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Israel has been at the forefront of water solutions for decades, with Jewish National Fund (JNF) being a major force in water resource development in Israel. With a water crisis plaguing our region, it’s timely that JNF is tackling the issue head on by hosting a series of community-wide water summits with LA Times Best-Seller Seth M. Siegel, author of Let There Be Water: Israel’s Solution for a Water-Starved World. On Tuesday, March 29, 2016, JNF is bringing the Water Summit to Denver, CO (Temple Emanuel – 51 Grape St., Denver, CO 80220).
The Colorado-Israel Water Summit, co-chaired and generously sponsored by Bob Lembke, president of United Water & Sanitation District, and Drs. Toby and Mort Mower, and Netafim, a global leader in drip and micro-irrigation solutions, will provide a unique opportunity to meet, hear from, and network with water industry executives and public officials, to expand awareness of Israel’s water leadership, and to bring drought solutions to local communities and the world.
According to Siegel:
“JNF has played a key role in Israel’s water transformation and then success. During the Colorado Water Summit, JNF will share the best of Israel’s insights and practices, so that people everywhere can have an abundant, and worry-free, water future as is now enjoyed in Israel.”
The Water Summit will feature Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, former Governor Bill Ritter, best-selling author Seth M. Siegel, JNF VP Campaign Ken Segel, Israeli Consul for Political Affairs Yaki Lopez, Netafim’s Director of Marking Ze’ev Barylka, and many other dignitaries and water industry experts.
JNF has effectively contributed to the development of water management and conservation systems in Israel for three decades. It has increased the country’s total water supply by 12% and helped Israel become a leader in water reuse. JNF’s network of 250 recycled water reservoirs provide almost half of the water used for agriculture in Israel, saving enough freshwater to meet the needs of 4.4 million people a year. With JNF’s assistance, more than 85% of sewage water in Israel is recycled and reused, the highest rate in the world. To put that into context, Spain comes in at a distant second, reusing 17% of its wastewater, and the U.S. at 5%.
The Water Summit will take place from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm with panels titled “Colorado Approaches to Water Use Efficiency” and “Colorado’s Water Supply Future.” Registration is required via jnf.org/cowatersummit. For more information, please contact Hannah Cohen at watersummit@jnf.org or 212.879.9305 x262. There is no cost to attend and lunch will be provided.
