A number of days ago, reports were circulating about rabbonim and askanim in the know prohibiting turning on one’s water faucet in Israel on Shabbos because the desalination plants were operating on the holy day.

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Yitzchak Pindrus became involved and via MK Uri Maklev of Yahadut Hatorah, the matter was brought before HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky. Contact was made with the Mekorot Water Company towards finding a solution to the fears, leading to a number of ‘fixes’.

In an internal letter sent by Mr. Danny Sofer, Deputy Director-General of Mekorot, to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Sofer details the solutions they have reached. The process is now entirely automated, only requiring human intervention in the event of a problem arising, and due to the advanced nature of the technology involved, this is rarely required.

The letter also states that in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh, Betar Illit, and Modi’in Illit, there is no issue since there is water storage and these facilities are filled before Shabbos, and are sufficient for the entire Shabbos without a need for water from Mekorot to add to that on a holy day.

In Beit Shemesh the water arrival time is 25.4 hours, in Jerusalem – 30.2 hours, Modi’in Illit – 29.5 hours, Betar Illit – 32 hours. The arrival time of the water to the city of Bnei Brak is about 3 hours, and they come from private wells operated in generators and water pools filled before the Sabbath. To the city of Elad, the water arrival time is 16 hours.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)