258
had to be brought from the Mediterranean shoreline to the municipal centres. New
lines from west to east were connected to the national water grid. With the extension
of the drinking water network, the irrigation water network (recycled wastewater)
had to be extended too (see Fig. 16.2 ).
The costs for desalinated water are highly dependent on energy costs, which
make up more than 50 % of total costs. Consequently, energy saving is promoted in
Israel for the desalination plants. As Israel discovered large natural gas reserves in
25
24
29
35
38
54
42
45
47
75
90
118
120
121
120
120
115
127
142
127
127
85
150
299
321
345
445
566
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Volume [10
6
m
3
]
Year
Ashdod
Brackish
Palmachim
Ashkelon
Hadera
Shorek
Total
Desalination Development from 2010–2014 (10 6 m
3 /yr)
Fig. 16.1 Desalination development from 2010 to 2014 (10
6 m
3 /year) (Data source: Israel Water
Authority ( 2014a ))
C. Bismuth et al.