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DesalData Weekly - October 31st, 2017

Posted 31 October, 2017 by Mandy

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Credit: Tomer Neuberg via Haaretz

Despite ISRAEL’s strong desalination base, the nation still relies on rainfall to supplement its water supply.  Last winter, however, the country experienced a drought that diminished the multi-year average of rainfall by 71 percent, with weather forecasters now predicting a similarly arid season this year.  The Finance Ministry has accordingly asked the nation’s desalination facilities to increase their water output for the final months of 2017 until the end of 2018, with the state covering the cost of all additional water production.[1]

Facilities located in Ashkelon, Hadera, Palmahim, and Soreq have until early November 7 to respond to the request.[2]

 

IDA WORLD CONGRESS - At its opening ceremony in Sao Paulo, the International Desalination Association (IDA) World Congress convened to focus on issues pertaining to water sustainability, desalination, and reuse.[3] During proceedings, Jair Vieira Tannus Junior, secretary of water resources and environmental quality at the ministry of the environment, announced that the country’s Agua Doce programme will bring desalinated water to half a million people by 2019.

The ministry is developing the programme in partnership with national and local municipalities to promote access to potable water through desalination, with the programme fitting into the country’s overall sustainable development agenda. The ministry will also promote non-potable reuse in the agricultural industry.[4]

Meanwhile, the IDA has named Miguel Angel Sanz as its new president.  Sanz, who is the director of strategic development at Suez treatment infrastructure, will serve in this capacity for two years.[5] The organization has also named Shannon McCarthy as its secretary general. McCarthy was the IDA’s first vice-president and is a co-founder and partner of United4Water.

 

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Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Last year the desalination plant of the city of Adelaide produced just 2 percent of the states’ water supply, while operating expenses topped $13.5 million.[6]  The Auditor-General’s Report, which revealed these numbers, has shown that the SA Water facility has cost taxpayers $120 million in electricity costs since it opened nearly a decade ago. [7]  

The plant was built in response to the Millennium Drought which affected the entirety of Australia between 1996–2009, and although capable of delivering 100 gigalitres of water per year, it operates at just 10 percent of its capacity.[8]

The Environment Minister of the Labour Party, David Spiers, has said that the plant is an immense financial burden for the state: “It’s barely running yet costing tens of millions of dollars.”[9] Spiers has urged the Liberal-National Coalition government to investigate how to diminish expenditure in order to ease the costs that are passed onto SA Water customers.

 

 

 

 

[1] Yoram Gabison and Ruth Schuster, “Bracing for Drought, Israel Asks Desalination Plants to Crank Up Production to the Max,” Haaretz.com, October 27, 2017, <https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.819483> accessed October 27, 2017.

[2] Ibid.

[3] “IDA names Sanz new president as World Congress opens in Sao Paulo,” Desalination.biz, October 16, 2017, <https://www.desalination.biz/news/0/IDA-names-Sanz-new-president-as-World-Congress-opens-in-Sao-Paulo/8875/> accessed October 29, 2017.

[4] Ibid.

[5] “IDA names Sanz new president as World Congress opens in Sao Paolo,” Desalination.biz, October 16, 2017, <https://www.desalination.biz/news/0/IDA-names-Sanz-new-president-as-World-Congress-opens-in-Sao-Paulo/8875/>; “McCarthy in as new IDA secretary general,” Desalination.biz, October 18, 2017, <https://www.desalination.biz/news/0/McCarthy-in-as-new-IDA-secretary-general/8876/> accessed October 29, 2017.

[6] The plant’s operational costs have nevertheless decreased annually since the 2013-2014 financial year. “Adelaide Desalination plant too expensive, Liberals say, despite falling electricity bill,” ABC News, October 28, 2017, <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-28/adelaide-desal-plant-too-big-and-too-expensive/9096046>

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

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