JERUSALEM (JTA) — A Knesset committee approved a "drought tax" to force Israeli households to conserve water.
The measure passed Wednesday afternoon by the Knesset Finance Committee will impose a penalty of about $5 on every cubic meter of water used above a set ceiling, more than double the regular price.
Under the new law, households of up to four people will be allocated 30 cubic meters of water for every two months at the regular prices. For each additional family member, the household will be allocated another 6 cubic meters every two months.
The law takes effect July 15.
