One third of Israel's water comes from desalination.

Israel is severely short of water resources, and water resources are severely unevenly distributed, with Lake Galilee in the north and barren land in the south.

The annual precipitation in most parts of Israel is less than 100 mm, and Lake Galilee, as a water resource stock, is in the state of lowering water level every year. Water resources have become a decisive factor restricting the development of the region.

In 2001, the Israeli government launched a national desalination plan to build a desalination plant. At present, Israel has five desalination plants, which provide about 600 million cubic meters of desalinated water annually, equivalent to 30% of the total daily water used by industry, agriculture and residents in the country. (Data source: Organisation FeO Economic Co-operation and Development 2015)

Over the years, the source of water supply in Israel has changed from orange to desalinated water.

In just 15 years, Israel has built five desalination plants, located in Hadera, Sorek, Palmachim, Ashdod and Ashkelon, with total capacity expected to reach 900 MCM/year by 2025. In addition to the above five, there are currently two large desalination plants in the preparatory stage, waiting for construction and operation.

Israel's seawater desalination plant uses reverse osmosis technology and semi-permeable membranes, which allow only water molecules to pass through and filter salt. The desalinated water also needs to be disinfected, adjusted acidity and alkalinity, and other follow-up treatment, so it becomes drinkable clean water. Reverse osmosis technology has become the preferred technology because of its high freshwater recovery and low energy consumption.

Why is it that one third of Israel's water supply comes from desalination? The reason is simple - cheap enough. The cost of producing a cubic metre of drinking water at Sorek, a large and technologically advanced desalination plant, is only about $0.54, which is only one third the cost of the last century.

According to a recent report by Xinhua News Agency, "Overview: Israel has reduced the cost of desalination in a multi-pronged manner", the production cost of desalination plants mainly consists of two parts, one is the cost of electricity. Seawater desalination needs high pressure treatment and belongs to high energy-consuming industry, so power cost constitutes an important operation cost of the plant. Second, financing cost, mainly refers to the investment of fixed assets. Interest rate, consumer price index (CPI), exchange rate, depreciation of equipment, land price and so on are all factors affecting financing cost.

Therefore, low power cost has become an important reason for large-scale realization of seawater desalination. Ashkelon and Solik factories have independent power plants that can achieve self-sufficiency and sell excess electricity to the State Electric Power Company.

In addition, investment in R&D innovation has further reduced costs. Seawater desalination plant has been committed to the application of technology to reduce costs and increase efficiency, and optimize the cost of each link.

The Solik desalination plant produces more than 600,000 cubic metres of fresh water per day, accounting for about 20% of the total fresh water supply in Israel. However, there are only more than 40 employees in such a large factory, which saves a lot of labor costs with high automation. (Source: Xinhua News Agency)

Increasing freshwater productivity has helped Israel become the first Middle East country to be free from water threats. In an interview with Xinhua News Agency, the Solik plant completed desalination in 45 minutes. "Have a drink and taste it." Klein turned on the tap and handed a glass of clear water to the reporter. "Can you imagine 45 minutes ago it was still sea water?

Links to articles: Environmental Protection Online http://www.hbzhan.com/news/detail/129025.html