Rehabilitation of Israel's Rivers
by Shoshana Gabbay
Once upon a time Israel's
rivers were key elements in the country's natural landscape, with water flows estimated at between 300-400 million cubic meters. But no more.
With few exceptions, nearly all the rivers have dried up. The reason
can generally be traced back to water scarcity. Water was all too
frequently trapped at its source in order to supply growing urban and
agricultural demand. At the same time, the situation was exacerbated
by continuous discharges of industrial effluents and municipal sewage
into the rivers.
The situation, however, is
changing and Israel's rivers are being rehabilitated.
- Introduction
- Water Quality Considerations
- The Rivers
- Yarkon River
- Alexander River
- Kishon River
- Lachish River
- Harod River
- Jordan River
- A Look Ahead
Introduction
In November 1993, a National River Administration was
established to oversee the restoration of the country's rivers. The
administration, consisting of representatives of several government
ministries and environmental organizations, is charged with
coordinating efforts to clean up the rivers, restore landscapes,
rehabilitate ecosystems, flora and fauna, and develop rivers for such
purposes as recreation, tourism, education and research. Its goal is
to entrust actual restoration work to local bodies while serving as a
catalyst, coordinator and professional guide. Therefore, it has
invested major efforts to set up regional river administrations,
parallel in their aims and composition to the national administration,
but with a local focus.
The progress made in recent
years offers hope that the dismal fate forecast for the country's
ailing rivers can be reversed. As a first step, the administration has
formulated a model for river rehabilitation and established criteria
for priorities. As a second step, it has initiated ecological and
environmental surveys in order to collect data on water and pollution
sources, hydrology, water quality, flora and fauna, historical and
archeological sites, landscape sites, walking paths, land uses and
environmental nuisances along the rivers. Most of the data has already
been summarized and mapped, and serves as a basis for assessing the
rehabilitation potential of each river slated for restoration.
Moreover, in each of the surveys, such considerations as sensitivity
to development have been incorporated in order to help secure
biodiversity and to preserve natural vistas. Thus, in areas in which
unique natural resources may be irreversibly threatened by
development, conservation or minimal development is proposed. In less
sensitive spots, more intensive development may be possible.
Water Quality
Considerations
To a large extent, the
success of the river rehabilitation program is dependent on the
implementation of solutions to Israel's ever-increasing effluent
quantities. Growing urbanization and population density along the
entire coastal region, from Haifa to Ashkelon, has resulted in
surplus effluents, which exceed the amount required for agricultural
reuse in the region.
Until 1991, bodies involved
in river rehabilitation were convinced that the prerequisites for
river rehabilitation were elimination of all effluents and
introduction of fresh water only. However, successive years of drought
have shown that the realities of water scarcity threaten to leave
Israel's rivers dry if other means are not taken to replace or
supplement fresh water supply. Today, the policy which once banned
effluent discharge into rivers, no matter what the quality, is being
replaced by a policy which allows the discharge of high-quality
effluents into riverbeds when fresh water allocations are unavailable.
The discharge of highly-treated effluents into Israel's rivers is
meant to ensure water flow, the subsistence of ecosystems, and the
development of recreation and leisure activities. However, effluent
discharge is contingent on strict control measures which prohibit any
discharge which threatens to generate aesthetic or sanitary nuisances,
a deterioration in groundwater quality, or pollution of beaches.
In order to implement the
program, effluent standards for each river are being set for such
physical, chemical and microbial parameters as suspended solids,
organic load, nitrogen concentrations, and indicators for pathogenic
microorganisms. The right balance is being sought between
environmental requirements (e.g., prevention of eutrophication and
sanitary risks) and economic cost.
The Rivers
Twelve coastal rivers and two
rivers in the eastern basin are currently undergoing rehabilitation
according to approved master plans. More than 20 projects have been
launched, from cleanups to widening of riverbeds, from drainage and
soil conservation to landscape and park development. Within the
context of restoration, recreation and tourism sites have already been
created along sections of the Yarkon, Alexander, Kishon, Lachish,
Harod, Taninim, Hadera and Jordan rivers.
The following examples
illustrate some of the progress that has been achieved in recent
years.
