Sea of Galilee Levels Lowest in a Century

March 9, 2017

by: Ilana Curiel

Thursday, 09 March 2017 | After registering a drought for the fourth consecutive year in the north, the Water Authority is reporting a record low for precipitation in the month of February since measurements began in the 1920s.

Water levels in the Kinneret rose only 22cm [8.7 in] last month which is decidedly lower than the multi-year average of 60cm [23.6].

As of the beginning of March, current water levels in the Kinneret are standing at 16cm [6.3] below the red line.

These measurements, which are recorded now at the end of the rainy season, present a dire picture that has not been seen in a decade.

Due to low levels of precipitation in the western Galilee over the last four years, the lack of available water volume in the Kinneret is the largest it has been in 100 years.

The available water volume in the Kinneret last month amounted to 35 cubic meters [115 square foot] , compared to the multi-year average of 86 cubic meters [210 square feet] in the month of February.

These worrying data were still recorded despite Water Authority policy that stopped Kinneret pumping almost entirely. Exacerbating matters, the water shortage in the north is expected to worsen this summer.

The Water Authority is working to complete a desalination system to stabilize the water market in Israel, half of which is already made up of 50% recycled water.

Posted on March 9, 2017

Source: (Excerpt of an article originally published in Ynetnews on 07 March 2017. Time related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See the original article at this link.)

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