The Water Authority decided in its semi-annual rate evaluation on Thursday to raise water price rates again – by 1.2% in the beginning of July.
“It isn’t easy to accept that water prices rise when the water level in the Kinneret also rises,” says Raanan Adin, chairman and president of the Israel Water Association (IsWA).
After five years of drought, Israel’s largest natural above-ground water reserve is rising, after a long-awaited wet winter.
“But in Israel’s complex and multi-resource water sector, the Kinneret water level is no longer an indicator of availability or lack of capacity,” Adin explained. “The IsWA 2019 Water Summit is an opportunity to understand what decision makers and regulators are using to plan for our water use, reuse and disposal.”
The summit will be held at Expo Tel Aviv International Convention Center on Wednesday, May 22.
“Israel’s water sector continues to be challenged by population growth, climate change, regional issues and various constraints,” Adin said. “Yet we all have a reliable, 24/7 supply of healthy water in homes, and high quality water for industry and agriculture.”
IsWA 2019 will present challenges and solutions, dilemmas and innovative ideas, strategies and planning, and the global positioning and image of Israel’s water sector in the world. More than 40 presentations will be given; global experts will deliver unique keynote lectures, and leaders and executives from the Israel Water Authority, the Energy Ministry, Mekorot, water corporations, local authorities, leading industries and research institutions will deliver an unprecedented variety of topics in a plenary session and three parallel professional sessions.
Presenters and their topics include Energy Ministry general director Udi Adiri talking about setting long-term policies in a world of uncertainties; Giora Shaham, general director of Israel's Water and Sewage Authority, on water policy planning and implementation at the national level in unexpected climatic conditions; and water in Israel’s international relationships, discussed by Dr. Andy David from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
“We have exceeded our expectation and we are confident that we will exceed the audience’s expectations, too,” Adin said.
“World-renowned experts from Israel and abroad will present up-to-date technologies and knowhow, securing a safe and sufficient water supply to meet all population needs,” says Prof. Yona Chen of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and conference president. “These experts will stress Israel’s reputation and leadership, as well as its advanced knowledge, which is needed all over the world.”
The two international keynotes presentations will be in English. Yake Leong Soh, principal engineer of Singapore's PUB National Water Agency, will speak about general planning to achieve water independence, and Global Water Intelligence owner and president Christopher Gasson will talk about the place of Israel in the world's water market.
To register and for more information, visit https://www.meda-conferences.com/convention/israel-water-association/