Traveling to Tel Aviv: A Look at Israel's Leadership in Water Recycling

California has long been a leader in water conservation strategies, I am proud to say, but we are certainly not the only innovators in the world. This week, I will be in Tel Aviv attending the 5th International Water Technologies, Renewable Energy & Environmental Control Conference and Exhibition to learn how other states and nations are managing precious water resources in the face of climate change.

I am especially glad this year's conference is in Israel. Israel is a global leader in water recycling as well as creating new strategies to deal with drought. From drip irrigation to more energy-efficient desalination techniques, Israel has embraced technology in hopes of creating a more stable water supply.

These concerted efforts are paying off. No country in the world recycles more wastewater than Israel. Over 70 percent of their wastewater effluent is recovered and recycled, compared to the global average of 5 percent.  When irrigating agricultural zones, more than half of the water comes from recycled sources and that amount increases annually.

The majority of wastewater in Israel is treated to the secondary level, but proposed regulation aimed at increasing recycling rates has shown that updating even more treatment facilities to the tertiary level is possible.

But Israel has not limited its focus to recycling. It is has also made impressive strides in water conservation. Since 1959, when Israel invented drip irrigation technology, it has continued to be the world's largest provider of drip irrigation equipment. The efficiency gains from switching to drip systems are impressive: Drip irrigation may exceed 90 percent efficiency, compared to 70 percent efficiency for sprinklers and 55 percent efficiency for flood irrigation. 

In the meantime, Israel is also promoting greater conservation within homes and families. In July 2009, the government implemented a tax on excessive water use that is estimated to save 15,850 million gallons of water a year.  Households will receive water allotments based on family size and will pay much higher rates for water use exceeding that amount.  To help families cut back on their water use, the government has suggested numerous appliance options and behavioral practices that can dramatically reduce household demand.

While the contexts are different, the arid American West (and the U.S. as a whole) can learn a lot from many of these approaches.  I am especially looking forward to seeing some of the wastewater reuse and efficiency techniques in action for myself, and I expect to blog more about it in the next few days.