Water Distillation using a Low Cost process is not merely an Essential Need for Israel...
David Ben Gurion's vision is realized – 50 years later, GES, one of the leading companies in the water industry, desalinates sea-water using reversed osmosis at the lowest cost in the world.
Some might say that it is too little or too late but the water industry is at its peak and growing. In a market which recognizes this valuable resource that cannot be found in abundance, water technologies are very much appreciated and many financial investments are made in this field because it is estimated that in coming years, global water sources shall continue to be depleted and the shortage will require alternative sources to be produced using advanced technologies.
Development of desalination in Israel
Development in Israel began in the early 60s by engineer Alexander Zarchin, using the method of freezing sea-water to separate salt from water in Israel, a method similar to the evaporation method.
The first facility was constructed in Eilat but the high cost of desalination prevented continued development.
The commonly used evaporation method has developed and streamlined but is still inferior when one examines the availability of energy sources and its efficiency.
Together with these methods, the reverse osmosis (membranes) desalination method developed and gained prominence.
Impressive development in the industrial market but weak in production of drinking water
There is no need to elaborate on the shortage of water in the State of Israel. For decades now, warnings are abundant, the writing is on the wall, scenarios scream and very few things are done.
Industrial desalination methods are developing impressively. GES is the market leader, establishing hundreds of facilities for the soft beverage industry, food plants, microelectronics and pharmaceutical industries all of which require particularly high water quality, power stations and others.
In complete contrast to the revolution in the industrial sector, development in desalination of sea-water for drinking purposes has been utterly neglected.
Experience in the industrial market enables development of diverse membrane applications; profound comprehension of the membrane technology, handling problems of sediments on membranes, maximum fluxes to achieve high recoveries, low energy input and significant decrease in consumable auxiliary materials.
All the above provide fertile ground for training company engineers for work with the institutional market with the awakening of desalination facilities for production of drinking water from sea-water and brackish water, about two decades in delay.
Production of drinking water from various sources
The State of Israel has diverse water sources. Besides the Sea of Galilee, the most significant source of water, there are many wells. The wells along the Mediterranean coastline have increased in salinity over the years due to over-pumping and require desalination (partial or complete) to remove salts and meet drinking water standards.
Wells in areas close to agricultural fields have been contaminated mainly with organic substances requiring improvement on various levels before water from these wells can be supplied to the population.
Within the Israeli government’s program to treat brackish and contaminated wells so they may produce proper drinking water, GES has constructed different facilities including the desalination facilities at Ktziot and Atlit, and well improvement facilities for Bat Yam Municipality, Ma'ayan Zvi, etc.
Production of drinking water from desalinated sea-water
The State of Israel recently decided to cancel the previous restriction on the amount of sea-water designated for desalination. Currently, some 130 million m3 desalinted sea-water is supplied annually from the two facilities at Ashkelon and Palmachim. An additional supply of 100 million m3 per year is expected in two year,s time from the desalination facility in Hadera. Two additional tenders for facilities at Ashdod and SHAFDAN should provide another 150 million m3 water annually and the remainder – totaling some 500 million m3 per year – should be provided from increasing existing facilities.
The Water Authority and water industry experts are aware that this quantity is not enough either. Until this amount is supplied, the State of Israel shall be exposed to severe shortage. The only solution which remains for the Israeli water market is to speed up the decision making process and to issue permission immediately to extend existing facilities and place their trust in the Israeli water industry that has gained great esteem world-wide.
|
