Israel’s Greywater Bill: Everything is not always Black and White

Posted Wed, 04/14/2010

Israel is in desperate need of short and long term solutions to cope with the growing water crisis. Diminishing resources along with increasing demand have put the country’s Water Authority on high alert regarding the preservation of potable water. However, there is one technology that has the potential to save Israel valuable amounts of drinking water: The answer is greywater recycling.

This is a process in which wastewater from domestic activities, such as bathing and dishwashing, is treated and reused inwashrooms, gardens, irrigation, and the like. Studies have shown that recycling greywater has the potential to save up to 40% of water used within the domestic sphere.
Today, countries such as the USA, Australia, Japan, Germany, and the UK have legalized greywater facilities and been using them with great success. Israel has also been performing pilot projects to test the efficacy of this technology. For example, in Jerusalem a pilot program is installing an external tank next to a mikve, which will treat and recycle the water that is drained. 

Currently, a “Greywater Bill” which seeks to legalize the installation of greywater facilities within private households and public places is being presented in the Knesset. Since the 50’s, the Ministry of Health has outlawed any recycling of water, but with today’s technology and lack of water resources, it is essential that this bill is passed.

On February 23, 2010 Green Course begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting activists, gave a demonstration at the Knesset to physically show how much water is being wasted by not recycling greywater. Volunteers brought in an actual toilet and placed a sign with the number 9 inside of it, to represent the 9 liters of drinking water that are wasted every time the toilet is flushed. Yuval Keller, the Director of Lobby at Green Course begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting, emphasized “It’s an absurd situation we are in. We have a severe shortage of drinking water, and we use it to flush toilets and water our gardens.”
The demonstration was a success: Members of Knesset from all parties took part, signing a petition promoting the Bill. The issue was brought to the attention of the Knesset members, and the coalition, comprised of concerned organizations, private professionals, companies, and ministries, has been gaining momentum. Green Course begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting will continue efforts to represent the needs of the public, who will benefit from the passing of this bill by saving their tax payer’s money and priceless amounts of drinking water.