Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The amount of water in the Sea of Galilee depends on the weather and rainfall. Pumping
rates must constantly be adjusted. When the surface of the Kinneret falls to 698 feet (213 me-
ters) below sea level, pumping must stop lest the remaining water become too salty. Drought
has at times reduced the level to nearly that low. In recent years, the level has been dangerously
low more often than high; the water was as low as 707 feet (215 meters) below sea level in 2001.
The high temperatures generated by the pumping process dissolves salt in the rock forma-
tions surrounding the water in the lake or in aquifers, which can also lead to high levels of
salinity, thus reducing water quality.
Coastal Aquifer
Another major source of water in Israel is the coastal sand aquifer, which stretches along the
western rim of the Judean Mountains and near the Mediterranean coast. Water seeps down
through permeable sand, chalk, and gravel but is then stopped by hardened clay to form natu-
ral underground reservoirs from which water can be extracted by wells throughout the year,
thus alleviating the pressure on the Kinneret when necessary. In recent years, however, the
quality of the aquifer water has deteriorated owing to infi ltration of salt and other substances
from Mediterranean seawater.
Mountain Aquifer
The limestone-dolomite mountain aquifer is a third main source of freshwater in Israel. It
stretches from Mount Carmel to Beer Sheba and along the crests of the Judean Mountains.
The western part is called the Yarkon-Taninim basin. The mountain aquifer, whose source of
water is rainfall, lies at a much deeper level underground than the coastal aquifer, making the
water harder to extract, but it is of better quality.
Other Water Sources
Streams and springs also contribute to Israel's overall water resources, although in smaller
quantities than other sources do. In general, the water from springs and streams is the best-
quality water in Israel and thus is used by bottled water companies. The Dan springs, located
on Mount Hermon, are the most productive in the country. The NWC also diverts some
streamwater in the north into reservoirs rather than having it fl ow into the Jordan and the Sea
of Galilee.
Water from some alternate sources is wasted owing to lack of infrastructure. For example,
in the winter months a large amount of fl oodwater fl ows into the Mediterranean. Israel has
two large water-collection stations, the Nahal Menashe station in the coastal region and the
Ma'agar HaShikma station in the south. There are smaller reservoirs elsewhere, but in the
southern Negev —where torrential fl ooding commonly occurs — the collection of fl oodwater
is still very limited.
Pricing policies are aimed at encouraging conservation by charging more for household use
over a certain level, and a number of efforts have been made to produce additional clean water.
Seeding clouds to force more rainfall has proven to be too expensive to be practical.
