INTRODUCTION

"The water sources are public property subject to the control of the State and designated for needs of the inhabitants and the development of the country".

This is the first clause of the Water Law of the State of Israel (1959), and it represents Israel approach to its water resources:

1. There is not private or governmental ownership of water.
2. All water resources belong to the public.
3. The term "water" relates to all kinds of water including wastewater.
   

THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF WATER POLICY

1. To supply all municipal water demands as a first priority.
2. To supply the necessary amount of water needed for industrial development.
3. To supply the amounts of water needed for agriculture.
4. To ensure that wastewater will not pose environmental damages or dangers.

The actual water allocation are based upon priorities especially supplying all the municipal demands even on account of the amounts allocated for other sectors, and since 1990, The Water Commission is following a strict policy of water quota cutbacks.

WATER MANAGEMENT FOR AGRICULTURE

The following facts represent the success of the above mentioned policy:

1. The overall amount of water resources of all qualities consumed by the agricultural sector did not change (in fact, it even dropped a little) since 1980 (1980-1,211,600 1994-1,180,900).
2. The amount of potable water consumed by agriculture reduced significantly
   

1. The gap was bridged by lower quality water (saline, flood water and wastewater) which were systematically developed at high cost and according to long term planning.

1. The average amount of water consumed in agriculture per one dunam reduced significantly (from 1100/MC/D/Y to 600-700/MC/D/Y).

1. There was a dramatic increase in agriculture productivity per dunam/cubic meter.
   

DEMAND MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES

All of these was achieved through:

1. Pricing Policy:

The price of water for agricultural sector has been raised systematically during the last 15 years; Subsidies for water were cut dramatically; Three different and progressive rates were fixed for potable water; The price of low quality water is lower so in fact, it serves as an incentive for the farmers to prefer its usage.

1. Legal and administrative measures:

Allocations and licensing - every year, on January, water allocation for agriculture are being decided upon and publicized for every producer, generally according to crops; regulations, policy and practices followed by on sight control and inspection any deviation from the yearly license is sanctioned administratively and legally; increasing public awareness to the value and price of water and the paramount interest to save water, to use them economically and according to allocations, quota and regulations.

1. Substitution of potable water with either recleaned water, or other kinds of low quality water:

The urgent need for sewage treatment has become one of the central issues on the national agenda of the State of Israel. The amounts of sewage that is being produced is constantly increasing, and currently there is an increasing need to preserve the environmental and protect against the danger of damaging natural systems. More than that, Israel considers this source as a major one for agriculture, and therefore it was decided to cover the water deficit by turning non-conventional water sources, sewage water and transform into water for various uses (except for drinking), and primarily into water that would be suitable for agricultural uses, mainly for irrigation of various crops.

The use of this source requires long term and careful planning in order to achieve high level of treatment for wastewater. The Dan region sewage reclamation project represents significant achievement in this respect.

We are on the verge of implementing long-term master plan for treatment and usage of wastewater on a national level including special usage conveyance system from the northern to the southern region. Another important aspect of the policy is a development and usage of available natural water resources like saline water, flood water and fossil water resources.

1. Technological improvements:

The achievements of agricultural sector in Israel concerning water conservation, increased water efficiency etc., are based on constant technological advancements, innovations and implementation of those improvements in the field.

Side by side with the research centers like the Volcanic Institute are working on improvement of the crops, trying to achieve better results with lesser amounts and lower quality water. Those efforts are backed by training framework on the field with full cooperation with the farmers financed mainly by the government.

THE NEAR FUTURE

We achieved a lot, but we must do a lot more in the very near future. We are developing a multi layer policy, taking into consideration a lot of elements and variables which are inter-linked and influence each other. We must deal, simultaneously with problematic and sensitive issues like:

• Consumption priorities
• Resource conservation
• Economic restructuring
• Relocation of supplies
• Regulations of water supply and demand market mechanisms
• Economically oriented agriculture
• Technological advancement in water uses. (R&D)
• Reshaping of basis ideologies and rooted traditions
• Allocation and use of marginal and low quality resources

Practically, we implement rigid water conservation policies. It requires:

• Laws and regulations
• Reorganization of the water sector
• Building of conservation support systems
• Economic and financial incentives
• Increased public awareness, including through the educational system
• Enforcement capabilities and sanctions

We are still at the early stages of the implementation process.

There is still a long and a difficulty way ahead of us. But I don't think we really have many other choices. Demand management and conservation are becoming more and more important.

At the same time, we must reduce the price of new water development, like desalination, which is aimed to supply more high quality water for household consumption.