Desalination in Israel - Present and Future
Butler Auditorium, Neaman Institute of the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
May 5-6, 1998.
The conference, held under the auspices of the Israel Government Water Commission, Technion's Water Research Institute WRI, Ben-Gurion's University Water Center and the Middle East Desalination Research Center, attracted over 180 water specialists. Chairing the conference were Profs. David Hasson and Raphael Semiat of Technion's WRI Rabin Desalination Laboratory.
Minister Ariel Sharon, in charge of the infrastructure ministry, sent a greeting message, in which he stressed the anticipated major role of desalination in resolving widespread water shortages of the 21st Century. Prof. Klaus Genthner, Assistant Director for Research, conveyed greetings on behalf of the Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDReC).
The first day of the conference was devoted to desalination in the context of water scarcity in the region. In his opening address, Mr. Meir Ben-Meir, Israel's Water Commissioner, stated that large scale sea-water desalination, will become imperative for Israel and its neighbors at the beginning of the 21st Century.
The second day of the conference was devoted to advances in desalination technologies. Prof. Klaus Genthner described the goals and research agenda of MEDReC. The new desalting program of the US Government was presented by Mr. Kevin Price of the US Bureau of Reclamation, Manager of the desalting R&D projects. Their talks were followed by Israeli experts who described R&D development in industry and academia.
At the closing session of the conference it was resolved to bring to the attention of the Government and the public at large, the urgent need to initiate a desalination program, based on a large installation so as to gather experience and expertise towards the implementation of large scale desalination.
Publications:
- Shauly, A., "Desalination in Israel - Present and Future" Desalination 120, (1998) pp. 281-284.
- Semiat, R., Hasson D. and Shauly, A. eds., "Desalination in Israel - Present and Future: Conference Proceedings", published by The Water Research Institute, (1998). The book, in Hebrew, can be obtained at the WRI Information center, contact Ella Offenberger (Tel. 972-4-8293800)
