Israel has, in recent years, seriously attempted to reduce water allotted for agriculture, allowing a greater portion for industrial and domestic use. Nearly 50 percent of Israel's wastewaters are now treated for irrigation of nonfood, industrial crops. Recycling of effluent has the potential to meet approximately 20 percent of the total supply needed for agricultural purposes. Rive rbed Restoration Except for the upper reaches of the Jordan River, all of Israel's rivers face pollution due to agricultural, industrial and urban effluent. This has caused a serious cycle of decline in water quality.
Results are yet to be fully calculated.
Nonetheless, the immediate benefits of the program are evident, not only in providing additional new and clean water sources for Israel's scarce supply, but also in its impact upon the quality of the environment.