Israel's Solution for a Water-Starved World - Let There Be Water

Seth Siegel has written a fascinating, engaging and highly readable book telling the story of how Israel went from chronic water shortages to being a water-exporting nation roughly between 2001 and 2013. Most people probably don't feel they need to know how this happened. But the story of Israel's struggles and ultimate triumph over the scourge of water scarcity is a drama so exciting, and it has such an exhilarating ending, that anyone who picks up this book will end up being very happy they did.

Siegel picks up the story of water scarcity in Israel in the 1930s, when British experts were issuing one report after another arguing that the Jews trying to flee Nazi-dominated Europe just could not be physically accommodated in British-controlled Palestine. The Zionists, headed by David Ben-Gurion, sought to prove the British wrong, and thus was born the Israeli effort to turn a half-arid, half-desert land into a water-rich country capable of sustaining millions.

Along the way, Siegel has a great time telling how the Jews got water to their illegal settlements in the Negev desert; how the National Water Carrier brought the Sea of Galilee to the southern deserts and made the city of Beersheva possible; how Israeli-invented drip irrigation proved that it could not only save half the agricultural water needs of the world, but could do so while at least doubling crop yield for just about anything farmers grow; how Israeli engineers turned waste water from a repulsive pollutant and a health hazard into a central pillar of Israeli agriculture; and how desalination of Mediterranean sea water finally went from a dream to a reality in just the last few years.

This is truly a feel-good story. But Siegel also sheds light on some dark times and some dark issues. His chapter on the pollution of virtually all of Israel's rivers is heartbreaking, and he doesn't spare us the deaths of 4 Maccabiah games athletes who were poisoned falling into the muck of what was left of the Yarkon River in Tel Aviv. Siegel also makes an important case for Ben-Gurion's nationalization of every drop of water in the country (including the rain falling on your roof) in 1959. This nationalization may have saved Israel, but Siegel also reminds us that until new legislation in 2007, Israeli municipalities used their income from nationalized water resources as a slush fund to subsidize crony politics, rather than fixing badly decaying water delivery systems.

Under Siegel's light and witty pen, all of this come's off as hugely entertaining, and leaves you with the feeling that you're learning things that everyone really should just know.

This is not to say that the book is without flaws. First, most readers will probably want to know which Israeli political leaders took responsibility and made the tough decisions to turn their country into a water-rich nation--as well as who opposed them. But while Siegel does mention some names (Baiga Schochat, Ariel Sharon) in passing, his book disappointingly shies away from really giving us a picture of the political struggles at the top that led to this miracle. Second, Siegel's overwhelmingly positive outlook may leave some readers feeling like important things are being swept under the rug. Siegel asserts that the socialized water system was free from corruption, for instance, but there are points in the book where you begin to feel that things couldn't have been quite that peachy.

On the whole, it is rare to find a book that's as slam-dunk worth reading as this one is. It's a pleasure and you end up knowing an ocean of things you never thought you'd care about--but which, Siegel convincingly proves, are really among the most important things in the world.

Yoram Hazony
The Herzl Institute, Jerusalem

When you realize that Israel exports two billion dollars’ worth of water from a tiny desert state overflowing with people, it might be instructive to know what it is they’re doing. Seth Siegel’s book is an in-depth, tightly focused and exhaustive look at the totality of what the country has accomplished in water.

There are three basic levels to the story. PEOPLE must be conscious of their water consumption and actively minimize it. The need has forced TECHNOLOGY to take leaps and bounds that have vaulted Israel to world leadership in water management. And unusually, there is the POLITICAL WILLl to manage natural resources nationwide for the benefit of all, even to the point of co-operating regionally. With these three arms working together, and the only place on earth where all three are firing in sync, Israel is the poster child for survival.

On the people level, everyone shuts off showers while soaping up, closes taps when teethbrushing, and uses dual flush toilets Israel pioneered. Flow restrictors are on all showers, lush gardens are actively discouraged.

On the tech level, Israelis invented and perfected drip irrigation - to where crops need a fraction of the water (and fertilizer) that flood or spray irrigation requires, and produce more. Israel has pioneered improvements in desalination, allowing it to let lakes and rivers recover naturally while desalination provides the country’s water – to the tune of more than 90%.

In management, Israel recycles 85% of sewage (vs 8% in the USA). and sends it to agriculture. Even toilet paper is recovered and recycled, reducing landfill and increasing processing capacity by 30%. Israel is now actually short of sewage, because people have so reduced their water consumption. The country has done deals regionally, pumping Lake Galilee water to Jordan in exchange for a desalination plant on Jordanian territory in the Gulf of Aqaba. Leaks have been reduced to about 16%, because water authorities monitor all systems continuously.

