Nat’l Investigation Committee: Continue water reforms

 
The Committee was charged in 2009 with investigating the roots of Israel’s water crisis. Its members, under the leadership of Professor Dan Bein, conducted a thorough and considered series of hearings and heard testimony from over 100 witnesses. IUED’s Water Watch attorney, Na’ama Elad, submitted number of documents and appeared at a crucial hearing in January 2009. Her testimony compelled the Investigation Committee to request that IUED submit further, detailed recommendations on all aspects of water resource management.
 
“While we don’t agree with all of the committee’s recommendations, we commend its members for their thorough scrutiny,” noted Elad. “We are also pleased that the committee accepted our recommendation to treat contaminated wells in order to restore water to the economy and reduce pollution.”
 
The committee also called on the Water Authority to take steps to improve transparency and public involvement in water issues, noting the confusion and stress caused to the public this year with the sudden and poorly explained imposition of a drought levy.

“Practically all of the committee's findings and recommendations are issues we are already tackling at IUED. We hope the report will pressure the government to make the changes in water management the National Investigation Committee recommends,” comments IUED’s Elad.