UTAH DROUGHT

Why did Utah leaders go to Israel?

May 1, 2023, 6:53 AM | Updated: 6:56 am

The old city od Jerusalem on March 26, 2023. (Ben Winslow / FOX 13 NEWS)...

The old city od Jerusalem on March 26, 2023. (Ben Winslow / FOX 13 NEWS)

(Ben Winslow / FOX 13 NEWS)

This article is published through The Great Salt Lake Collaborative: A Solutions Journalism Initiative, a partnership of news, education and media organizations that aims to inform readers about the Great Salt Lake.

TEL AVIV, Israel — One of the driest countries in the world, Israel once struggled to find enough freshwater to sustain its growing population in the midst of record droughts. Its largest body of freshwater, the Sea of Galilee, has suffered record low levels. Its saline lake, the Dead Sea, is dying from diversions upstream.

Sound familiar?

But Israel now has a surplus of water. And Utah policymakers who oversee the state’s dwindling water supplies want to know how the country did it. They want to bring back Israeli techniques and technology to save both the Great Salt Lake and to stretch water from the dwindling and over-tapped Colorado River. They wanted to identify solutions and build relationships to improve Utah’s water infrastructure, agricultural water use and conservation. 

According to Nathan Schwebach, deputy director of Utah Department of Natural Resources, the state’s goals were to:

  • See what Utah can learn from how Israel manages water to create a water innovation framework and hub here.
  • Solidify partnerships to test Israeli innovations and technologies in Utah, especially in agriculture.
  • Understand desalination and water reuse infrastructure and practices.
  • Explore how to plan for Utah’s growing communities by incorporating water use into land development. 
  • Understand how to potentially bolster Utah’s water “certainty” by identifying technologies for measuring water and gathering data.

This trip comes a year after the state went to Israel on a business trade mission where the Great Salt Lake was discussed.

Who went?

A team of 15 traveled to Tel Aviv in March. They represent the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah Division of Water Resources, Utah Division of Water Rights, the Colorado River Authority of Utah, Utah State University, Washington County Water Conservancy District and Utah Department of Agriculture & Food. The group also included two lawmakers, a representative of Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and a journalist representing the Great Salt Lake Collaborative.

How will this change water use in Utah?

Perhaps radically: “I want Utah to be the leader in the United States in water conservation, in water development, technology and innovation,” Joel Ferry, executive director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, said after the trip.

Utah may see a bigger emphasis on water conservation; farmers saving water with drip irrigation; higher water rates; and experimentation with desalination and water reuse in southern Utah.

Schwebach says there could be more collaboration between industry, academia, research and development and government; new methods to improve water metering and gathering data; and improvement to infrastructure to reduce water loss. 

How and why did a journalist go?

The Great Salt Lake Collaborative — a group of local newsrooms and community partners who work together to cover the struggling Great Salt Lake — asked the state delegation if a reporter could attend. It’s important that Utahns know what solutions have been implemented elsewhere to understand what is possible here. The journalist’s travel costs were paid by the Great Salt Lake Collaborative.

How does water use and water rated compare between Utah and Israel?

Utahns use more water than Israelis do — and are charged less.

It is difficult to know how much water Utahns use and what they are charged, since such information is calculated by different, independent water agencies. But the Utah Division of Water Resources told the Collaborative that an average Wasatch Front household uses more than 13,600 gallons a month for personal indoor and outdoor use and pays an average of $60 a month, plus stormwater and wastewater fees.

Israeli officials told the Utah delegation that the average Israeli household pays about $150 a month. Israel uses a tiered tariff system. Basically, it’s a flat-rate of $2.12 a cubic meter (or 264 gallons) for up to about 1,000 gallons. After that, the price jumps to nearly $4 per cubic meter.

Israeli indoor water use per month was not available, but they are known to use less water than many countries. A Utah State University paper on the Great Salt Lake shows Utahns used 650% more water per person than Israelis in 2013.

Utah’s price for water doesn’t even cover the true cost of water which is subsidized by property taxes (and some nonprofits, like churches and schools, don’t pay any property taxes and therefore pay very little for water). 

Is Israel trying to save the Dead Sea?