Even before its founding, leaders knew water was the number one priority. The British refused to allow greater immigration because there wasn’t enough water to support the local population. At that time the population was little more than half a million. Today it is 20 times higher, and Israel exports water.

Despite Israel’s pariah status globally, Israeli water technologies and strategies are finding their way into Africa, Asia and America, as water shortages become the norm.

The book is straightforward, if a little fawning. Siegel avoids the Dead Sea disaster, in which 95% of the Jordan River is diverted, and the Dead Sea is losing three feet a year. It’s to the point where shoreline hotels now must run shuttle buses to the shore. He keeps to his topic, and holds interest with results, since there are so many substantial ones to describe. He addresses the elephant in the room - the Palestinian situation - but as ever, there is no meeting of the minds. Still, 96% of West Bank Palestinians have state-provided clean water, where none had it before.

Let There Be Water is a blueprint for survival: necessary, critical, successful, and replicable.

David Wineberg

The book gives in amazing detail Israel's struggle to deal with its limited natural water. In addition to conservation, reuse of waste water and desalination of salty water are detailed. Israel is 60% desert, so it has a different water problem from much of the world.
The story was interesting, but could have been told in much fewer words.

Seth Siegel writes an interesting narrative here about the history of Israel's Water Company, its early years of conserving water and making water conservation part of the Israeli ethos. It's interesting to read about Israeli scientists developing drip irrigation, perfecting sewage treatment and recycling protocols, and investing a lot of money (some in part from the US under President Johnson) at creating water desalination plants that treat salt water through reverse osmosis to provide potable water to Israelis. The government and its people worked together to create ariable land out of the desert. This is especially important today with global warming and drought conditions spreading across Africa and the American Southwest, specifically California.

One major flaw with the writing is that in many respects it reads like propaganda for Israel and its success with managing its water resources. No doubt Israel has implemented impressive results that should be emulated by other drought-stricken countries. Siegel does mention the bad pollution of the Yarkon river and the Maccabiah Games in 1997 when the bridge that crossed over at the start of the opening ceremonies collapsed. Several athletes died not from drowning, but by ingesting high levels of pollutants while in the river. This embarrassment led the leaders to investigate the pollutants of its other rivers, specifically the Jordan River which divides Syria, Israel and Jordan. The river begins in the Golan Heights which Israel still occupies and by occupation controls the water usage for the three countries. Impoverished Palestinians live near the lower Jordan, where water quality is far worse than in the upper Jordan River, and they don't have the sewage plants and methods used by Israel. This contentious issue is mentioned but downplayed. Chapter Nine, "Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians: Finding a Regional Water Solution" does talk about the need of cooperation between Israel and Palestine (and Hamas) and proving the Palestinians the same quality of water as the Israelis. This could be a great bartering tool for peace. Indeed Israel is a water super power in the Levant. Also not touched on much are the pollutants created by using desalination plants, or the toxins pumped into the Mediterranean Sea.

The second half of the book goes more into the expansion of the Israeli water management practices to other countries.

Siegel did fine research for this book. He has cited books, speeches, reports and documents. The chapters are very engaging and the topics pretty much straightforward. Israel does have reasons to gloat on its accomplishments with its water resources, and can provide the world its know-how and technology dealing with water issues that in the Middle East will continue to grow. As Climate Change continues to be a political issue, reading this book is all the more paramount.

I was provided a free copy for review by the publisher.

One of the great tourist attractions in New York City -- top ten list for many Europeans but relatively unknown to Americans -- is the flagship water treatment plant (one of 14 in NYC) located at Newtown Creek in Brooklyn. For tourists, there are three superb attractions: an amazing nature park designed by world renowned environmental sculptor George Trakas, a two hour lecture by staff members, and a tour of the gigantic eggs used by micro-organisms to removed impurities from the water before it is pumped into the waterways surrounding the city.

At a recent tour, one of the speakers told us that Israel has been a world leader in water conservation, creating many of the new technologies that the rest of the world should emulate and improve. One example: this little arid country sells over two billion dollars US of water currently every year, and that amount is increasing despite increasing population.

She said that the Israelis emphasize water conservation in almost every aspect of their lives, starting with very young children and continuing to emphasize the theme throughout their education and beyond.

