Surface water evaporation loss targeted in Israel

Nov. 28, 2011
A contract has been agreed with Israel’s national water company to help increase reservoir water quality and prevent evaporation loss...

TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 28, 2011 -- A contract has been agreed with Israel’s national water company to help increase reservoir water quality and prevent evaporation loss.

Israel is known worldwide for its efficient use of water, with up to 80% reclaimed for agriculture, yet remaining surface water is lost to evaporation.

The arrangement will see Mekorot leasing a 100,000 m2 reservoir to the Aquate Group, following a one year screening process.

Using a “floating cover”, it is hoped the partnership could add a further 4 million cubic meters of water to the Israeli market.

According to the technology supplier, the total socio-economic value to Israel’s national economy from this project alone is estimated at USD45 million. This is accounted from the prevention of water evaporation, reduced biological treatment of the covered water surface, increase of over 1 square km of irrigated agricultural land, reduced use in chemical fertilizers and clean energy production.

The Aquate Group said it aims for the partnership to be eventually expanded to Mekorot’s 100 reservoirs.

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