DaAiTV DaAi Headlines 20100922 Clever solutions to water shortage

According to the experts, if other countries could match Israel's water efficiency, there would be enough water for three times the current world population. As well as developing desalination and recycling technology, Israel places a high priority on managing its water usage. Even the parks are irrigated by central computer systems.

--- Rush for water technology ---
The world's biggest seawater desalination plant. A wastewater recycling rate of 75 percent. And home of the world-beating drip irrigation system.

Israel's water technology achievements may be startling, but with demand still double the supply, the country is not resting on its laurels.

--- Watering Ramat Gan National Park ---
In Israel's National Park in Ramat Gan, people relax on the grass under shady trees. In the lush green 50 hectares of the park, it is easy to forget you are in a dry Middle Eastern nation. The question is: how does the irrigation system manage to water all the plants?

National Park manager: "Now I come to the central control of irrigation of the National Park of Ramat Gan."

--- Central computer controls water ---
Every sprinkler can be turned on and off using a mobile phone. The park's irrigation control system is consolidated through a wireless and centralized computer network. When the grass in one part of the park gets dry, the computer makes a quick calculation to water it.

Israel water authority manager, Yakir Zukerman: "The system is to irrigate accurately on time and save water and save energy, by saving water and energy basically you save water to the municipality."

--- Automatic monitoring system ---
In addition, the irrigation system in every area of the park has an automatic monitoring system that can make instant adjustments to the water supply.

National Park manager: "Flow monitor is very important because if you have maybe a sprinkler breaks, I know in the controller this sprinkler is broken, and I close the irrigation."

--- Technology for a thirsty world ---
According to the experts, if farmers in the rest of the world saved water like the Israelis, the Earth could support three times its current population. In the park, the intelligent irrigation system cuts water use by almost 50 percent.

Understanding that every drop is precious, this Israeli water technology company has come up with a range of gadgets that turn dirty water into clean drinkable water.

"This clever device, that fits on most bottle tops and taps, is a personal water purifier."

Israel water purification manufacturer, Yossie Sandak: "What we are doing in the system, the water is running through a very sophisticated system of filters and active carbon."

--- Personal water purifier ---
The device can treat water of virtually any quality. It works using active carbon, which comes in powder, granules, chips and blocks. Active carbon is riddled with fine pores, which trap contaminants as they pass through. Put into a filter, it can quickly and effectively purify water. In the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot, Israel donated the devices to Taiwan.

--- "Waste" not in the dictionary ---
And so, an application designed to save water is now being used in disaster situations. But all this comes naturally to the Israelis, who say the word "waste" is not part of their vocabulary.