U.N. Secretary-general Reports on Desalination Projects in Israel

Israel completed in 1966 a desalination plant with a capacity of 1,000,000 gallons of fresh water a day. United Nations Secretary-General U Thant reported today. In addition, he stated, Israel had another plant with a capacity of 132,000 gallons of water per day, and had completed its feasibility study for the 100,000,000-gallon plant, jointly with the United States, which is to use nuclear power.

Mr. Thant’s figures on Israel’s expansion in the field of desalination were part of a general report on water desalination compiled by the U.N. chief at the request of the Economic and Social Council. The report showed that 17 water desalination plants had been completed around the world in 1966. Among the largest, Mr. Thant stated, are Israel’s million-gallon facility, a 5, 000,000-gallon plant in Kuwait, and one of a capacity of 1,200,000 gallons in Malta.

Israel’s million-gallon plant, according to Mr. Thant, is run by fuel oil on a “flash” system, while its smaller facility, with a daily capacity of 132,000 gallons, uses electric power on an electro-dialysis system. The Secretary-General noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency, a U.N. body, participated through an observer in the joint United States-Israel study of the feasibility of the projected hundred-million-gallon nuclear powered desalination plant.

(In Washington, Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall reported today that Israel is one of eight foreign governments that have reserved exhibition space at the International Conference on Water for Peace to be held here next month. More than 70 nations and up to 5,000 individuals are expected to participate in the greatest international meeting yet held on development of the world’s water resources.)