The Dead Sea, a saline lake that sits on Israel’s border with Jordan, is surrounded by a smaller population (compared to the Great Salt Lake where the majority of Utahns live). 

Schwebach says Israel is developing a long-term plan for the sea and is looking at options like importing water from the Red Sea or the Mediterranean. “They are facing similar water challenges of it shrinking at a very fast pace from water shortages and mineral extraction,” he says. 

How is alfalfa farmed in Israel?

Like in Utah, Israel’s top water user is agriculture. Farming in Israel uses 56% of the water vs. roughly 70% in Utah.

Around 85% of all Israeli farms use drip or subsurface irrigation, including for alfalfa. Drip irrigation uses as much as 50% less water compared to flood irrigation and pivot sprinkler systems, which are widely used in Utah. 

What about Palestine? 

The delegation didn’t meet with any members of the Palestinian Authority nor did they travel to the West Bank. The visit was focused solely on Israel and how its government and tech sector is handling water. All members of the delegation were required to follow the itinerary for security reasons. The state worked with the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs to plan the trip.

Related: 

 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Utah Drought

American avocets search for food on a sand bar at the Great Salt Lake, near Magna on September 24, ...

Adam Small

What’s on tap for Great Salt Lake in the 2025 Utah General Legislative Session

The 2025 General Legislative kicks off next week and Great Salt Lake will be a topic once again.

29 days ago

A sailboat is seen at the Great Salt Lake State Park in Magna on Saturday, June 15, 2024....

Carter Williams, KSL.com and Adam Small, KSL NewsRadio

Great Salt Lake makes new gains to start new year. What does it need in 2025?

The waters of Great Salt Lake are rising to begin the new year, and experts hope that run will continue after recent storm activity within its basin.

1 month ago

Cars drive on I-80 with a snowy mountain backdrop after snowstorms hit the Wasatch Front throughout...

Allessandra Harris Gurr

Mountain snow crucial to keep Utah out of drought, NWS says

Last weekend's storms brought plenty of rain and snow. Meteorologists say mountain snow is crucial when it comes to preventing a drought.

1 month ago

Water flows into the City Creek water treatment plant as construction continues in Salt Lake City o...

Mariah Maynes and Adam Small

Utah water study recommends pricing changes

A Utah water use study recommended changes to tiered pricing, but alterations aren't guaranteed.

3 months ago

A man windsurfs at Deer Creek Reservoir in Wasatch County on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. In mid-November...

Adam Small

Most Utah reservoirs are near or exceed average water levels

As winter begins, most Utah reservoirs are 73% full according to the Utah Division of Water Resources.

3 months ago

Drought status: virgin river shown, harmful algae has been found in the lower part of the river in ...

Adam Small

Part of Utah reaches severe drought, but change is coming

According to recent data from the U.S. Drought Monitor, parts of Utah has reached a severe drought status.

4 months ago

Sponsored Articles

Full speed through the snow. A man on skis is pulled by his through the snow at full gallop Skijori...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get ready for an unforgettable skijoring adventure in Bear Lake!

“Skijoring the Bear” takes place this year on February 21-22 in Garden City, Utah.

the bedroom in a geodesic dome shows the night sky...

Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon

Your front row to an extraordinary cosmos show

As America's first glass dome stargazing resort, Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon is one of the world’s most unique and spectacular places to stay.

2 people huddled up in a blanket and warm clothes sipping hot chocolate...

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

The best ways to spend your Christmas vacation in Bear Lake

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas this year, Bear Lake should definitely be on your radar. Read this guide for more!

big crowd of people under holiday lights in an outdoor market...

Western Nut

Our favorite family Christmas activities in Utah

We gathered up a list of our favorite activities, movies, and treats to try this holiday season that the whole family can enjoy.

an IT tech looks at a laptop in front of a server network...

Comcast Business

Tips to protect yourself from phishing attacks

Check out this resource from Comcast Business to learn more about phishing attacks and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of one.

A surprise gift, wrapped and ready to bring holiday cheer! Whether for Christmas, a birthday, or an...

Western Nut

10 Holiday Gift Ideas to cover everyone on your list

This guide is for you if you need holiday gift ideas that will make a lasting impression. 

Why did Utah leaders go to Israel?