Middle East Water

Arizona, Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories are arid/semi-arid lands that face similar water challenges. The Water Resources Research Center has been working to facilitate communication and develop partnerships related to water management and policy in the Middle East. The focus has been on the critical water issues of water-stressed regions and transboundary waters. In 2009 the WRRC hosted a workshop that brought together Arizona, Israeli and Palestinian water leaders. Managers, NGO representatives, students, and scholars from a range of disciplines gathered to better understand water management challenges and to consider solutions. Since then, there have been numerous projects, programs, and opportunities for sharing and analysis of these regions’ water management successes and challenges.

Publications

WRRC faculty and colleagues have published books, book chapters, papers, and columns, on water management and policy topics in Arizona and the Middle East. Presentations at workshops and conferences around the globe as well as roundtable discussions and invited talks provide opportunities for information exchange about shared water concerns, innovative advances, and management strategies to provide safe and reliable water supplies.

• Reflections: Being on Sabbatical During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Sharon B. Megdal - March 2020

• Reflections on a Successful Israeli Conference Experience - Sharon B. Megdal - Dec 2019

• Influence of grey water on physical and mechanical properties of mortar and concrete mixes - Ain Shams Engineering Journal - December, 2018


• Cutting-Edge Solutions to Wicked Water Problems - Water Resources IMPACT - January 2018

• Comparing Experiences and Lessons Learned: The September 2017 International Conference on Cutting-Edge Solutions to Wicked Water Problems, Sharon B. Megdal, Arizona Water Resource - Fall 2017

• Issue on Desalination, Municipal Water Leader - May 2017

• Bridging through Water - Sharon B. Megdal, Arizona Water Resource - Winter 2017

• Connecting Israeli Water Management and Technological Innovations to Arizona - Sharon B. Megdal and Glenn Hamer, Kachina News - Fall 2016

• My Turn: Israel's water lesson for Arizona - Sharon B. Megdal, The Arizona Republic - Nov. 2015

• A tale of two rivers: Pathways for improving water management in the Jordan and Colorado River basins - Journal of Arid Environments - January 2015

• Performance of a Grey Water Pilot Plant Using a Multi-Layer Filter for Agricultural Purposes in the Jordan Valley - July 2014

• Learning Globally, Acting Locally - April-2014

• Q & A with Raanan Adin, CEO, Adin Holdings Ltd. - Jan. 2014

• Israel, Through the Lens of a Water Scientist - Aug. 2013

• Shared Borders, Shared Waters - Dec. 18, 2012

  This collection of papers, published in 2012, examines water management in two of the world’s prominent, arid transboundary areas facing similar challenges. In the Middle East, the chronically water-short Israeli-Palestinian region has recognized the need both to conserve and supplement its traditional water sources. Across the globe on the North American continent, Arizona—a state in the southwestern United States bordering Mexico—relies significantly on the overallocated Colorado River, as well as on non-renewable groundwater supplies. For both regions, sustainable and cost-effective solutions clearly require innovative, multifaceted, and conflict-avoiding approaches. More

• Immersed in water’: Sharon Megdal dives into policy and environmental issues - Dec 2012

• Israel Water Management Program Provides Rich Learning Experience - Sep. 2012

• WRRC Hosts Scientists from the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan for Gray Water Workshop - Sept. 2012

• Sabbatical report-A Comparison of Water Management and Policy Approaches of Three Water-Stressed Regions: Arizona, Israel and Australia - Sept. 2012

• Grey Water Reuse for Agricultural Purposes in the Jordan Valley: Household Survey Results in Deir Alla - Aug. 2012

• The Value of Getting Out in the Field and Sharing Experiences - Jan. 2012

• Visit Shows Israel Faces Similar Water Management Issues as Arizona - Arizona Water Resource - Sep. 2006

Presentations

• Porter School Webinar, Tel Aviv University - Wicked Water Problems of theColorado River Basin - / PPT Presentation - Nov. 30, 2020 

• Water Project Marvels: Making Modern Life Possible (Passcode: ?@C7egq^) Sharon B. Megdal Segment 27:15-48:50) / PPT Presentation -  Oct. 23, 2020

