The Tel Aviv District Court today ruled that Mekorot National Water Company may not supply more water to farmers beyond the quotas set by the Water Authority. Judge Esther Hellman-Nussboim dismissed a petition by the Matte Miriam Agricultural Cooperative for an injunction forbidding Mekorot from cutting off its water supply.
Mekorot stopped supplying water to Matte Miriam because it exceeded its 2008 quota by 70,000 cubic meters. Matte Miriam claims that the excess was only 1,000 cubic meters, citing a recommendation from the Ministry of Agriculture to grant it more water. It therefore argued that there was no reason to stop the water supply and that Mekorot had the right to charge a surcharge for the excess water consumed.
Mekorot said that there was only a recommendation to increase Matte Miriam's water quota, but until the quota was changed, it had no right to exceed the quota.
Judge Hellman-Nussboim ruled that the law forbade Mekorot from supplying water beyond the quota to anyone lacking a license for extra water, even if the excess was marginal and negligible. If Mekorot were to supply the extra water, it would itself be exposed to paying a surcharge for supply this extra water.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 3, 2008
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