Australian know how to recycle Israeli rainwater
Work will begin on a simple reserve in the Israeli town of Kfar Sava this weekend…but under its trees and plants will lie a bio-filter developed in Melbourne designed to recycle the town’s rainwater.
Yaron Zinger
The technology is the work of Melbourne-based Israeli Yaron Zinger who is working towards a PhD at Monash University. In conjunction with the university’s Professor Ana Deletic, a hydrology expert, Zinger has devised a method of harvesting rain-water and returning it to Israel’s aquifer system…a series of underground dams.
The project is being funded by the Victorian Jewish National Fund Gold Patrons Group. Joe Krycer, Executive Director of JNF Victoria, told J-Wire: “Ultimately, the goal is to see a 50% increase in the volume of Israel’s drinkable water.”
Zinger explained that the biofilter could be installed in any open area and “consists of layers of soil and plants with deep roots. A developed bacterial population breaks down polluted matter in the runoff.”
The water will be subject to careful scrutiny and subject to passing thorough testing will be returned to the aquifer.
Krycer added: “The whole system will be totally disguised…the biofilters can assume the appearance of reserves, streetscapes or even a small outdoor theatre.”
The first biofilter is expected to take around six weeks to build. JNF holds rights to acquire the intellectual property and Dr Avi Gafni, a hydrologist with the JNF in Israel, is participating in the work.
A spokesman for JNF told J-Wire other Israeli municipalities are monitoring the progress of the scheme “with great interest.”
