Water scarcity is a major issue in Israel and especially in recent drought years. Weizmann has the potential to positively affect the local aquifer, having a relatively large un-built area. At the same time the overall consumption is a non negligible ~1/2000 of the Israeli water balance and we can all aim to help decrease this fraction.
What Is Being Done?
- Water savers ("Chaschamim") have been installed in all of the campus
- Grey water infrastructure planned for new recreation center showers
- Reuse of air conditioners chillers water
- Usage of woodchips (“gezem”) to decrease evaporation and increase recharge to aquifer. Currently in pilot project at the orchard near Kikar Hayovel.
- Water saving plants are being used in new gardening projects
- In a concentrated effort since 1998, water for gardening was reduced from 1000 m3/year/dunam to 650 m3/year/dunam. More than 30% reduction in a decade of water foorprint reduction target.
- Efforts to move from watering based on time to quantity basis is projected to save significant amounts in gardening consumption
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Waterless toilet pilot planned.