Israel's Resource Scarcity: Strategies And Investments For Self-Sufficiency

Israel has invested in a variety of sectors to make up for its scarcity of resources. The country has a strong economic relationship with the United States, with US firms establishing two-thirds of the more than 300 foreign-invested research and development centers in Israel. Israel has also invested in education and scientific research, with Israelis now investing close to $24 billion in the United States. In terms of water scarcity, Israel has implemented institutional and regulatory reforms, invested in infrastructure, and utilized large-scale wastewater reuse and seawater desalination. Additionally, Israel has a strong high-tech sector and is a world leader in advanced technologies and science-based industries.

Water reclamation

Israel has historically faced water scarcity. To address this, the country has invested in water reclamation and recycling, with nearly 90% of its wastewater being treated for reuse, mainly for agricultural irrigation. Israel's water reclamation efforts are centred around its largest facility, the Shafdan wastewater treatment plant, which treats 97 million gallons of municipal wastewater per day from the Tel Aviv area. The treated water is then transported via pipeline to irrigate 60% of the agriculture in the Negev Desert.

Since the 2000s, Israel has invested over $750 million in a centralised water reclamation scheme, with 67 large wastewater treatment facilities and a nationwide pipeline network. This has allowed Israel to maintain a national water surplus and even export water to its neighbours.

Israel's focus on water reclamation and recycling has been driven by the recognition that efficient water management is essential, along with the diversification of water resources. The country's water supply relies on unconventional water resources, such as reclaimed water and desalination, to complement natural sources.

Israel's success in water reclamation has made it a world leader in this field, with other countries seeking collaboration and guidance on water reuse and management.

In addition to its centralised water reclamation scheme, Israel also has smaller, decentralised plants that rival the efficiency of large plants while avoiding the risks of overbuilding. These plants are located near the point of use, solving infrastructure issues such as the need for lengthy and costly pipeline networks.

Water desalination

Israel has long faced water scarcity, with rain only falling in the winter and mostly in the northern part of the country. To address this, Israel has invested heavily in water desalination, with remarkable results.

Desalination is the process of removing salt from water to make it suitable for drinking or irrigation. Israel's first reverse osmosis desalination plant opened in Eilat in 1997. However, it was the severe drought of 1998-2002 that prompted the government to promote large-scale seawater desalination. In 2005, the Ashkelon plant was providing 127 million cubic meters of water, and by 2009, the Hadera plant was producing 140 million cubic meters. The largest plant, Sorek, can produce 150 million cubic meters of drinking water per year, serving 1.5 million people.

These desalination plants have been strategically distributed along the Mediterranean coast, with seawater pumped through a vast network of pipes and tunnels. In 2022, 85% of the country's drinkable water was produced through desalination of saltwater and brackish water. Israel now has a surplus of water and even sells it to nearby nations like Jordan.

The success of Israel's desalination efforts is due in part to advancements in membrane technology, which have made the process much more efficient and less chemically intensive. For example, Edo Bar-Zeev, an expert on biofouling, developed a chemical-free system using porous lava stone to capture microorganisms before they reach the membranes.

Israel's investment in desalination has not only addressed its water scarcity issues but has also contributed to regional stability. Water has long been a source of conflict in the Middle East, and Israel's solutions are now helping its parched neighbors. Israel supplies the West Bank with water as per the 1995 Oslo II Accords, and in 2021, Jordan and Israel signed an agreement brokered by the United Arab Emirates. Through this agreement, a UAE company will build a solar power plant in Jordan, and in exchange, Jordan will receive water from an Israeli desalination plant.

Israel's experience in water management and desalination has positioned it as a global leader in this field. The country's expertise is now being sought by other water-stressed regions, including the Southwestern United States, to help tackle their water challenges.

Water treatment

Israel has successfully achieved water security, despite being located in one of the most water-scarce regions in the world. The country has implemented several measures to address its water scarcity issues, with a focus on wastewater treatment and reuse.

Wastewater Treatment

Israel treats and recycles a significant portion of its wastewater, with about 94% of all wastewater being collected and treated, and 87% being reused, primarily for agriculture. The country has invested in infrastructure and utilized large-scale wastewater treatment plants to manage its water resources effectively.

One notable example is the Shafdan wastewater treatment plant, located south of Tel Aviv. This plant treats approximately 130 million cubic meters of wastewater per year, which is then reused for agricultural purposes. Another important plant is the Kishon wastewater treatment plant in Northern Israel, which provides 20 million cubic meters of treated wastewater per year for agricultural use in the Jezreel Valley.

Drip Irrigation Technology

In addition to wastewater treatment, Israel has also developed and adopted innovative drip irrigation technology. This method utilizes a network of tubes, valves, and drippers to apply water directly to the roots of crops, reducing water consumption while maintaining agricultural output. This technology is now used for 75% of Israeli crops.

Desalination

Israel has also invested in seawater desalination to address water scarcity. The country has five desalination plants that are among the most efficient in the world, supplying over 80% of the country's domestic urban water. These plants treat saltwater and brackish water, providing drinking water for the population.

Knowledge Sharing and International Cooperation

Recognizing the importance of water as a scarce resource, Israel has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and expertise in water management. The country actively shares its technologies and best practices with other nations facing similar challenges. Through its Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV), Israel introduces its innovative irrigation techniques, storage solutions, transport systems, and financial approaches to other countries.

Israel also provides large amounts of water to the Palestinian Authority and the Kingdom of Jordan. Additionally, it offers seminars and knowledge-sharing sessions on wastewater collection, treatment, and reuse, desalination, and tendering procedures for its neighboring countries.

