Elkin, G. (2019). Partnering Across International Boundaries for Water Security Through Technology and Startup Support. Solutions 10(1): 22–25. https://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/article/partnering-across-international-boundaries-for-water-security-through-technology-and-startup-support
Idea Lab Noteworthy Partnering Across International Boundaries for Water Security through Technology and Startup Support by Gili Elkin
Owned by Kando, used with their permission
Logging water quality data in an urban setting
T
he State of Colorado was one of the last areas in the United States settled by Europeans. Denver, its largest city, had but a handful of permanent residents as recently as the 1850’s. In contrast, Israel and surrounding areas include some of the oldest human habitations in the world; some cities in the region trace their history back 6,000 years. These two areas, separated by thousands of miles, may have little history in common, but they do share something else: a climate of limited rainfall. Both face significant water challenges. They need to collect as much fresh water as possible and keep it as clean as possible. Two recent alliances, the
Israel – Colorado Innovation Fund and the Israel – US Water Initiative, are demonstrating how collaboration around innovative technologies can allow communities to transcend large gaps in space and culture to solve common problems. Although 60 percent of Israel is a desert and the rest is semi-arid, Israel exports water to its neighbors. This is not the mystifying result of Moses hitting the rock but rather the result of constant innovation that started long before Israel was established in 1948. Jewish leaders led by David Ben Gurion, who later became the first Prime Minister of Israel, were determined to prove wrong the British White Paper
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that justified banning Jewish immigration (to the area that later became the State of Israel) in part by claiming that there would not be enough water in the area to meet the demand of a growing population. This determination to innovate combined with the approach to plan water for the greater good led to the beginning of operation of the Israel National Water Carrier in 1964. Education of the public has also been a big factor contributing to the success of Israel conserving water. It starts with the Israeli nursery rhyme: “Drip Drop Clap your Hands.” (Note the contrast to the popular US nursery rhyme: “Rain Rain Go Away.”) It is demonstrated throughout Israel with signs stating that “Every Drop Counts,” through public TV commercials and through the willingness of the public to pay high prices for water. The high pricing of water (which captures all stages of water management from pumping through treatment and distribution) incentivized farmers to use crops that grow in water-stressed environments and salty water and use water-conserving technologies. This in turn incentivized entrepreneurs to develop more technologies that conserve water. In addition, the Israeli government’s support of entrepreneurs mitigates some risks involved in innovation. For example, the Israeli Innovation Authority provides around USD$500M US in grants every year for startups. The government also shares the risks of deploying innovative technologies with Israeli water utilities by sponsoring up to 70 percent of projects of water utilities when a new technology is deployed. Separating water from politics has led to the establishment of a technocratic regulatory National Water Authority that oversees the water budget and plans water from the