Israel offers water recycling know-how to Karnataka

Israel has offered to help Karnataka conserve water by reproducing its successful models here.

Interacting with reporters here on Tuesday, Uri Schor, spokesman for the Israeli Water Authority, said that they had been successful in recycling 86% of the water, besides cutting domestic consumption by 18-20%. “We have used both technology and public campaign to achieve this,” he said, referring to a seven-year severe drought in his country. Israel tops the list of countries in recycling water followed by Spain, which recycles 20%.

Schor, along with Mardechay D P Rodgold, Director of Information and Visual Media, Israel, attended the recently concluded ‘India Water Week’ in Delhi. Israel is the partner country. The duo have been visiting their consulate offices in the country, offering water technologies and holding dialogues with local authorities.

They along with Yael Hashavit, Israeli Consul General in Bengaluru, met officials of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board to share their knowledge on water conservation and recycling.

Lakshmana, KSPCB chairman, told Deccan Herald that they were very impressed by Israel’s efforts to recycle 86% of water. “We are writing to the state government to have a look at the Israeli model to save water,” he said.

Schor said that in addition to use of technology, elaborate planning, regular reviews and constant monitoring and research were a must to ensure successful recycling of water. Some of their out-of-the-box campaigns included cutting the shower time by two minutes that could save a lot of water, he said.

Rodgold said, “There is a shortage everywhere. Australia and California in the US are also affected,” he said, adding that Israel had helped them in addressing the water scarcity. Israel has set up a huge desalination plant in Chennai too.