Under conditions of water scarcity and intensive development, the degradation
of water quality is a critical problem. The main causes of groundwater pollution
are chemical fertilizers, pesticides, seawater intrusion, and domestic and
industrial wastewater. High priority has been given to wastewater treatment to
safeguard its effects on the environment and public health and to develop an
additional water source for agricultural irrigation. A recently approved plan
for water management stipulates seawater and brackish water desalination,
improved wastewater treatment for reuse purposes, efficient water production and
water conservation. A rehabilitation program for polluted streams has been
initiated with the aim of transforming them into freshwater resources with
ecological and recreational value. The quality of drinking water is strictly
supervised.
Factors affecting air quality include energy production, transportation, and
industry - and all three have increased dramatically in recent years. The use of
low sulfur fuel for energy production has helped reduce concentrations of sulfur
dioxide considerably, but pollutant emissions linked to increased vehicular
traffic have risen significantly. Lead-free gasoline, catalytic converters, and
lower sulfur content in diesel fuel have been introduced to mitigate the
problem. A nationwide monitoring system is providing updated information on air
quality throughout the country. Israel also strives to comply with international
resolutions on ozone depletion and climate change.
Rapid growth in population, standard of living, and consumption have led to
significant increases in solid waste in the order of 4%-5% annually. Most of the
country's illegal garbage dumps have been shut down in recent years and replaced
with environmentally-safe landfills. Efforts are being made toward integrated
solid waste management, which will include reduction, recycling, recovery, and
incineration. Recent recycling regulations should facilitate the shift to low-
and nonwaste technology.
"Cradle to grave" management of hazardous substances is based on licensing,
regulation, and supervision over all aspects of their production, use, disposal,
and treatment. Enforcement of legislation, implementation of a national
contingency plan for integrated emergency response to accidents, and remediation
and upgrading of the national site for hazardous waste should minimize potential
dangers to health and the environment.
Enforcement of environmental legislation is a top priority alongside
environmental education, from kindergarten to university. The public takes part
in environmental law enforcement as anti-litter trustees and animal welfare
trustees are empowered to report on violations of the respective laws. Economic
tools are increasingly used to promote environmental improvement, both in the
form of financial grants to industries that invest in pollution prevention and
in the form of taxes and levies on polluters. In line with the principles of
sustainable development, efforts are directed at resource conservation and
prevention of pollution in all economic sectors.