The primary factor "killing" the Dead Sea is the diversion of its main water source, the Jordan River, mainly for irrigation.
Depletion of the Jordan River
The Jordan River, once a significant source of freshwater for the Dead Sea, has been drastically reduced in flow due to human activities.
- Historical Flow: The Jordan River historically supplied approximately 343 billion gallons of fresh water annually to the Dead Sea.
- Current Flow: Today, that amount has dwindled to about 40 billion gallons, consisting largely of sewage and saline water, according to the reference.
Impact of Irrigation
The reduced flow of freshwater, primarily because of irrigation, leads to increased salinity and a shrinking water level.
Irrigation “is one of the main reasons that the Dead Sea is dying,” Bromberg states.
This is the process:
- Water Diversion: Water is diverted from the Jordan River for agricultural irrigation.
- Reduced Inflow: Less freshwater reaches the Dead Sea.
- Increased Salinity: The Dead Sea's salinity increases due to evaporation.
- Water Level Drop: The water level drops because the rate of evaporation exceeds the rate of water inflow.
