimming Pool

Masada.

Caesarea Aqueduct.

The Jordan Basin

Jordan River Basin

Water in Israel Today

• Management

• Technology and renewable water resources

• Equitable water distribution

Water Management

Returnees refers to Palestinians who fled in 1948 and are refugees in surrounding countries.

More water needed but less precipitation available

Change to Seasonal Precipitation due to Climate Change (mm)

Longer dry season

Desalination

Waste Water Treatment

Reduction

• Education campaign on water saving

Distribution