Our destination for the night (and next day) was Kibbutz Ketura - home of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. Arriving in the early evening, the team quickly dropped our stuff off at our rooms before heading to a BBQ at the Kibbutz pool. There were all the essentials (i.e. hamburgers and hot dogs, as well as an enormous pool). The Kibbutz was also playing host to a bunch of British birthrighters, who we (actually Asher in particular) challenged to a game of football. We lost a close match - but it was still good times.
"Our living quarters for our one night at Kibbutz Ketura"
Photo by Jessica (at Israelity)
After getting back to our rooms everyone brought drinks to the roof of the lodge to watch the stars and talk. In the desert, the sky at night is really something to behold. Early the next morning, we were up and out of our rooms by 7am. After a breakfast and a quick tour of the kibbutz, we proceeded to the conference room at the institute, where we heard from from the first of a few speakers regarding Arava's mission and activities.
Each of our meetings lasted about an hour. Our first meeting of the day was with Dr. Tareq Abu-Hamed, who is the head of Arava's Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation. Following this meeting, we heard from Roy Kagan of the Arava Power Company. Our third visit was with Noam Ilan at the Regional Energy Commission. Each of these three visits highlighted a different aspect of the Arava mission and some of the pioneering research they are conducting on site at the kibbutz.
"Exploring the Aora Solar Energy Installation"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
In the afternoon we had a visit to the Aora Solar Energy Installation at Kibbutz Samar. The Aora installation is interesting in that it is an experiment in providing a modular point source solar power system - though at this point the power outputs are still negligible. Before returning to lunch at Kibbutz Ketura, we stopped for a small ice cream snack at the Yotvata. The ice cream was good - but for me the real highlight was their chocolate milk. So good!
Upon return to Arava we had a final afternoon meeting with Miriam Sharton the Associate Director of the institute. Altogether, our brief visit was a great experience. With this portion of the trip complete we left the kibbutz to head down to Eilat. As we entered into Israel's southernmost city, we said goodbye to our fearless leader, Asher, who boarded a plane to head back to the US via Tel Aviv. Goodbye Asher!
Our next visit on Tuesday was to the Shafdan Rishon Wastewater Treatment Plant. The world's largest wastewater treatment plant, the Shafdan plant treats almost 500 million cubic feet of water annually - serving a population in the Dan Region (which includes Tel Aviv) of over 2 million people. Operated by Mekorot, this plant's reused water is transferred in large quantities to the agricultural regions in the Negev.
"Exploring the model of the Shafdan Watewater Plant"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
As we came to find out during the tour - Israel reuses almost 75% of their water. The next closest country is Spain at 12%. The USA only reuses a little under 1% of our water. What makes these figures the most appalling is that most wastewater is 99.9% water, and only 0.1% waste. We obviously have a lot to learn from Israel in terms of water management.
"Inside an exhibit on the Shafdan facility"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
On Wednesday, the team had a final class with Dr. Gilad Axelrad, another professor in residence at the School of Agriculture. Over about two hours, Dr. Axelrad discussed the various innovative structures for creating partnerships between government and private industry in order to address public infrastructure projects. Following this class, the team was accompanied by Dr. Axelrad to Palmachim Desalination Plant - the second largest desalination plant in Israel - and one of the largest desalination plants in the world. Our on-site host at Palmachim was Avram Tenne the head regulator for water plants in Israel.
"The team dons hardhats at the Palmachim Desalination Plant"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
The visit to the desalination plant was for me the most interesting of the water company visits we had while at Hebrew University. As we had at the previous facilities, we were given a full tour of the plant, seeing the entire operation from start to finish. At the end of the tour, we got to taste the end product (i.e. purified salt water) which had been in the ocean only 20 minutes previously. Interestingly, the taste wasn't quite what I expected - apparently having to do with the fact that many minerals that are normally in drinking water hadn't been added back yet. Still it was very cool!
"Dr. Yoram Porat lectures on the structural models of global development"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
Our first visit of the day was with Dr. Yoram Porat, a distinguished faculty member in the field of international strategic planning and project management. Over the course of two multi-hour sessions, Dr. Porat provided a dynamic overview of the models and frameworks that provide the foundation for most global development initiatives - and particularly those in the realm of water management. At times, Dr. Porat lingered on conceptual ideas more than I would have liked, but in total his instruction was useful in providing meaningful dialogue within the team and raising issues we otherwise wouldn't have considered.
"On the roof Ra'anana's offices overlooking their facility"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
On Monday morning we awoke early for a day of company visits. The first visit of the day was to the Ra'anana Wastewater Treatment Plant. Our host, Avital Dror-Ehra - the on-site manager, provided the team with a comprehensive presentation on water issues in Israel, as well as a functional overview of the wastewater treatment system. Afterward, we received an hour long tour of the facility in order to see the system in operation. The Ra'anna plant is not overly large, though the small size was helpful putting the full process into context.
"The team looks at the bio-refiners at Ra'anana plant"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
That afternoon the team visited the Yarqon River Authority for a presentation by general manager (and University of Maryland graduate) Dr. David Pargament. The Yarqon is the major river and watershed in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. Over the past few decades, as population and industry have increased, both water quality and water volumes have declined precipitously. The Yarqon River Authority is a semi-private, independent body, that was set up to combat the challenges to the Yarqon. It is amazing the success they've had in such a short amount of time - especially due to the multi-layered government bureaucracies.
"Dr. Pargament presents on the history of the Yarqon River"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
On Tuesday the team visited the Ayalon Institute - which though actually non-water related - was still of interest for its cultural (and entrepreneurial) history. Located on Kibbutzim Hill in Rehovot, the Ayalon Institute was the primary (clandestine) ammunition factory for the Haganah (Jewish militia) in the time before and during the 1948 Independence War.
"The exit to the underground bullet factory of the Ayalon Institute"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
Between 1946-1948, over 2+ million bullets were manufactured here. These were nine-millimeter bullets, for the Sten sub-machine gun, which was the primary personal weapon during the war. In many respects, this factory was a precursor to the defense industry and contractors that would arrive after the war. What was most interesting about this factory was that it was hidden almost 30 feet below the floor of the laundry. Very cool!
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