Israeli innovation a model for World Water Day

Among Canada’s many blessings are our extraordinary water resources, which alone comprise 20 per cent of the world’s fresh water. In stark contrast, while Canada had more than 80,000 cubic metres of renewable internal fresh water per capita in 2014, Israel had just 91. And yet today, Israel—a desert nation—is a water superpower and leading exporter of best practices in water management and technology around the world. Canada’s natural bounty in water should not cause us to overlook the opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties with Israel in this vital area of research and development. Wednesday is World Water Day, and that should remind us that access to clean, fresh water remains one of the world’s most pressing challenges. Nearly 800 million people—more than one in 10 worldwide—lack access to clean drinking water. Regions such as California have experienced successive years of drought. Large swaths of the Middle East, particularly Iran, are experiencing rapid desertification through overconsumption. And in Somalia and elsewhere, tragically, water shortages have led to devastating famine, with more than half of the country now desperately in need of food aid. If global consumption continues apace, the 21st century will witness a scramble for water. Climate change, responsible for melting ice and glaciers, is making a scarce resource ever scarcer. By 2030, demand for water will outstrip supply by 40 per cent, with governments forced to spend $200-billion annually to make up the difference. To prevent potentially catastrophic shortages, action needs to be taken now to develop technology that will increase supply and enable more responsible water usage. So what does one of the world’s smallest, driest countries have to teach Canada about water? Despite being a country that is 60 per cent desert, Israel is now a net exporter of fresh water. It’s no coincidence that Israel, as one of the world’s hubs for water tech and research, also exports over $2.2-billion worth of water technology. One of its great successes has been water desalination. Israel operates five desalination plants, which produce over 25 per cent of the country’s water needs and 80 per cent of household water supply. As many parts of the world continue to grapple with water crises, Israel is now providing desalination solutions for close to 40 countries. In perpetually drought-stricken California, Israel’s IDE Technologies is building a $1-billion ocean-water desalination plant in San Diego, slated to provide 50 million gallons of water daily. To its credit, Canada is no latecomer to recognizing Israel’s leadership in water technology. The University of Waterloo’s Water Institute has an agreement with Israel’s Technion in water treatment, and Dalhousie University is a program partner with Israel’s Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences to increase joint research in water. The government of Manitoba has also established a symposium on water in partnership with Israel, bringing together experts from both countries to discuss wetlands reclamation, wastewater management, and other topics. These are important initiatives, but they represent just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Canadian-Israeli cooperation in the area of water. Our shared commitment to excellence in technology and research, combined with our dual experiences with water—from extraordinary plenty to extreme need—make the two countries unique partners in this field. Government and academia alike should explore ways to expand bilateral research in water. We can’t afford to let a world water shortage take us by surprise. Israel has demonstrated that with the right mix of sound public policy and innovation, water sustainability is possible in the most unlikely of places. Matthew Godwin is Associate Director, University and Provincial Government Relations, at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA). The Hill Times

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Israeli innovation a model for World Water Day

Canada can learn plenty from its partner in the Middle East when it comes to water management.

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