Water recycling

Israel has historically suffered from water scarcity, but today, it has achieved water security. The country has the most advanced water recycling system in the world, providing 25% of its water.

Israel recycles 90% of its wastewater for reuse, primarily for agricultural irrigation. The remaining 10% is used for environmental purposes, such as increasing river flow volume and fire suppression. Only 5% is discharged into the sea. This is in stark contrast to the United States, which has a water reuse rate of less than 10%.

Israel's centralised water reclamation scheme includes 67 large wastewater treatment facilities and a nationwide pipeline network. The largest facility, the Shafdan wastewater treatment plant, treats 97 million gallons per day of municipal wastewater from the Tel Aviv area. The treated water is then transported via pipelines to irrigate 60% of the agriculture in the Negev Desert.

Israel's focus on water recycling has not only benefited the country but has also allowed Israeli companies to help other water-scarce regions globally, from Africa to California to India.

The success of Israel's water recycling efforts is due to its carefully planned, high-quality water reuse and efficient distribution. The country's water policies encourage smart water management, and ongoing research and development in the water sector focus on water efficiency, leak detection, and drip irrigation.

Water infrastructure

Water supply and sanitation in Israel are closely linked to the historical development of the country. Rain only falls in the winter and mostly in the northern part of the country. Irrigation and water engineering are considered vital to the country's economic survival and growth.

Israel's water demand today outstrips available conventional water resources. In an average year, Israel relies on unconventional water resources, including reclaimed water and desalination, for about half of its water supply.

The country's main natural water resources are:

• The Jordan River basin, which includes the Sea of Galilee (Israel's biggest freshwater lake)
• The Mountain Aquifer and the Coastal Aquifer, with smaller regional aquifers in the Galilee and the Negev

Israel's water infrastructure has been developed in distinct phases, beginning with the unilateral development of conventional water resources. This was followed by a period that emphasised the use of reclaimed water, the signing of agreements to share water resources with Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, and the development of seawater desalination.

Development of Conventional Water Resources (1937-1970)

The national water company Mekorot was created in 1937, over a decade before the creation of the state of Israel. Among its achievements was the Shiloach Pipeline along the Burma Road to Jerusalem, built during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and a first pipeline to the Negev in 1955. In the 1950s, the United States Special Representative for Water in the Middle East, Eric Johnston, negotiated the Jordan Valley Unified Water Plan to jointly develop the water resources of the Jordan River Basin between Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. However, the plan was rejected by the Arab League.

Water Reclamation (1970s and 1980s)

In 1969, the Shafdan wastewater treatment plant south of Tel Aviv was completed to treat approximately 130 million cubic meters of wastewater per year for reuse in agriculture. However, a cholera outbreak in 1970 due to illegal irrigation of lettuce with untreated wastewater led to major investments in wastewater treatment under the National Sewerage Plan. In 1984, the Kishon wastewater treatment plant was completed in Northern Israel, providing 20 million cubic meters of treated wastewater per year for agricultural use in the Jezreel Valley.

Signing of Water-Sharing Agreements (1990s)

The 1995 Interim Agreement as part of the Oslo Peace Process provided certain quantities of water to the Palestinians but prevented them from drilling any new wells in the Mountain Aquifer. Israel was only able to reach an agreement on sharing water resources with Jordan in 1995 as part of the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty.

Seawater Desalination (2000s)

In 1997, the first reverse osmosis desalination plant in Israel opened in Eilat. In 2002, the government approved the construction of large seawater desalination plants along the Mediterranean coast due to the impact of drought. These installations were expected to supply 305 million cubic meters of desalinated water by 2010 and 500 million cubic meters by 2015.

New National Water System (2009 onwards)

In 2009, Mekorot announced it would invest more than NIS 2 billion (US$500 million) in a new National Water System with several east-west arteries relying on pumping. This system would complement and partly substitute for the National Water Carrier running from north to south, which relied on gravity. The new pipelines would connect the five new desalination plants along the coast with water users.

By 2014, Israel's desalination programs provided roughly 35% of the country's drinking water, and this figure was expected to increase to 40% by 2015 and 70% by 2050.

Water Treatment and Recycling

Israel leads the world in the proportion of water it recycles, treating 80% of its sewage (400 billion liters a year), and reusing 100% of the sewage from the Tel Aviv metropolitan area for irrigation water in agriculture and public works. The remaining sludge is pumped into the Mediterranean, but a new bill has passed stating that it will be converted into manure.

Artificial Groundwater Recharge

Artificial groundwater recharge is practiced extensively in Israel, collecting runoff from winter rains in drainage basins and directing it into recharge ponds. The groundwater is then pumped back up during the summer through wells around the recharge ponds.

Rainwater Harvesting

The Southwest Center for the Study of Hospital and Healthcare Systems, in cooperation with Rotary International, is sponsoring a rainwater harvesting model program across the country. The first rainwater catchment system was installed at an elementary school in Lod, Israel, and the project is looking to expand to Haifa in its third phase.

Water Security

To protect its water network from an estimated 500,000 hacking attempts a year, Mekorot, the nation's water supplier, has invested heavily in security technology. This includes the use of AI, operational efficiency, and predictive maintenance tools to detect hacking attempts and monitor the health of equipment.

U.S.-Israel Cooperation on Water Issues

The United States and Israel are increasingly working together on water issues. After addressing its own century-long water crisis, Israel is now helping the U.S., especially in the Southwestern region, tackle its water challenges. For example, the new reverse osmosis desalination plant in Carlsbad, California, was designed by IDE, an Israeli company, and is one of the largest and most technologically advanced in that region.

Frequently asked questions