Red Sea – Dead Sea Conveyance,

Feasibility Study

Dr. Doron Markel –

Israeli Water Authority

Red Sea – Dead Sea

World Bank Study Manag. Unit

The Water Shortage of the Middle East

The Middle East region is characterized by stressed

water conditions with occasional droughts.

Since the 1900s the population of the region has grown

by 20 million people.

As a result, inflows, previously flown to the Dead Sea,

are used for human needs.

Dead Sea Drainage Basin

Annual Inflow To DS

1900’s – 1,300 - 1,500 mcm/y

Today – 100 - 150 mcm/y

Annual Loss – 700 - 800 mcm/y

-430

-428

-426

-424

-422

-420

-418

-416

-414

-412

-410

-408

-406

-404

-402

-400

-398

-396

-394

-392

-390

19771978

19791980

19811982

19831984

19851986

19871988

19891990

19911992

19931994

19951996

19971998

19992000

20012002

20032004

20052006

20072008

20092010

Dead

Sea W

ate

r L

evel

(m A

SL

)

Dead Sea Level Drop

השרות ההידרולוגי: נתונים

The shrinking of the Dead Sea

- 390 m

~1020 km2

1960

- 420 m

~ 635 km2

2006

Computer

projection

2050

- 550 m

~ 520 km2

Environmental Impacts

Sinkholes have appeared along extensive areas

on the shore of the Dead Sea.

Project Goals

2. Supply drinking water to the thirsty ME

1. Stabilizing the Dead Sea level

We seek for one integrative

solution for both problems.

Desalinating sea water while

discharging the reject brine to

the Dead Sea and using the

elevation differences for

hydropower.

Integrative Solution

Kinneret – Dead

Med – Kinneret - Dead

Med – Dead 2

Red - Dead

Supply drinking water

Med – Dead 1

Dead Sea reclamation Alternatives

May 9, 2005

Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority agree to initiate the RSDS FS

Ben-Eliezer Al-Khatib

Abu-Saud

Study Structure

Dead Sea

Gulf of

Aqaba /

Eilat

Impact on

Waddi Arava Hydropower /

Desalination

Sub Study A Sub Study B Sub Study D Sub Study C

Physical

Oceanogr.

Environ.

Social

Impacts

Economic

Aspects

Biological

Oceanogr.

Rout

Alternatives

Ecological

Impacts

Evniron.

Social

Impacts

Hydrology &

Hydrodynam.

Geochem.

Aspects

Evniron.

Social

Impacts

Economic

Aspects

Technical

Aspects

Energy

Balance

Evniron.

Social

Impacts

Economic

Aspects

Overall Economic, Financial and Legal Aspects

Hydrol.

Impacts

Coordinating and integrating of the whole study

Legend

COB

ERM

Add. St.

Study Organizational Setup

Coyne et. Bellier

Donors

Palestinian

Authority Jordan Israel

4

4

4

2

Steering

Committee Donors

Committee Independent

Panel of Experts

Reports

Funds Flow

Study

Management

Unit

Advisory

Group World Bank

Appoints

Coyne et. Bellier ERM

Consultants Red Sea Study team

Dead Sea Study team

Study

of Alt.

Steering Committee, Aqaba, May 2010

Physical Model geochemical Model biological Model

Environmental Assessment

Mitigation

TETHIS, IUI, IOLR

Assessing the impact on the ecology of the Red Sea

Conclusion: Seawater pump from the Gulf of Eilat

will not harm the ecological system of the gulf, giving a pump depth of 120-160 m.

TETHIS, IUI, IOLR

Red Sea Models Results

Assessing the impact on the Hydro-Chemical System of the Dead Sea

Inflows

Natural + Artificial

Meteorological data

(solar radiation, air

temperature and humidity,

wind speed)

Multi - component, Hydrodynamic+

geochemical 1D & 2D models

Evaporation rate

Energy

balance

Water Level

Saturation &

salt precipitation

Algal Blooms

Density

(new eq. of state)

Chemical

composition

Environmental Assessment

& Mitigation

TAHAL, GSI

TAHAL, GSI

Dead Sea Models Results

Conclusions: Discharge of up to 400 mcm/y of seawater or reject brine to the Dead Sea will not cause any environmental risk.

“Stages Approach” The project should be built in stages of 200-300 MCM/y every ~10 y.

Feasibility Study Results

Conclusions:

Pipeline is preferred over tunnel due

to the stages approach (operational

profit and pilot).

Total cost of a full project is $10

billion, (55% commercial).

Appropriate engineering solutions

to leakage or a catastrophic pipe

break were suggested.

COB

Study of Alternatives – SoA team

Conclusions:

2 main comprehensive alternatives

(RD & MD1).

Since stages approach is accepted,

pipeline is preferred over tunnel.

Jordan River rehabilitation is possible

only based on treated sewage.

Possible to combine alternatives

starting from Red-Dead Pilot.

Pilot/Phase 1 Project:

will produce drinking water

faster.

will enable the exploration

of the impact on the Dead

Sea at field scale.

Will initiate the project

through a careful step, in

order to minimize the

environmental risks.

Red Sea – Dead Sea Conveyance Pilot Desalination in Aqaba & brine discharge to the Dead Sea

ISRAEL JORDAN

Intake

Desalination Plant

Discharge

Dead Sea

Red Sea

0 20 km

Sea Water Desalinated Water Reject Brine

Larry Silverman, US State Dept.

Silvan Shalom, Israel

Hazim Naser, Jordan

Shadad Attily, Palestinian Auth.

Inger Andersen, World Bank

MOU signing, Washington, December 9th, 2013

Red Sea – Dead Sea Conveyance Pilot Desalination in Aqaba & brine discharge to the Dead Sea

ISRAEL JORDAN

Intake

Desalination Plant

Discharge

Dead Sea

Red Sea

0 20 km

Sea Water Desalinated Water Reject Brine

MOU December 9th, 2014:

A desalination plant of 80-100

mcm/y will be built in Aqaba, while

its reject brine will be conveyed to

the Dead Sea.

Israel will buy 30-50 mam/y, for

the Israeli Arava needs.

Jordan will use the rest desalinated

water for Aqaba and Amman.

Israel will sell to Jordan 30-50

mcm/y from its water sources at

the north.

Israel will sell 20-30 mcm/y to the

Palestinian Authority through the

current water system.

Larry Silverman, US State Dept.

Silvan Shalom, Israel

Hazim Naser, Jordan

Shadad Attily, Palestinian Auth.

Inger Andersen, World Bank

MOU signing, Washington, December 9 2013