Stabilization of the Dead Sea level Is the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance a feasible solution?

Abstract: Stabilization of the Dead Sea (DS) level Is the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance a feasible solution? By Michael Beyth, Geological Survey The seminar will discuss the: • Limnological background-DS a hypersaline terminal lake. • Environmental impacts of the DS level decline-sinkholes and infrastructure. • The idea- from 1840. • Is the Red Sea – Dead Sea Conveyance a feasible solution?-the only solution to manage the DS level. • The recent feasibility study 2008-2013. The three major goals for the project defined in this recent study were: 1. to stabilize the Dead Sea water level by conveying up to 1,200 MCM/y of reject; 2. to desalinate up to 850 MCM/y mainly for Jordan; 3. to serve as a symbol of peace between the three Beneficiary Parties, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The project was managed by the World Bank navigated by the Steering Committee of the Beneficiary Parties,. This study followed Harza (1996) pre-feasibility study. Six reports were published • Tech./econo. feasibility study by Coyne et Bellier. • Environmental and social assesment by ERM. • Dead Sea Study by Tahal&GSI. • Red Sea study by Tethis&IINS,Jur.Uni., IOLR. • Study of Alternatives by Allen, Malkawi and Tsur. • Chemical industry analysis study (Zbranek). The reports are available at Web-site (www.worldbank.org/rds). Pilot-first phase –tender stage now • a limited desalination plant of ~80 MCM/y at Aqaba. • 35 MCM/y of desalinated water will be bought by Israel and transferred to the Israeli Arava Valley. • The rest will be used by Jordan for Aqaba and dilution of the DISI aquifer pipeline to Amman. • The reject brine together with more sea water (should be 200 MCM/y together) will be piped to the Lisan "Lagoon", at the south-east corner of the Dead Sea. • Possible small Hydro-Electric plant will be built in Ghor Pipa, Jordan, producing ~30 MW. • On December 9th 2013 an MOU was signed in Washington by Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, speaking also about Israel to sell to Jordan another 50 MCM/y from Lake Kinneret and about Israel to sell the Palestinian Authority another 20-30 MCM/y of water through the current water supply system. • On February 26th 2015 an implementation agreement was signed between Israel and Jordan that defines the implement process of the Red – Dead Pilot, including water swap between the countries. . Close abstractClose abstract