As part of a hearing in the High Court of Justice petition, submitted by the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Municipality of Rehovot to the Supreme Court against the state and against the government company Netzer Hasharon Ltd. - the representative of the attorney's office stated on behalf of the representatives of the Ministry of Finance that within about two months the state will issue urgent tenders for groundwater purification works and to prevent the spread of a stain Toxic pollution in the groundwater, which was created by the operation of the waste water treatment plant at the Givon site near Rehovot.
For years, a toxic substance called perchlorate, which is used as rocket fuel, was poured into the ground, which seeped into the groundwater. The cost of the purification program is estimated at over NIS 400 million. The Water Authority and the Ministry of Health have long established
that The dangerous stain of pollution quickly spreads to nearby settlements and threatens to disable the regional water system, while creating environmental damage that may develop into a health hazard.
Illustration (photo: Nimrod Saunders)
In light of this, the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Municipality of Rehovot petitioned about two years ago for the immediate implementation of the dedicated plan for the restoration of groundwater, to save the water production wells in their territory and to stop the spread of the contamination beyond the Givon Wastewater Treatment Plant. A treatment facility and a pumping and transmission system, and treatment of street wells that will be drilled at a distance from the center of the pollution and will be transferred to a separate treatment.
At a recent discussion, the state announced that after an agreement was reached regarding the full budgeting of the rehabilitation program due to the petition, and after updating the costs for this time, the final versions of the financing agreements between the ministry were reached The Treasury, the Water Authority and Netzer Hasharon, which for the purpose of their actual implementation requires budgeting in the state budget.
Judge Fogelman wondered why the budget for this important project had not yet been completed despite previous announcements by the state.
The state specified that the issue of budgeting will be brought up to the upcoming exceptions committee by the middle of May.
And so, after it is budgeted, the tender for the implementation of the rehabilitation plan at the center of the pollution, which will be carried out by Netzer Hasharon, will be published this coming July.
Netzer Hasharon also referred to the schedule and stated that the time estimate is in her hands and expects rapid progress.
After repeated requests on behalf of the petitioners, it also stated that it would look into the possibility of publishing the schedule.
Weizmann Institute of Science: submitted the petition to the Supreme Court, together with the municipality of Rehovot (photo: Weizmann Institute spokespeople)
Also, the state announced regarding Rehovot drilling, that these will be budgeted in the summer months under the Arrangements Law and promised that within a few months the tenders will be published by representatives of the Third Well Water Corporation, the Rehovot Water Corporation.
The court ruled that in light of the importance and urgency of making decisions required to advance the two parts of the project, the respondents will return to update the court regarding their statements regarding the budget and schedules as early as next month: "We have written before us the statements of the state and the understanding of all parties regarding the urgency of making decisions required to advance the two parts of the project ".
The Weizmann Institute and the Municipality of Rehovot will be represented by attorneys Gidi Faraf, David Shavor, Hadar Aral-Kashpitsky, and Lehi Naziri, from the Department of Environmental Quality and Sustainability at the Mitar Law Firm.
The state was represented by attorney Erin Safdi Atila.
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