The Yarkon River
Stretching some 28 kilometers
from Tel Afek, near Rosh Ha'ayin, to the Mediterranean, the Yarkon
River meanders through Israel's most densely populated area, including
the municipality of Tel Aviv. Deterioration of the Yarkon River began
in 1955 when its waters were diverted via the pipelines of the
National Water Carrier to provide water for irrigation purposes to the
arid Negev in the south. As sewage replaced fresh water, habitats were
destroyed and flora and fauna disappeared.
In an effort to improve the
state of the river, the Yarkon River Authority was set up in 1988. The
authority, consisting of representatives of 19 organizations and local
authorities, is responsible for the cleanup, restoration and
development of the river, making it suitable for leisure and
recreation, including sailing, fishing and swimming. Hundreds of tons
of garbage have already been removed from the river to restore its
original depth and to facilitate its natural flow. Concomitantly, the
river's banks were cleaned up, reinforced and raised, hiking and
bicycle paths were established, and trees and vegetation were thinned.
Major efforts are going into monitoring and pest control with an
emphasis on environment-friendly pest and biological control methods
including the use of natural enemies such as gambusias and BTI
(Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis).
The success of the
rehabilitation program is already evident in the return of flora
and fauna to a restored 7.5-kilometer stretch of the Upper Yarkon
near Rosh Ha'ayin. The region's new park offers visitors such
additional attractions as historic sites, picnic grounds, playground
equipment, fishing docks, and riverbank vegetation. Downstream, the
renowned Yarkon Park already serves as the "green lung" for
some two million inhabitants of the Dan metropolitan region. The
Yarkon River Master Plan calls for the development of a continuous
system of parks and open spaces for the entire region. Dubbed
"Israel's Central Park," this system will be preserved as a
green area.
The central part of the
Yarkon River has proved more problematic, especially in light of the
discharge of some 25,000 cubic meters of effluents from the adjacent
municipalities of Kfar Sava, Hod Hasharon and Ramat Hasharon. However,
here too, improvement is on the way. The inauguration of the Kfar
Sava-Hod Hasharon sewage plant in 1996 and the launching of the Ramat
Hasharon plant in 1999 have already made a difference, facilitating
the return of purer water and fish to the river.
Today, major efforts are
being invested in studying the river's hydrology, defining the quality
and quantity of water required and investigating natural processes,
with the aim of determining the carrying capacity and sensitivity to
development of each segment of the river, both individually and as a
part of the overall ecosystem. At the same time, the Yarkon River has
been chosen as a model for a country-wide educational program on river
rehabilitation, and a teaching and research center has been set up on
its banks.
The Alexander River
The Alexander River, one of
the longest rivers in central Israel (32 kilometers), is another fine
example of river rehabilitation in progress. The wide open spaces
still left alongside the river, in the midst of the densely populated
central region of Israel, offer an unparalleled opportunity for
recreation, leisure and nature protection.
Some 25 different pollutants,
including domestic and industrial effluents, have been discharged into
the river over the past 40 years. The continuous onslaught of
pollutants has adversely affected water quality, destroyed the natural
landscape, and played havoc with the unique ecosystem which once
boasted a wide variety of different species of vegetation.
While various initiatives
were taken to restore the river, an integrated and comprehensive
rehabilitation program was launched only in 1995, with the
establishment of a fifteen-member regional administration and a
planning team. Effective coordination and cooperation led to real
progress including an eco-environmental survey and a comprehensive
master plan. Special attention is granted to the Nile soft-shell
turtle (Tionyx triunguis) and to the preservation of its breeding
sites along the river. With the exception of the Alexander River, this
protected rare species has all but disappeared from Israel's coastline
as a result of deteriorating water quality and water scarcity.
A 750 meter-long model
stretch of the river has already been rehabilitated and features a
park, picturesque walking paths and a small bridge. As in the case of
other rivers, the treatment plant for the city of Netanya, completed
in 1996, and the construction of effluent treatment and disposal
facilities in Emek Hefer's industrial plants have brought significant
improvement. It is hoped that cooperation with the Palestinian
Authority will stem the flow of pollution from the neighboring towns
of Tulkarm and Nablus into the river and promote a better quality of
life for all the residents of the area.