Water is precious, and this is a superb introduction to a nation that really believes that and practices that belief and makes it come true -- in the desert of all places.

Superb exposition of a crucial issue for the entire world.

Robert C. Ross
September 2015

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Public awareness of water issues is rising daily. California's challenges amid a historic drought are a harbinger of water shortages that many foresee from climate disruption or government mismanagement.

Seth Siegel has written a smart book that strives to impart lessons from Israel's historic water management. Isolated in the Middle East, Israel has dealt with water as a strategic, even existential issue from its beginning.

Siegel is well-equipped to provide actionable lessons from Israel's example. He has relevant experience across a range of relevant disciplines, including law, business, and activism.

The book is well-organized and readable. Siegel marshals facts, leading to a "guiding philosophy" for water management. It's a scaffolding for effective policy anywhere. Siegel's precepts, from the Israeli experience:

--"the water belongs to the nation"

--"Cheap Water Is Expensive"

--"Use Water to Unify the Country"

--"Regulators, Not Politicians"

--"Create a Water-Respecting Culture"

Siegel lays out issues and alternatives well. Israel's example has relevance everywhere, most especially the United States.

This review is based on galleys of this book, which were furnished with a request for an objective review. As one who has long worked on these issues, I'm pleased to recommend it.

This is an enthusiastically written book about the development of Israel's water infrastructure and related industries.
I enjoyed reading the book, learning a lot in the process, and you will too.
My critiques of the book are:
1) Siegel is a cheer leader, careful to avoid descriptions of any of the bone-headed decisions by the many arms of the Israeli government bureaucracy. For example, the 'Office of the Chief Scientist' is described as in investor with a midas touch. I worked in a high tech startup into which the OCS pumped funds for 10 years based primarily on the political connections of our investors.
2) The internal politics of water within Israel were glossed over. Even into the late 1990s, treatment of sewage within minority (Arab) regions within Israel proper was ignored. Minister of the environment was not a powerful portfolio, and attracted ardent environmentalists like Raful Eitan who failed to understand that Jews and Arabs in the galilee shared the aquifers there. One of the unlikely heroes of sewage treatment in the galilee was Aryeh Deri.
3) Desalinization remains an energy intensive enterprise. The sustainability of Israel's desalinization-based water economy bears additional scruity.

Given my interest in energy and water issues, I had this book on my the store Wishlist for a while. Then I had the opportunity to attend the JNF's DC Water Summit, which not only provided this book to attendees but featured the author as a keynote speaker. (JNF is the Jewish National Fund, which has been actively involved in numerous Israeli water projects, including the building of water reservoirs.) The book fleshed out many of the themes Siegel presented at the summit, but other Israeli and American experts also speaking provided information of yet more technologies that might well, and should, be covered, in a future edition. Though not yet in revenue or visibility, Israel is by experience and technology already a water powerhouse. But even though the multiplicity of water authorities and the notion of "water rights" in the US will thwart adoption of many ideas presented here, water threatened states like California, Texas and the Plains states could certainly benefit by tapping Israeli expertise.

For a couple of months, I have intended to complete my review of Seth Siegel’s monumental book “Let There Be Water.” I could not find the time. In retrospect. I am glad I did not because I have a new take on why the book matters even more today than it did 2 months ago.
“Let There Be Water” is an important, thorough, read for anyone who cares about how we will nourish our planet and populations for the coming decades and centuries. The book charts the path of the small, resource-starved, arid, fledgling State of Israel as she figures out how to make enough water flow in the agricultural upstart nation. Siegel compellingly describes both the personalities and innovations that made Israel a water producing country through desalination and a resourceful country and economy through drip irrigation and smart seed development. He also carefully describes the PR campaigns the government has used to get consumers to conserve.

