Israel taps into water business

With two-thirds of their country desert, Israelis appreciate the preciousness of water.

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, Israel has now emerged as a world leader in water recycling and water-saving technolgy.

The government says that 75 percent of waste water in Israel is reused.

And continued innovation could see that figure rise further thanks to companies like Aqwise.

It's developed a waste water recycling system which uses millions of small, specially designed plastic nuggets.

They provide an ideal environment to breed bacteria, breaking down harmful organic waste in treatment plants.

Yigal Master is from Aqwise.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) YIGAL MASTER, SENIOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER AT AQWISE, SAYING:

"These plastic things - they have a very high surface area, upon which the bacteria can grow and multiply. And the addition of these plastic carriers into an existing waste water treatment plant significantly increases the treatment facility of the plant."

And while companies like Aqwise harness the natural processes of bacteria, others are employing the natural power of light.

Based outside Jerusalem, the company Atlantium creates ultra-violet light technology which it says effectively and economically disinfects water.

Uri Levy is one of the company's scientists.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) URI LEVY, ATLANTIUM VICE-PRESIDENT OF PHYSICS AND ELECTRO-OPTICS, SAYING:

"Counter to other disinfection techniques like using ozone or using chlorine, this is very clean because it's basically using light - light that after being absorbed by the microbes leaves no byproducts."

The importance of water is engraved in Israel's 60-year history.

The country's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, declared that the state's future depended on "making the desert bloom".

His call has been well and truly heeded, so much so that annual revenues from Israel's water industry have hit one billion dollars.

But it's not just Israel's economy which stands to benefit.

With water scarcity threatening impoverished communities globally, Israel's expertise could yet save lives as well as money.

Darcy Lambton, Reuters.