Saving Israel's Kishon River

Teresa Neumann : Feb 21, 2013
State of Israel – Ministry of Environmental Protection

"This is a joyous day for me. This is an historic project. The public will get back its large metropolitan park, instead of the most polluted river in Israel. The dream of restoring the Kishon is becoming a reality, and soon the public will be able to sail, fish, and to relax on the banks of the Kishon, and to enjoy a river that belongs first of all to the citizens." -Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan

(Israel)—The Kishon River is one of the largest rivers in Israel. One third of its area is located in the Jezreel Valley. It flows from the mountains of Galilee into the Mediterranean Sea and was an important river in Israel's Biblical history.

Also historically referred to as "The White Nile," or the "Glass River," the Kishon was where the prophets of Baal were slaughtered (1 Kings 18). It is also where Sisera's army was delivered to Deborah and Barak. (Photo: israel21c.org)

As per the prophecy given to Deborah in Judges 4:7—"I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands." And later, in Judges 5:32: "The river Kishon swept them away, the age-old river, the River Kishon. March on, my soul; be strong!"

With that historical backdrop, news out of Israel is that Canadian firm EnGlobe has won the international tender to dredge and clean up the riverbed of the Kishon River. Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan made the announcement at a recent event attended by Canadian Ambassador Paul Hunt and Barry Ellis, EnGlobe's International Business Development director.

EnGlobe, an environmental services company with rich experience in the treatment of contaminated soils, was one of 20 companies that submitted bids for the project. In two weeks, the company will start to establish a work site where contaminated soil that is removed from the Kishon riverbed will be treated. In August, special barges will be deployed that will begin to dredge the soil, which will be treated in a unique biological process that has never before been utilized in Israel. The treated soil will then be used to build banks of the river that will serve as a gateway to a large metropolitan park.

Said Minister Erdan: "This is a joyous day for me. This is an historic project. The public will get back its large metropolitan park, instead of the most polluted river in Israel. The dream of restoring the Kishon is becoming a reality, and soon the public will be able to sail, fish, and to relax on the banks of the Kishon, and to enjoy a river that belongs first of all to the citizens."

Removal and treatment of the contaminated riverbed soil makes up a significant portion of the 3-year, NIS 220 million Kishon River restoration project, which was proposed by Erdan and approved by a Government Decision in July 2011. It is being funded by factories responsible for the contamination, the State, and local authorities.

Erdan reviewed the project's progress when he announced the tender. Currently, an alternate river route is being dug, to make space for the plant where the soil will be treated. The ultimate goal is to create a wide river that will allow the public to enjoy the restored river.

The Kishon River was once considered to be the most polluted river in Israel. But the restoration project has already resulted in the return of animals that were forced to flee due to the pollution, and to a significant improvement in the water quality.