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quality of the treated wastewater produced after the tertiary
treatment, these waters are suitable for unrestricted irrigation
of all kinds of crops, in accordance with all requirements,
free of health concerns.
The Third Negev Line system, which went into full-scale
operation in November 1989, enabled the separation of two
supply systems: the potable water supply line (the eastern
Yarkon-Negev pipeline and the western Yarkon-Negev
pipeline), and an irrigation water supply system. In order to
identify and prevent confusion between the freshwater and
reclaimed water systems, different colors were assigned to
the respective systems’ facilities.
The upcoming era - membrane
treatment of treated wastewater
WithinMekorot’s research and development efforts to develop
new water technologies, Mekorot has been researching
the membrane treatment of treated wastewater to upgrade
it to drinking water grade. At its experimental plant at the
SHAFDAN site, a semi-industrial facility is running, processing
treated wastewater and bring it to a high quality grade, like
the quality of the treated wastewater at the “Third Negev
Line”, such that it will become suitable for unrestricted
irrigation of all sorts of crops.
This need for technology is due to the forecast for coming
years, according to which we will have a surplus of treated
wastewater from the wastewater treatment plants in the
Tel Aviv area. The solution for this is to be based on the
technology being developed by Mekorot.
The resulting water will be used for various purposes:
agricultural, for unrestricted irrigation of crops, aquifer
replenishment and industrial use. The resulting water quality
is close to that of the “Third Negev Line” plant, where the
secondary treated wastewater is injected into the aquifer
through sandy percolation ponds for tertiary treatment using
the Soil-Aquifer Treatment (SAT) method. ■
Photo: Eli Degani