Tell me more ×
Mi Yodeya is a question and answer site for those who base their lives on Jewish law and tradition and anyone interested in learning more. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 6 down vote favorite

The Shulchan Aruch OC 160:2 rules that water with which one has done "melachah," is disqualified from netilat yadayim. Does this include water which has flowed downstream from a hydroelectric plant?

share|improve this question
1  
Now that I think about it, returning to "mechubar" status (e.g. entering a river after leaving the plant) may "reset" the water... not sure – yitznewton Jan 3 '12 at 19:43
That is true, and even without that I assume there would be a din of hamshacha. The question still stands if he catches the water as it comes out of the plant- has the water done halachic melacha. It would seem that it does, though this case is different enough that I would not answer definitively without a similar case ruling. – YDK Jan 3 '12 at 21:05

1 Answer

up vote 4 down vote accepted

Indeed (as in your comment), in 160:5 it says that melachah disqualifies water only if it was drawn, "but not with water from a mikvah or a spring while they are still attached [to their source]." I'm not entirely familiar with how hydroelectric plants work, but doesn't the water continue flowing nonstop as it's turning the turbines or whatever? So that should allow it to be classified as still mechubar.

share|improve this answer
The one hydroelectric plant that I have seen (Hoover) was made by damming up the Colorado River creating Lake Mead. The lake (now a mikva not a river) as I have seen it is zochalin. Perhaps there are other scenarios. – YDK Jan 3 '12 at 21:52

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.