In that way, “Let There Be Water” is a universal sequel to Dan Senor and Saul Singer’s best seller “Start Up Nation.” The book shows how Israel has stayed ahead of the water-challenge, and tamed the desert to grow crops and nourish people. Israel’s desert makes up a substantial part of its tiny landmass and its rivers and lakes are filled by water sources that run to Israel from enemy territory. This has made water independence and growth a priority in Israel and helped focus some of the most innovative minds in the country on this challenge. As a small example, how many of you would know that Israel’s dual flush toilet that Siegel chronicles among other innovations saves millions of gallons a year in water.
The rest of the world is facing that challenge today. California’s water shortage is now newsworthy and despite the fact that many of its Almond farmers use Israeli drip irrigation, it has lagged in desalination, conservation and water pricing and policy. Much of central America is becoming desert as is Africa. 39 more States in the United States are very water challenged so this book is incredibly topical and an important handbook for entrepreneurs, innovators, and policy makers. All this would be enough for me to advise reading this incredibly well-researched book.
These last weeks however, I realized something else about “Let There Be Water.” It is a book about leadership. It is a book about leadership that takes on conventional wisdom and defies both that wisdom and its prevailing data.
Prime Minister David Ben Gurion had an impossible dream to make Israel’s Negev Desert flourish. He had a dream to support millions of Jews who would migrate to Israel. All of the British Scientists said the Land could not support either vision. There would not be enough water to do that. They did extensive studies and the “Data” proved it was impossible. The British said that the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea could hold no more than 2 million inhabitants. Today, there are 6 times that and they are some of the most innovative people in the world.
Through nerve, innovation and defiance of the then current scientific, agricultural and bureaucratic view, Simcha Blass invented drip irrigation, perhaps the most important agricultural breakthrough of our time. The government led by Ben Gurion pushed delineation through in wise partnership with the US government.
Recognizing the threat that water was to the Jewish State was an act of visionary leadership. Wily and inspired action to ensure that the Israeli government and innovative entrepreneurs would consistently and coherently address water and important challenges is the Hallmark of historic leaders. In reflecting on the book, I realize just how desperate the world is today for leadership.
Ergo, this book is a must-read for two reasons: Leadership and Water. They are, perhaps, the two greatest challenges of our time.

How refreshing to read a book about Israel that has hardly anything to do with the political situation except for the fact that Israel turned its regional isolation into an advantage as it had to address its initial water scarcity. How fascinating to learn about all the innovative ways Israel manages its water, has turned into a water-rich nation despite its arid climate and all the technologies and know-how it now shares with the world.

It's impressive how Israel has converted from a water scarce to a water rich country. The author shows how the country has utilized a variety of methods including treating brackish water, to using treated wastewater for agriculture, using drip agriculture, and desalination technology to supply it's population. The country treats water as a precious resource and emphasizes that water is a national resources and must be managed for the collective good. Given that water scarcity is such an issue in the middle east, Israel's expertise in this region could be a means for bridging the divide with its neighbors if only they can overcome long standing political grievances.

I learned so much reading this book and was surprised by how quickly I was able to read it despite its more academic nature. I'm more familiar with the National Geographic approach of doom and gloom and I really appreciated and loved how optimistic this book is.

He thoroughly goes through the history of Israel's water management and how they have innovated beyond belief to have stable water sources and no water crisis whatsoever, despite the arid climate and water crises around them. It was well cited and well written and impressed me enough to switch to drip irrigation for our gardens, which was a huge project.

It also made me think about how the 70s prompted a fear of overpopulation, not taking into account the future agricultural revolution. I think this is along the same lines. There are huge impending water shortages, but they can be overcome.

I did find the book to be over the top pro-Israel. The country as a whole and particularly the military has done some horrific things and continues to do so. They receive ridiculous amounts of aide from other countries that they've used to manage their water. This is sort of touched on and really is beyond the scope of the book, but I couldn't help reading it and thinking about the human rights violations of the Israeli Military. A good book for another perspective is Children of the Stone.

In any case it's still worth the read as far as water usage and conservation goes and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

"Just finished one of the most enlightening and compelling books in a long time. "Let There be Water" is the story of the current state of the world's water supply and how Israel has overcome all the odds to become water independent. Israel's water expertise is helping create peaceful relations with some very unexpected partners. Hydro-diplomacy may be the key to peace. It's a must read."

A very interesting read about one our most essential and vital resources, water! I highly recommend the book for it's pleasant flow and it's informative, interesting and digest-able content. The book presents an excellent platform for how we can grow and optimize our appreciation for water as macro influence in securing a safe and stable future!

After reading Seth M. Siegel's "Let There Be Water," I am astounded by the level of misinformation about a single issue in a complex region. He describes Israel's water record in great depth. Siegel highlights the cultural and technological conditions which make the country so water-conscious and productive. You must read this cover to cover.

I had the honor of hearing Seth Siegel speak recently and quickly finished "Let There Be Water." What an entertaining, animated, humorous and interesting author and book! As a zealous believer in Israel and what Israel has accomplished, he speaks with love and humility and always uses a thread that weaves a beautiful blanket for the world to see what they can accomplish by following Israel’s solution for the growing water crisis.