Israel Launches New Water Conservation Campaign After Desalination Crisis
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Israel's Water Authority is launching a new water conservation campaign featuring an animated camel voiced by actor Yigal Adika, following a crisis that shut down five major desalination plants in late August. The campaign aims to reduce demand for desalinated water amid ongoing water shortages and construction delays. It replaces the iconic "Israel is Drying Up" campaign and will be broadcast across various media platforms.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel's Water Authority is launching a new water conservation campaign after a crisis shut down five desalination plants.
- The campaign features an animated camel voiced by actor Yigal Adika.
- The desalination plants were shut down in late August due to an unusual algae bloom.
- The initiative aims to reduce demand for desalinated water and change consumption habits.
- The campaign replaces the long-running "Israel is Drying Up" campaign starring Renana Raz.
- Delays in constructing new desalination facilities contribute to Israel's water shortage challenges.
Following a recent crisis that shut down five of Israel's six major desalination plants, the Water Authority is launching a new campaign to encourage water conservation. The campaign will feature an animated camel voiced by actor Yigal Adika, known for his roles in "Kupa Rashit" and "Bat Yam-New York." This initiative aims to reduce demand for desalinated water and change consumption habits.
The desalination plants were temporarily shut down in late August due to concerns about an unusual algae bloom that could damage the facilities. The shutdown led to water usage restrictions in some cities, including Jerusalem and Rishon Lezion, with residents asked to refrain from watering gardens and washing cars. In a few communities, portable water tanks were installed as a precaution against potential supply disruptions.
According to documents from the Government Advertising Office (Lapam), the decision to exempt Adika from a tender process for the campaign was made in mid-September, as the desalination crisis was nearing its end. A previous plan for a water conservation campaign in June did not materialize. The current campaign's urgency has been heightened by the recent desalination issues and ongoing challenges in Israel's water economy, including years of drought and delays in constructing new desalination facilities, partly attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war.
The new campaign, set to air on television, radio, and digital platforms, replaces the long-running "Israel is Drying Up" campaign that starred Renana Raz over 15 years ago. The older campaign was revived in 2018 but faced calls for replacement after Raz made controversial statements online. The Water Authority's protocol acknowledges significant shortages in natural water sources and delays in new desalination plant construction, a problem that has drawn official criticism for years, including from the State Comptroller regarding delays in establishing the seventh desalination plant in the Western Galilee.
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