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