The head of Israel's Water Authority warned the government this week that if the coming winter is a dry one, water rationing will have to be implemented in Israel by April or May of next year.

At the very least, Water Authority officials are saying a ban on watering private and public gardens will have to be imposed. Farmers, too, will be hit hard, and government officials warned that many could lose their income.

Israel's main water reservoirs, and in particular the Sea of Galilee, have dropped below the point where additional water can be pumped due to several years of below-average rainfall.

Forecasters are predicting that this winter will again leave Israel with far less water than it needs.

Israel is rapidly building additional desalination plants along its Mediterranean coast to cope with the water shortage, but they will require several more years before fully going online.