NSW to tap into Israel’s water management know-how

November 7, 2019 by J-Wire Newsdesk
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The NSW Government has today signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Energy of the State of Israel to enhance collaboration and cooperation in water resource management.

Yuval Steinitz and Melinda Pavey

Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey, met with Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s Minister for Energy in Jerusalem this week to sign the MOU and discuss opportunities to engage and cooperate across the jurisdictions to help secure water for NSW’s future.

Mrs Pavey said there is much to learn from the Israeli people’s strong conservation values and vigilance in their personal water use.

“Between 60 and 80 per cent of Israel’s municipal water is provided by a series of desalination plants that produce 600 gigalitres every year, but still Israel’s population has one of the lowest per day water usage rates in the world,” Mrs Pavey said.

“Israel is rightly recognised as the world leader in water recycling and re-use of wastewater, water efficiency, and desalination technology.

“Using smart technologies, including energy-efficient and chemical-free desalination and waste reclamation plants, Israel is able to continually supply safe drinking water to its people.

“As well as being the home of modern drip irrigation – probably the most water-efficient irrigation method available – around 31 per cent of irrigation water used in Israel is treated wastewater.”

Mrs Pavey said innovation in all aspects of Israel’s water management can help inform future water policy and infrastructure plans for NSW.

“Israel faces very similar challenges to NSW and has also been in the grip of a severe drought for the last five years and they have virtually drought-proofed their cities and continue to provide farmers with water,” Mrs Pavey said.

“In NSW we’re improving water security and efficiency, and this ongoing relationship with Israel will provide us with invaluable insights into how we can improve this.”

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