Israel’s minster of infrastructure, energy and water Yuval Steinitz has floated a plan to build two new desalination plants, reports Reuters.
The proposal will be put to the Israeli government for approval in the coming weeks. Steinitz said that an ongoing five-year drought in Israel has brought natural water resources in the country to an “unprecedented low”.
The plans to improve water availability further include expanding Israel’s water conveyance network, and reducing water extraction from natural springs. A third strand of the proposal could see desalinated water pumped into Lake Tiberius, whose level has hit a 100-year low.
The new desalination capacity will add to five desalination plants that already operate in Israel.