|
|
"The water sources of the State of Israel are public property and designed to meet the requirements of its inhabitants as well as to develop the country". This is the opening statement of the Water Law, which was enacted as early as 1959; it goes on as follows: "It is the privilege of each and every one to get water from a source of water so long as its utilisation does not cause the salination of the source, or its decline". Hence the law prescribes that it is the duty of everyone to utilize water efficiently and economically.
Though, from the very beginning the water department was aware of the critical situation of the water supply, it also recognised that the expansion of settlement in the country depended on the development of advanced water conservation; but it also expected the public to be conscious, at all times, of the limitation of the use of water, so as to prevent an irreparable decline and destruction of the water sources due to national requirements and enhanced settlement activities.
It is an established fact that, geographically, Israel is located in a semi-arid region, where the climate does not guarantee a fixed quantity of water sufficient always to replenish the country's reservoirs. Nevertheless, every source has been used to the utmost due to excessive pumping -something worthwhile looking into. Examining the various alternatives and directions of the country's development leads us to the conclusion that agricultural settlement was the only way to develop the State of Israel - so it seem that the price paid in water was reasonable.
In spite of, or rather in the light of what has been said here, everyone is aware that it is not just a problem of three consecutive years of drought (1983-1986) which will hopefully and happily be resolved by the coming of a rainy year. The inhabitants of Israel have been called upon to adopt a "drought regime" so that they don't use water in excess of the replenished quantity. They can do this by carefully using the depleted reserves at their disposal. It should be borne in mind that, in these circumstances, the problem of the control of the water supply cannot be solved unless a reservoir large enough to conserve the water from the winter to the summer, and from rainy years to dry years, is provided. However, the country does not possess such a reservoir; but, during the next few years, the preparations now being made to exploit fully sewage water which will be processed for re-use in agriculture, will be completed, making available fine drinking water for the public.
The population is called upon to economize in their use of water for quite a long time. Every citizen can make his contribution within his own domain. Let us beware of disregarding what may seem trivial. Even the largest reservoir is nothing but drop after drop after drop...
