Water Authority's warning, against the backdrop of the desalination crisis: "A low of more than 100 years"

The Water Authority warns of a historic low in water sources in the north, following two consecutive years of rainfall shortage. The cumulative volume of available water in the Sea of Galilee is the lowest in a hundred years of measurement, even though the national rainfall amount came close to average.

The Water Authority published a severe warning about a historic low in water sources in the north, following two consecutive years of rainfall shortage. The cumulative volume of available water in the Sea of Galilee over the past two years stood at only about 208 million cubic meters – the lowest figure in a hundred years of measurement. This is despite the fact that the national rainfall amount in the last season came close to 95% of the multi-year average. However, there are significant regional gaps: in the Sea of Galilee basin about 90% of the average was measured and in the western Galilee only about 85%, while in the coastal basin and the Yarkon-Taninim basin the precipitation amount reached about 100% of the average. The Sea of Galilee level also reflects the shortage: at the start of the hydrological year it stood at 213.08 meters below sea level, and at the seasonal peak it reached 212.51 meters below sea level – still 3.71 meters below the upper red line. The shortage is also evident in the streams and springs in the north, with flow lower than average in the Jordan, the Dan, the Banias and the Taninim springs.

Water Authority's warning, against the backdrop of the desalination crisis: "A low of more than 100 years"