Yossi Laster, director-general of an economic consulting firm in Israel, has performed an invaluable service in his carefully documented paper of the treatment of sewage in Israel. He has confirmed what all too many tourists and Israelis have known for a long time: DON'T DRINK THE WATER IN ISRAEL. Laster presents hard data to show the steady erosion in the quality of drinking water in Israel, which is due to the dumping of untreated waste water. The level of nitrates, of which sewage is the main source, in Israel's groundwater has steadily been rising. High concentrations of nitrates pose a severe health risk. Current Israeli drinking water standards are well below those that were established over 30 years ago in the United Stats, and the U.S. has raised its standards substantially since that time. Laster relies heavily on the carefully prepared reports of the highly-reputed State Comptroller. Reading the State Comptroller's reports - fortunately for the Israeli tourist industry, her reports are in Hebrew - is enough to scare off even the most diehard tourist or committed Zionist.

Government mismanagement and poor organization bear responsibility for the eroding quality of drinking water. First, the government ministries that deal with sewage disposal are rife with conflicts of interest. Second, there are no clear criteria that establish the appropriate level of government funding to bring water quality to safe, Western levels. Third, local authorities are guilty of financial mismanagement of local sewage systems. Fourth, sewage bylaws are a mess. Fifth, no one is ever held legally responsible for pollution.

Laster proposes a remedy for the socialist mismanagement of water and sewer systems: privatization. Private ownership of sewerage works will improve the quality and quantity of fresh water. Meanwhile, stick to bottled spring water.