The Caesarea Development Corporation is joining in the national effort and created an information program designed to help residents save water.

Within the confines of these preparations, the CDC and the residents committee issued an information sheet on saving water that was written in collaboration with a professional water consultant that explains to residents how to properly use water and how prices are calculated.

Later, at the beginning of the month, the same consultant, Mr. Yaron Geller, gave a free lecture at the Caesarea Center on the water market in Israel 2009 - the current situation as well as development trends.

The information campaign also includes children, and whereas pupils at the Caesarea Elementary School watched a presentation on the water crisis in Israel, preschoolers will enjoy a special performance that was specially created for younger children on saving water.
The performance will take place during the water fair scheduled to take place on 27.8 during which water saving devices will be sold.

Billboards calling on residents to save water have been hung around town, and the Service and Sales center has prepared a list for bulk purchase of discounted water saving devices.

Q&A on Water saving

Can private gardens be watered?
According to Water Authority guidelines, the watering of private gardens using sprinklers and sprays is limited to between 19:00 - 07:00. The Water Authority recommends watering up to twice a week and no more than half an hour each time.

What will happen to me if I deviate from the permitted limits?
You will feel it in your pocket. Whoever exceeds the allotted water limit will pay an extremely heavy fine. The water bills can reach the thousands of shekels per month. Even with a reduction in the amount of water allotted for irrigation, the periodic water bill is expected to increase.

I spent vast amounts of money on the lawn. Will I need to plant a new lawn?
Most species of grass are perennial and a reduction in the amount will cause the foliage to dehydrate and yellow but the roots will continue to live. Once the amount of water is restored, either in winter or through irrigation, the green appearance of the foliage will return.

Where can I receive tips on saving water?
You should check the efficiency and performance of the entire irrigation system in the private yard and consult with a professional about minimizing water use when watering the garden. The air conditioning drain (tube) should be diverted towards the garden, water should be collected in buckets (before shower - 7 liters of water can be collected) and plant semi-desert plants, such as those that remain green all year round with minimal amounts of water. You can also switch to artificial grass. The planting of tropical plants that are accustomed to humid surroundings should be avoided.
In the home, water saving devices can be installed on faucets, semi-tank washing devices (toilet) in bathrooms and to shorten shower times. Other uses of water such as washing cars. A bucket and rag should be used rather than a hose or carwash (unless it uses recycled water). Cleaning of paths or other external surfaces should be carried out with a bucket or broom rather than by hosing the path down. You must be alert to any leak or burst water pipe in the town and report any such incident to the CDC's service and sales center at *6550.

Can public gardens be watered?
The Water Authority recommends approving a regulation that permits the watering of public gardens with a quantity of water that is equal to half the accepted quantity of water (the accepted quantity of water is 500-600 cubes per dunam of land per year). This quantity will be calculated based on the reports to the Water Authority regarding the amount of public landscaped lands in the town.
The Water Authority intends to close the tap of authorities that fail to comply with the allocations, and the option of launching criminal proceedings against the head of the authority that deviates from the amount allotted to that authority is being reviewed.
In any case, the watering of public gardens is permitted only between 17:00-10:00.

So why water the lawn at the Golf Club?
The golf club course is watered with salt water, which is undrinkable. The permit to produce this water is for golf purposes only. The CDC obtained the permit after it invested and built at its expense the pumping and conveyance system for this water. As previously mentioned, the water used is salt water that is undrinkable and used solely for agriculture and there is no permit to use it for any other purpose than the golf course.

Why can't salt water be used to water the public gardens in Caesarea as well?
a. Since the production license for salt water is issued to the CDC for watering the golf course.
b. A separate conveyance system is required for this water. The existing conveyance system, in which drinking water flows, cannot be used.

Will the soccer fields also be dried out?
The Water Authority policy is that lawns that are used for purposes other than ornament, such as sports fields (golf, soccer), will continue to exist for as long as possible in terms of existing water resources.

Can swimming pools be filled?
There is no specific prohibition on swimming pools. The pool can be filled -but you will feel it in the pocket.

What is a cube of water? In relation to a bucket? To a bathtub?
A cube of water is an abbreviation of a measurement unit: 1 cubic meter of water (m3). This is an imaginary box with dimensions of 1*1 and a height of 1 meter, completely filled with water. The volume of water in the box is equal to 1000 liters.
In home terms:
200 buckets of water, each bucket holding 5liters, or 666 1.5 liter plastic bottles of water. A bathtub has a volume of 50-70 liters of water (10-14 buckets).

What is the water rate?
The sales rate of water for all citizens in the country is set by the Knesset Finance Committee within the Economic Arrangements Law. The CDC operates as a water supplier under Ministry of Interior criteria despite not being a statutory local authority.
In January 2010 and perhaps even before, the rates will change as will the policies. The basic amount of water will be assigned a reduced rate and anything beyond this amount will be assigned an extremely high rate.

Will this policy continue next year as well?
It may reasonably be assumed that water prices will increase this year and next year will not return to their current level, even if the winter proves to be extremely rainy.

Does the CDC have plans to desalinate water? Or alternatively generate alternative water sources?
The CDC has been reviewing several options over the past several months to generate additional water sources for both irrigation and drinking purposes. The CDC has approached the relevant government authorities for approval to advance these initiatives should the decision be made to establish them.

Purchase of Water-saving Devices
People interested in purchasing water-saving devices for their faucets and showers at a price of NIS 11 are invited to contact the Service and Sales Center at *6550.
The CDC will place a bulk order for customers.
The water saving devices are new generation manufactured by Libentaum/Holland
This is a global patent - which saves up to one-third of water consumption without interfering with the water flow intensity. Easily installed. Approved by the Water Authority.

For additional information about the Irrigation of Public Gardens Click here...

* The recommendations appearing in this letter were written based on recommendations published by the Water Authority and are subject to Water Authority guidelines and laws as published from time to time. The contents of this letter do not impose any liability on the CDC.