• Middle Eastern Cooperation in the Face of COVID-19, Friends of the Arava Institute Virtual Water Town Hall, June 28, 2020

• "Too Jewish" with Rabbi Sam Cohon - Middle East water issues, including cooperation between Israel, Jordan, the Palestinians and Syria - May 25, 2020

• Water Management Challenges, Pathways to Solutions, and Collaboration Opportunities - April 14, 2019

• Colloquium - #Israeli and U.S. Water Technology: Versatile Solutions for Colorado River Challenges - CRWUA Conference 2018 - December 12-14, 2018

•  Water, Wastewater, and Energy Solutions for Off-grid Bedouin, Palestinian, and Jordanian Communities - Oct. 2, 2017

• Preserving Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee) as a Strategic Regional Water Resource in a Changing Climate - June 6, 2017

• Thirsty Rivers in Water-Scarce Regions: Experiences from the Colorado River - Oct-2014

• Groundwater Management and Governance: A Policy Perspective - May-2014

• Groundwater Management and Governance Through the Lens of World-wide Efforts to Identify Best Practices - May-2014

• Shared Waters: Spirituality, Conflict, and Cooperation - March-2014

• Technology and Cooperation -  March-2014

• Water Policies of Israel and Arizona: Lessons Learned and Outstanding Challenges - Nov.-2013

• Dr. Alon Tal: Triumph or Tragedy? A Brief History of Water Management in Israel - Nov.-2013

• WATEC - Useful Lessons from Transboundary Water Efforts along the United States-Mexico Border - Oct.-2013

• Scarce Water Resources and Development of Appropriate Decentralized Technologies for Sustainable Water Supply in the Negev Desert - Aug.-2013

• An Agreement to Share Water Between Israelis and Palestinians: The FoEME (Friends of the Earth Middle East) Proposal - March-2013

• OPTIONS FOR MEETING ARIZONA'S FUTURE WATER NEEDS IN THE CONTEXT OF COLORADO RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT - Nov.-2011

• Options for Meeting Growing Water Demands in Water-Scarce Regions - Nov.-2011

• Greywater Filtration systems For a sustainable water culture - Nov.-2011

News

• UA joins global effort with JNF and Israel to secure food, water, energy - Arizona Jewish Post - October 11, 2019

• WATEC Israel - Panel Remarks -From Scarcity to Abundance: New perceptions about water value - Sept. 2017

• WATEC Israel Preview Program - Sept. - 2017

• Beyond the Mirage Website Launched - 2016

• Beyond the Mirage Experience - 2016

• "Arizona and the Negev: An aquifer runs through them" - Dr. Sharon B. Megdal interviewed on TLV1 Radio podcast

• WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal Meets With HRH Prince El-Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan - Nov.-2013

• Dr. Sharon B. Megdal Discusses Water Management on "Israel Up Close" Program - June-2013 (video )

• Megdal quoted in Jerusalem Post - Nov.-2011

Arizona, Israeli, and Palestinian Water Management and Policy Workshop (AzIP)

The Arizona, Israeli, and Palestinian Water Management and Policy Workshop, conducted in 2009 in Tucson, focused on critical water issues of the three arid and semi-arid regions. The workshop brought together researchers and policy experts from all three regions to identify solutions to common water management challenges. It was an opportunity to work on shared water concerns faced by arid and semi-arid regions including transborder water issues, water shortages, poor water quality and effective governance. The workshop also built the groundwork for future collaboration on projects and programs to solve some of the water issues facing these drought stricken areas.

• Arizona, Middle East Water Issues Focus of WRRC Workshop - Sept.-2009

• Arizona, Israeli, and Palestinian Water Management and Policy Workshop - Sept.-2009

• Public Participated in Session on Israeli-Palestinian Water Challenges - Sept.-2009

• AzIP Workshop, a Forum to Discuss Issues in Water-scarce Regions - Sept.-2009

• Israel's Public Ownership of Water Said to Offer Advantages Over Prior Appropriation - Sept.-2009

• Overdrafted Aquifers, Limited Wastewater Reuse Are Critical Issues - Sept.-2009

• Common Concerns of Arizona, Israel and Palestinian Territories Prompt Cooperative Efforts Sept.-2009