The Knesset on Monday passed the 2nd and 3rd reading of MK (Yahadut HaTorah) R’ Moshe Gafne’s bill to suspend the water tariff during the winter months. The bill was opposed by the water experts, warning that freezing the surcharge will result in more water being wasted, a move that will place the nation’s water supply in jeopardy, but Gafne insists less water is used during the colder winter months, justifying his position, adding the surcharge simply places too heavy a burden on low-income families.

The water tax was passed by the Knesset, placing the tariff on any household exceeding the allotted amount of water, which is calculated by the number of people living in a home. The move was viewed as critical as the national water supply continues to drop for the past years, with experts sending a dire warning that if something drastic is not done, the nation will literally run out of potable water.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)