Raising the Dead...Sea

Do a quick Google Images search of “Dead Sea.” The results will likely yield plenty of pictures of the sea’s signature blue waters, a few maps, and, of course, snapshots of people just sitting around – sitting around effortlessly on top of the water, that is. This environmental oddity – the lowest and the saltiest body of water on earth – sustains no life, yet it is a source of intrigue, inspiration, and income for people around the world. Many think the sea (with its buoyant, salty splendor) and the surrounding mud have healing powers. Some value it for its religious or historical significance. Others look at the sea as a means to an end; they extract the sea’s mineral-rich sediment and sell its byproducts for fertilizer, pesticides, water treatment chemicals and more.

All the things that make the Dead Sea the stuff of legend, science, and tourism are at risk – from the both current situation and possibly from the proposed solution.

The Dead Sea is dying. It relies on many small tributaries, but its main supplier of water is the Jordan River. Population growth in the region means more and more water is being diverted from its path towards the Dead Sea to other uses such as irrigation and drinking water. Evaporation, which makes the sea special by keeping salinity high, is also putting the Sea at risk, and the hot, arid climate and practices such as mineral extraction only exacerbate the rate of evaporation. Without an ample supply of water from the Jordan, the water level is dropping at an alarming rate (an estimated 1 meter per year).   

As the shoreline recedes, sinkholes and mud are left behind. The scenic beauty of the area is scarred; getting to the water proves more and more difficult; tourism suffers. If this trend continues, the allure of the Dead Sea will be lost for future generations. 

As a solution to this problem, the World Bank, in cooperation with Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, is pursuing a plan to convey water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. The potential plan is being marketed as a symbol of peace and cooperation, a potential source for hydropower, and a solution to the Dead Sea’s predicament.

But is it possible to dump water from one sea into another without consequences? Is it really that simple?

Not according to local scientists and geologists. The “Red Dead Conduit,” as it is often called, could have long-term environmental consequences for the Gulf of Aqaba/Eilat (where water would be taken from the Red Sea), the Arava Valley and the Dead Sea itself. Another concern has to do with the mixing of waters with two very different salinity levels and mineral compositions. Some wonder if this could even change the appearance of the Sea.

Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) published their concerns(pdf) after the World Bank’s recent public hearings on the subject. As of now, the World Bank is conducting studies and assessments of the plan. FoEME stresses that an independent party should carry out an intensive scientific study before any action is taken.

As Al Jazeera reported, the public is concerned as well. Despite the fact that the public was notified only one day before the hearings and that many of the documents were not translated into Arabic and Hebrew, turnout was impressive. Many are questioning the narrow-minded approach of the World Bank project. Why is this the only solution being proposed? Options such as bringing in an adequate amount of water from the Jordan, or reforming the region’s water system are not even on the table yet.

Raising the dead always has been tricky business. 

To read more about the proposed Red Sea Dead Sea "Peace Conduit" and arguments for and against the plan, check out the Global Nature Fund’s Q&A , FoEME's Research and Analysis (pdf), or the World Bank's Red Sea Dead Sea Water Conveyance Concept (pdf).

Photo: Oscar Lopez Jimenez via Flickr

Subscribe to this blog's feed

Comments

[Gary]

The problem is, the Dead Sea has been dying for thousands of years. While irrigation and siphoning of rivers have hastened the process, in the long run, there is nothing which can be done about it. It is doomed and like so many inland seas in the geologic record, the Dead Sea will become a salt flat.

The "lowest point on Earth" isn't just a coincidence.

Adding more sea water will also add more salt to the water. I suppose there could be economic benefits of raising the water level (tourism), and the increased salt levels really can't hurt much as the water is so saline that hardly anything can live in it.

Nonetheless, eventually, the Dead Sea will disappear, even if humans vanished tomorrow.

[Rachael Dunlap]

Thanks, Gary.

This is definitely a good point. And it raises an interesting debate topic: how much should we interfere with the natural processes that affect (and in many cases, created in the first place) the destinations we value?

The Dead Sea's predicament, as you said, was obvioulsy exacerbated by humans, but what of issues such as erosion and other natural processes that threaten to destroy (over a long period of time) other natural wonders we care about?

I tend to lean towards letting nature run its course, but I think good arguments can be made on both sides of such a debate.

[Donna Landers]

What a great, informative blog! I totally agree with you - we should let nature run its course. Obviously, we humans need to respect, and consequently take care of, God's natural gifts to us, but I am against this type of articifically trying to manipulate nature. If in trying to "fix" the Dead Sea, what happens if we harm the Gulf of Aqaba/Eilat and the Arava Valley? In my opinion, it's not worth the risk.

[Calimero]

"Small" correction needed here; The Dead Sea is NOT dying for thousands of years! Due to water diversion (irrigation, drinking) from Lake Kineret and the Jordan River less water are reaching the Dead Sea. How much less? Since the 1980's the lake is loosing 1 meter a year, and is now -419 meter bellow sea level.
Adding sea water (red sea or Mediterranean Sea, which ever one) will change some natural chemical composition (read: Formulating A Regional Policy for the Future of the Dead Sea The "Peace Conduit" Alternative by Ittai Gavrieli and Amod Bein) More research is needed regardless. But it will not make the Dead Sea saltier, if anything, it will be the opposite because you actually dilute the water with less saltier water. Also, the rate of evaporation will be higher because of that.
So, before you give it up, I suggest you should read some more about it. If the Dead Sea despair (schedule to do so within 40 years if nothing will be done) There would be economic implication on both sides of the sea (I mean Jordan and Israel: tourism and chemical industry).
Some other solutions proposed by experts is to build more desalination station for drinking water and take less water from the Jordan so more water will flow in the Dead Sea.
If the Peace Conduit will be build it will take about 20 years to replenish the dead Sea.
We need to harry up!!!

[Daniel Hoffman]

See the forthcoming (October 2008) issue of "Water21", the International Water Association's (IWA) magazine, for an article with proposals for improving the design, economics and public acceptability of the Red Sea Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project and providing solutions to all the concerns of the Projects' (many) opponents.

[Rachael Dunlap]

Thanks, Daniel. I will check that out. Is it available online or do I need to track down a hard copy?

[Daniel Hoffman]

Rachael,
Let me know your e-mail address and I will relay to you an electronic copy of the full original paper, of which the Water21 article is but an abridged version.

[Whitters]

The Word of God in Ezekiel says it will be refilled but will be surrounded by salt flats. It will have as greater diversity of species as the 'Great Sea' (Med).

Just watch, everything else in the Bible has come true :)

God bless

[Calimero]

Religion believe IS NOT a scientific proof!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a personal issue one choose to follow.
Biblical stories can be beautiful sometimes, but are good for people that don't like to think for themselves, but to follow other.
Evolve, religion is a thing from the past, the Dead Sea is not going to all of a sudden be replenish with water, wake up "Whitters" it is 2008 not the middle ages.