Discussion Papers

The Water Economy of Israel

Author: Yoav Kislev, published under Discussion Papers & Other
Policy Program Paper
a22 May 2012

In general, the water economy of Israel fulfills its functions properly thanks to an up-to-date technical system, knowledge accumulated over the years, a solid legal base, and the professional cadre working today as well as those who contributed to its development and advancement in the past. Recently, the water sector has undergone major changes, amongst them: the growth of seawater desalination plants, the limiting of the supply of freshwater for agricultural purposes, the establishment of water and sewage corporations under the local authorities, the founding of a Governmental Water and Sewage Authority, and a recognition that we may be facing – what many have called – global climate change. Despite the successes, failures can also be identified in the water economy. The source of the failures is in the limited abilities, sometimes even readiness, of government agencies to completely fulfill the complex challenges that the economy presents. In the future, these tasks will be even more difficult; hence the importance of examining the structure of the water economy and its suitability for the job and especially the strengthening of public participation in its on-going activities.

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Keywords

• Economics,
• resource allocation

More by Yoav Kislev

• The Water Economy of Israel a22 May 2012
• Government Expenditure in the Water Economy: Final Expenditure and Adjusted Budget a11 Jan 2012
• New Policy Paper! The Water Economy of Israel a28 Nov 2011
• The State Budget in the Water Economy in the Last Decade a24 Aug 2011