Worrying level of the Dead Sea

2009/06/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Hidrologia

The Dead Sea level has declined very rapidly in the last 30 years. According to a study by experts from the University of Darmstadt, excessive water consumption in the main rivers that reach the sea, Jordan and Yarmou, can pose a danger of dryness of the Dead Sea. Agriculture and the potassium industry are the sectors with the highest demand for water, and there is a great need for water for both electricity generation and access to drinking water.

To cope with this situation there are projects of two channels, one to bring water from the Red Sea and another from the Mediterranean. According to Darmstadt experts, pumping water from these channels will be more expensive than expected. In addition, it is proposed to modify the water distribution model of the Jordan River, reinforcing among other aspects the process of desalination of water to generate drinking water. In short, they say that deep changes must be made so that the water of the Dead Sea is not exhausted.