National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer in a response to a letter from MK (UTJ) Rabbi Meir Porush, announced new water reforms will include a reduced rate for larger and low-income families.

The minister responded to a number of questions posed by Porush, including an inquiry if the ministry plans to impose water rationing. Ben-Eliezer stated that rationing is not on the agenda at present, but there will be a differential payment scale, explaining those who waste more will pay more – referring to the amount of water used above the allocation per family member as has been the standard practice.

Porush stated that we must do everything possible to save the precious resource, but used the opportunity to point the finger of blame at past governments since the “handwriting was on the wall for quite some time,” but governments preferred to ignore the looming crisis and allocate funds for other projects.

Many water experts and advocates and professionals accuse the government of ignoring the need to build additional reservoirs and address other water-related projects such as desalination plants.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)