Behind Water - Israel vs Palestine Past and Future
Upon examining the table above, it can be observed that the daily per capita water consumption increased from 77 to 84 liters per person per day between 2012 and 2020.
Between 2010 and 2020 Israel’s total (i.e., all sectors) water consumption was steady, averaging 246 m3 per capita annually, with per capita domestic consumption averaging 100 m3 annually. We assume that total and domestic demand will remain at these levels through 2065.
However, due to water scarcity and Israeli restrictions on access to resources, Palestinians are forced to purchase 20% of their available water from Israel’s Mekorot Water Company. In 2020, they bought 90.3 MCM of water, which accounts for 20% of Pales- tine’s water availability (448.4 MCM). Additionally, 53.3 MCM of water was taken from Palestinian water sourc- es, 299.1 MCM was extracted from groundwater wells, and 5.7 MCM of desalinated water was obtained, making up 1% of the water supply. In the Gaza Strip, 201.8 MCM of water is contaminated and not suitable for drinking, while only 246.6 MCM of water is t for domestic use, including purchased and desalinated water.
Our forecasts show that Israel’s total water needs are expected to rise in direct proportion to population growth (Fig. 1a). In 2020, Israel consumed approximately 2.4 billion m3. Our projections show that by 2065 total demand will rise to 3.8, 4.9, and 6.2 billion m3 under the low-, medium-, and high-growth scenarios, respectively.
To put this in historical perspective: during the 60 years between 1960 and 2020, Israel’s water consumption rose from 1.3 to 2.4 billion m3, an 85% increase over 60 years. By 2065, water demand would increase by 160% under the high-growth scenario. Increasing water supplies by this amount in just 35 years would constitute a quadrupling in the rate by which national water demand grew from 1960 to 2020.
Upon examining the table above, it can be observed that the daily per capita water consumption increased from 77 to 84 liters per person per day between 2012 and 2020.
Between 2010 and 2020 Israel’s total (i.e., all sectors) water consumption was steady, averaging 246 m3 per capita annually, with per capita domestic consumption averaging 100 m3 annually. We assume that total and domestic demand will remain at these levels through 2065.
However, due to water scarcity and Israeli restrictions on access to resources, Palestinians are forced to purchase 20% of their available water from Israel’s Mekorot Water Company. In 2020, they bought 90.3 MCM of water, which accounts for 20% of Pales- tine’s water availability (448.4 MCM). Additionally, 53.3 MCM of water was taken from Palestinian water sourc- es, 299.1 MCM was extracted from groundwater wells, and 5.7 MCM of desalinated water was obtained, making up 1% of the water supply. In the Gaza Strip, 201.8 MCM of water is contaminated and not suitable for drinking, while only 246.6 MCM of water is t for domestic use, including purchased and desalinated water.
Our forecasts show that Israel’s total water needs are expected to rise in direct proportion to population growth (Fig. 1a). In 2020, Israel consumed approximately 2.4 billion m3. Our projections show that by 2065 total demand will rise to 3.8, 4.9, and 6.2 billion m3 under the low-, medium-, and high-growth scenarios, respectively.
To put this in historical perspective: during the 60 years between 1960 and 2020, Israel’s water consumption rose from 1.3 to 2.4 billion m3, an 85% increase over 60 years. By 2065, water demand would increase by 160% under the high-growth scenario. Increasing water supplies by this amount in just 35 years would constitute a quadrupling in the rate by which national water demand grew from 1960 to 2020.