A Thirsty Planet Looks To Israel

Benjamin Franklin wrote in Poor Richard’s Almanac that “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.” Israelis, living in one of the most arid parts of the world, know only too well the high worth of water. That helps explain why so many innovations in water technology have come out of Israel, as this Huffington Post articles points out by cleverly drawing parallels between Israeli innovation in water technology and Jesus feeding the multitudes with some loaves and fish. In like fashion, Israeli technology is rising up to meet the challenge of making better use of water resources for a growing world population. Some interesting factoids quoted by the article include:

• Netafim manufactures 2.5 billion feet of drip line annually
• Per-hectare water use in Israel dropped by 37% while output tripled
• Israel treats and recycles 75% of its wastewater
• Half of Israel’s irrigation water is highly treated wastewater

Here’s an excellent video showcasing highlights of the Israeli water technology industry: