The Technion: Mikveh Water Project

A pilot project to recycle gray water gathered from the showers at a mikveh (ritual bath) in Jerusalem could someday lead to a nationwide program that conserves anywhere from 6.6 billion to 13.2 billion gallons of water per year in Israel alone.

Dr. Eran Friedler of the Technion-Israel institute of Technology Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering — an expert on gray water recycling — first became involved in the trailblazing mikveh project at the request of “Shomera for a Better Environment,” (www.shomera.org) an environmental organization known for its innovative initiatives in advocacy, resource management, education and community outreach. With the enthusiastic backing of the Division of Water Conservation of the Water Authority and approval from Israel’s Ministry of Health, the pilot program is slated to begin sometime over the next few months.

“This unique collaboration of so many different sectors could lead to a great contribution to saving water in Israel. It will provide a lot of information not available today and a wealth of real-world experience,” said Shomera executive director Miriam Garmaise.

According to Friedler, the majority of the gray water generated by mikvehs comes from the showers people use prior to using the mikveh. This shower runoff contains a long list of contaminants, including soap, shampoo, organic matter, dirt, skin, and pathogens — all of which must be removed to treat and purify the water before it can be re-used to avoid environmental and health problems from occurring. In order to do so, Friedler plans to employ two distinct technologies, one that is “extensive” and one that is “intensive.”

Signup for our weekly email newsletter here.

Check out the Jewish Week's Facebook page and become a fan! And follow the Jewish Week on Twitter: start here.

Westchester Jewish Conference

Westchester’s Jewish Community Relations Organization