Knesset Finance Ministry Chairman MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni contacted Mekorot director Ido Rosillio to confirm — as he does every year at the beginning of Nisan — that the water supply will come from wells, not the Kinneret, during Pesach.
Rabbi Gafni was notified that the water would come from underground sources and desalination plants. Rabbi Gafni also spoke with Water Authority Director Prof. Uri Shani regarding water use during Pesach and desalination, which today usually accounts for 40 percent of all water consumption nationwide.
Gedolei Yisroel dispatched Rabbi Avrohom Rubinstein, secretary of Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, to survey the desalination process firsthand.
Last week Rabbi Rubinstein visited the Palmachim desalination facility and after he reported, maranan verabonon subsequently announced that desalinated water can be used for drinking and all other uses, with no concern that it contains trace quantities of chometz.
Rabbi Gafni said looking into the halachic matter before Pesach is of great benefit to those who are careful to avoid water from the Kinneret and will spare them needless expense in arranging for alternate sources of water during Pesach.