The Kishon River
Perhaps one of the greatest
challenges facing river rehabilitation is the Kishon River, reputed to
be the country's most polluted river. The 70 kilometer-long river
starts in the Jezreel
Valley and empties into the Mediterranean near Haifa.
Analyses carried out on sediments in the water found high
concentrations of heavy metals, originating in the industrial
effluents from some of the country's biggest chemical plants, which
have been discharged into the river for dozens of years, along with
sewage and pesticide runoff.
Due to the complexity of the
rehabilitation process, the regional environmental association of
Haifa, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment, initiated
a research study on the carrying capacity of Haifa Bay and the Kishon
River. It provided essential information on a wide variety of subjects
including water quality in the Kishon and its tributaries, pollution
sources and emission discharges and concentrations.
Israel's second statutory
river authority, the Kishon River Authority, was created in 1994, with
the aim of rehabilitating and transforming the Kishon into a regional
attraction. The rehabilitating scheme calls for a halt to all sewage
discharge, sludge removal and treatment, riverside landscaping, flood
protection and development of recreation and tourist facilities,
including a Kishon River Park and fishing harbor. Further upstream, in
the Kiryat Tivon area, before the Kishon enters the Haifa industrial
zone, a three-kilometer stretch has already been transformed into a
beauty spot.
As in other areas, the pace
of progress will be dependent on putting a stop to all sewage and
effluent discharge into the river. One step in the right direction is
the current expansion and upgrading of the existing Haifa wastewater
treatment plant. Another major advance is the 1997 agreement reached
between the Ministry of the Environment and the seven major industrial
polluters of the river, including Haifa Chemicals, a world leader in
fertilizers and industrial chemicals, and the Haifa Oil Refineries, to
comply with a stringent timetable for stopping all discharge of
wastewater into the river by the end of 2003. While on-site facilities
for pollution treatment will be fully operational at each of the
plants by that time, improvements, as evidenced by monitoring results,
are already evident. In fact, the first signs of life in the river –
a school of fish and a lone turtle – were spotted in the fishing
harbor on different occasions during the past year. The Kishon River
Authority is hopeful that its intensive work on four fronts –
creation of a database, cessation of pollution, planning of parks and
long-range planning for ecological rehabilitation – will transform
the Kishon River and its vicinity into the "green lungs" of
the Haifa metropolitan area.
The Lachish River
Sewage and waste in the
70-kilometer Lachish River, which flows through the northern part of Ashdod,
have plagued the city's residents for years. But this source of dismay
has now been transformed into a source of pleasure. In 1991, an
intensive restoration project was initiated, and the Lachish-Ashdod
Park was inaugurated in 1996. The park in the town of Ashdod, along
the banks of the river, comprises grass areas, a 2.5 kilometer
promenade, shady alcoves, observation points and picnic sites. A model
on riverbank stabilization using different types of vegetation that
are well integrated with the landscape was successfully implemented.
Detailed plans are currently being advanced for the rehabilitation of
different sections of the watershed area, which encompasses some 1000
square kilometers. The woodlands, nature reserves, national parks and
archaeological sites will provide residents and tourists alike with
wide expanses for rest and recreation.
The Harod River
The Harod River in the Jezreel and Beit She'an valleys, whose watershed basin encompasses over 190
square kilometers, flows into the Jordan River. The inherent potential
of the river for tourist development has long been hampered by
pollution deriving from domestic and industrial sewage discharge,
agricultural drainage and fishpond waters. The establishment of a
regional river administration has resulted in the completion of an
extensive ecological and environmental survey, the preparation of a
comprehensive master plan, and the advancement of detailed plans for
the rehabilitation of different sections and the development of
waterside parks. Since the rehabilitation process began in 1994,
several river sections have been cleaned up and a recreational park
has been established, a bridge dating back to the Mamluk period (14th century) has been restored and the first phase of the
Beit She'an Park has been completed. An information kit, including
suggested walking trails, was prepared along with a video presentation
describing the past, present and future of the river. Hikers will
encounter not only unique nature and landscape phenomena but also a
glimpse into biblical events that took place in this area.
The Jordan River
The Jordan River needs no
introduction; its religious, historical and cultural associations are
known the world over. The unique geomorphic characteristics of the
Jordan River, its serpentine route and its unique natural and
landscape values make it an area with special environmental and
tourist potential.
