Water situation critical

(IsraelWire-8/30) Water Commissioner Shimon Tal on Tuesday stated the water levels of Israels aquifers have reached unprecedented low levels and there is real reason for concern. The Kinneret on Tuesday measured at 213.29, the lowest level ever recorded for the aquifer supplying about one-third of the nations water.

Tal added that while most suggestions and decisions concerning solutions are correct and headed in the correct direction, none of the proposals brings an instant solution to the most serious problem. The present level of the Kinneret is dangerously close to the water becoming salinated, rendering the Kinneret unfit for providing our drinking water in the future. Experts explain that if the water level is permitted to drop too low, the water beneath with flip to the top, contaminating the body of water, a process that experts believe would be irreversible.

Former Minister of Agriculture Haim Oron added that it was essential that Israelis drastically reduce their water consumption (waste), adding that placing the burden on the shoulder of farmers alone would not bring the necessary results. Oron stated that Israeli must cut their water consumption by as much as seventy percent, quickly adding the increasing the price of water will not do the trick. He explained the average person will not calculate the cost of water when he/she takes a shower. The true response will be seen he added when Israelis are educated to become increasingly water conscious.

Tal added the nation was moving ahead in the areas of water importation, desalination, using non-potable water for agriculture and more, but the picture for the immediate future is not a promising one.

-- mr. blue sky (sign.of@the.times), August 31, 2000

Answers

Saw an ad in the current Newsweek (diabetes cover) that went something like: Your parents planted trees in Israel, now it's your turn to water them. I didn't read it closely, but the gist seemed a campaign for donations for water projects. Connection?

-- reader (reader@here.com), August 31, 2000.

Water problems are happening, all else where, other than in my neighborhood. May be a Mirage. Not to say we did not go through the forest fires et realita, for a while. Guess you had to be there. Jesus Christ! your world requires much more than a mortal can substain! Take me away, I am not worthy.

-- Silenced (papawas@rollingstone.com), August 31, 2000.

you related to al-d? fear not, we'll all be going up in smoke soon, no more mortal burdens.

-- (up.in.smoke@with.jesus), August 31, 2000.

Dear "Up in smoke"I do not know Al-d, thought I have read his/her posts, along the wayside. Some have said in ugly moments, we are the same. We are not, never have been. On any given day, I will confront anyone with my apparent ignorance of the Internet. We each, have our own given agenda. So God, did not make me so tecko smart? His rewards, abound into spaces and astound a simpleton. It is a long and winding story, and just can say, "you had to be there". I sit amazed, as each day, unfolds.

-- Heathen Here (wellasthefood@dates.com), August 31, 2000.