Israeli experts from the water sector have engaged with an impressive group of high ranking government officials, heads of organizations and business men from different sectors on some of the "secrets" behind Israel’s innovations in water management; while sharing knowledge on best practices in the sector in a day’s seminar held in Accra.

The seminar, organised by the Israeli Embassy in Accra, was organized as a Sneak Peek at the international WATEC 2013 conference to be held in Israel next month (22-24 October) and that would bring tens of thousands of participants from all across the globe for three days of highly intensive program uncovering all of the newest most developed technologies and discoveries made in the field of water and wastewater management.

The Hon. Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Collins Dauda, remarked in a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Minister Hon. Sampson Ahi, that knowledge sharing between Ghana and Israel in the management of water resources and right investment in the sector will help Ghana achieve self-sustainability in the exploitation of water resources and reiterated government’s commitment to the provision of accessible, reliable and portable water to the Ghanaian populace.

On her part, Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Sharon Bar-li noted that challenges faced globally in the water sector are immense but collaborating ‘to exchange views and discuss water solutions is necessary and called for. As we share the water challenges, no matter where we are from, we should be sharing the solutions as well’.

The Ambassador explained that "Water Technologies have been a national priority in Israel" and as such "The Israeli water industry is recognized today as a global leader in the water arena thanks to breakthrough technological innovations in areas such as desalination, drip irrigation and water security".

She concluded that ‘Israel and Ghana should continue to partner with each other, when it comes to water, sanitation and irrigation, the same way they did in the fifties and in the sixties, but even better’.

Among the Israeli companies presenting at the seminar, all of which would take part at the WATEC 2013 conference in Israel next month was "MIYA", a holistic approach company, which is a global provider of urban water efficiency solutions with an emphasis on Non-Revenue Water management. With projects across the globe, they provide technology, software, maintenance and training directed at creating a tight fit with the local client.

Another interesting company, presented by its founder and CEO Eng. Rami Aflalo, was GAL – an expert water treatment projects company offering a complete package of engineering and implementation of solution based systems – ranging from "Plug and Play" small scale systems easy to install and run efficiently and up to highly complex and specific industrial solutions for treating contaminated industry waste water and turning into agricultural suitable water, in effect, turning waste water into a valuable cash resource.

The veteran TAHAL Company needs no introduction here in Ghana, as this highly experienced water engineering company has been responsible for planning, among other projects, the original sewage system of Accra over 50 years ago. TAHAL never left Ghana, and though it enjoys the respect of the experienced, it never stops innovating and introducing new and highly efficient technologies to its water treatment and reuse of water from Industry, Agriculture and Urban use.

By the end of this year, 2013, desalination plants in Israel will supply more than 500 million cubic meters of water per year, supplying 35% of the country’s fresh water needs and with 75% of its waste water reused in Agriculture allow for the fact that Israel's water consumption has remained basically the same in nearly 50 years, despite the doubling of its population and growing industry and agriculture sectors.