Yet, while the upper Jordan
is noted for the high quality of its water (with salinity never
exceeding 20 mg chloride/liter), the lower section of the river, south
of the Sea
of Galilee, shares the sorry fate of most of Israel's rivers. The
once plentiful water flow has been greatly reduced due to the
impoundment of water in the Sea of Galilee and the Yarmuk. The popular
saying that more history flows in the Jordan riverbed that water rings
all too true. The quality of water in this part of the Jordan is
affected both by seasonal changes in salinity – especially as a
result of the diversion of saline springs away from the Sea of Galilee
in order to reduce salination – and by industrial and domestic
effluents. Water quality in most sections is so poor as to preclude
agriculture.
The National River
Administration has included a 30-kilometer section of the lower Jordan
River – from the Sea of Galilee to the Naharaim Bridge – in its
priority list for rehabilitation. Accordingly, surveys were carried
out, a river administration was established and a master plan is being
prepared for the area. But the greatest hope for the Jordan River lies
in the regional arena. As part of the Middle East peace process, a
proposal was drafted to promote cooperation between Israel and Jordan
by rehabilitating the Jordan River, the common border between the two
countries. As part of the project, both the quantity and quality of
the river's waters will be improved. Treated or fresh waters will be
returned to the river so as to ensure a steady and clean flow;
convenient access to the river will be assured; plans to allow boats
on parts of the river for possible reenactments of historic voyages
along the river will be considered; and sacred sites serving as
baptismal points along the river will be restored. The aim is to
transform the Jordan River from an effluent channel to a flowing and
vital river, a common border uniting neighboring states in cooperative
projects for peace and sustainable development.
A Look Ahead
Growing environmental
awareness, wide-scale cooperation, and the recruitment of financial
resources have helped catalyze substantive progress in a number of
Israel's rivers. Local river administrations have been set up,
eco-environmental surveys have been completed, comprehensive and
detailed planning has been initiated, and rehabilitation work has
begun in practice. Concomitantly, spurred by court rulings and
enforcement measures, both municipalities and industrial plants have
begun to establish treatment plants and pretreatment facilities in
order to achieve zero sewage discharge in coming years.
The importance of river
rehabilitation in a densely populated country such as Israel has not
eluded the policy-makers. Preservation of rivers and their environment
is a key component in the integrated master plan for planning and
building, which is currently nearing completion. The proposed master
plan recognizes the essential function that the country's rivers play
in the preservation of natural values, protection of aquatic habitats
and provision of "green lungs" for recreation and leisure.
The results are evident
throughout the country. A state-of-the art treatment plant for over
60% of Jerusalem's wastewater was inaugurated in 1999, bringing an end
to the stench and eyesores which have long accompanied hikers and
drivers along the course of the Sorek River. Plans call for the
transformation of this area into a landscape reserve at the heart of
the country, linking the Judean Hills to the east with the seacoast in
the west.
In 1996, a wastewater
treatment plant for the municipality of Hadera was established along
the coastal strip, halfway between Haifa and Tel
Aviv, helping to reduce wastewater discharge into the Hadera
River. Plans are also being implemented to fulfill a twenty-year-old
promise to residents of the area. As compensation for construction of
Israel's first coal-fired plant at Hadera in the 1970s, residents will
soon be able to enjoy a large park which will utilize the cooling
waters of the power plant for a wide array of recreational and water
activities.
In the north of the country,
plans are being advanced to transform the Zippori River, which flows
from the hills of Nazareth to the Kishon River in the Zevulun Valley,
into a popular tourist site. This will combine natural attractions
with dozens of historic sites, including the ancient city of Zippori (Sephoris).
River rehabilitation in
Israel is no longer a dream. With the right doses of research,
planning and resource allocation, Israel's rivers can once again
achieve their full potential as vital ecological systems and as
sources of pleasure and recreation for residents and tourists alike.
Contact Info
Department of Water and
Rivers
Ministry of the Evironment
5 Kanfei Nesharim Street
P.O. Box 34033
Jerusalem 95646
Tel: 972-2-655-3840
Fax: 972-2-652-0552
Website: http://www.environment.gov.il
Sources: Israeli
Foreign Ministry; Shoshana Gabbay is Editor of the Israel Environment Bulletin |