"Israel said on Monday it was building a 1.5 billion shekel ($423 million) desalination plant, which upon completion in 2013, will join four other plants in providing the country with three-quarters of its drinking water."

"The government signed with Mekorot, the national water company, to build and operate the reverse osmosis plant in the Mediterranean coastal city of Ashdod, which will produce 100 million cubic meters of desalinated seawater a year, or 15 percent of Israel's household water use."

Ari Rabinovitch reports for Reuters August 9, 2011. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Could Seawater Solve the Freshwater Crisis?" (National Geographic) [3]