“unconventional Supplies” and the Water Dispute among the Riparians of the Jordan River Watershed

Proposed resolutions to the Arab-Israeli water conflict that fail to consider the introduction of alternative freshwater sources in the not-too-distant future cannot be taken seriously. Each of three major forms of freshwater supply augmentation (the “unconventional supplies”) is likely to be implemented on a widespread basis in the region, thereby substantially altering the regional water balance. These unconventional supplies are desalination, water imports, and the reclamation of wastewater. This paper assesses the relevance of the unconventional supplies in achieving regional accommodation over shared and scarce freshwater, with particular attention to the advantages, disadvantages, and complexities introduced by wastewater reclamation.