Mekorot, Israel’s National Water Company was founded in 1937 by a small and energetic team: Levi Eshkol, Pinchas Sapir and Simcha Blass. Mekorot, which at the time was also known as the National Water-Drawer, had as its primary objective the laying of pipes, collecting and moving water and assisting in the settlement of the land.

70 years have passed since Mekorot’s founding – a period replete with many actions and national undertakings in this field. During this time, Mekorot has set up hundreds of water projects all over the country and created a unique and welcome nationwide water system that enables quality handling of water sources and the transport of water from Israel’s North to its South that yearns for water, while ensuring a reliable water supply to Israel’s residents. The dream has become a reality.

Over the years and in light of population growth and decreased natural water resources, Mekorot had the foresight to realize that it is no longer possible to suffice with collecting and channeling natural water. Mekorot began to invest considerable efforts in developing “water production” capabilities and gradually changed from a company that collects water to one that produces water. Through the desalination of seawater and saltwater, sewage purification and the reuse of irrigation water, collection of floodwater and cloud seeding, the supply of water sources at the disposal of the State of Israel has increased by an unprecedented amount according to international standards.

In recent years, Mekorot has been looking to the future, establishing technology joint ventures and the WaTech™ entrepreneurial center, all with the aim of improving the company’s operational efficiency and achieving technological advances. The company offers its knowledge, accumulated experience, equipment and facilities as a platform for a variety of research and development projects.

Mekorot, as a leading operations company that incorporates and applies advanced technologies, is not resting on its laurels and has established for itself a set of strategic goals and objectives. These include:

• Mekorot is on the verge of building a large seawater desalination facility in Ashdod that will supply 100 million cubic meters of water annually, thereby gaining a foothold for itself in the national and international desalination sphere;
• Mekorot is laying the “fifth pipeline to Jerusalem” to be completed in around five years. The line will double the quantity of water to the city and surrounding communities and provide 150 cubic meters annually, including desalinated water.
• The agricultural sector is gradually moving to irrigation with purified sewage water and brackish water and Mekorot is working to supply such water at a high quality for a feasible rate and with maximum accessibility. Irrigation using purified sewage water is very important in that it allows us to save freshwater and, no less importantly, preserve the environment. Mekorot is striving to increase the rate of reusable purified sewage water from its current 75% to 90% within five years.

On August 29, 2007, the eve of Rosh Hashanah 5768, in the presence of the Minister of National Infrastructure and the Minister of Finance, an agreement related to changing Mekorot’s structure was signed between the government and Mekorot. Mekorot, the National Water Company, will change from a company to a group. The Mekorot Group will now comprise two subsidiaries: the “operating company” (which encompasses Mekorot’s operating branches) – a unique company with many years of expertise and experience in implementing Mekorot’s core projects. From now on, this company will be able to offer its skills to the entire water economy. Another company, Mekorot Ventures and Development – will deal with competitive sectors of the water economy, and its first challenge will be to establish the 100 million cu. meter desalination plant in Ashdod. Mekorot Ventures and Development will promote projects in the Israeli water system as well as water projects in the international market.

The Mekorot Group’s vision will continue to reverberate. I see the Mekorot Group in the coming years solidifying its status in both the region and throughout the world for resolving growing water shortages, providing consulting services in the fields of desalination and reusable sewage water and applying novel technologies.

Parallel to the expansion of its business operations, the Mekorot Group will focus on positioning itself as a Green company that provides high-quality water and is careful to preserve water sources, protect the environment, and maintain nature and scenic reserves – while constantly working to improve water treatment and increase public confidence in its quality.

If we have reached the point where we are today and have to our credit some impressive accomplishments, and if our reputation precedes us as a leader in developing water technologies, the credit goes to the employees of Mekorot who transmit a sense of responsibility and desire for excellence from one generation to the next.

There is not enough space to elaborate on the story of the Mekorot Company, which is intertwined with the growth and flourishing of the State of Israel. Mekorot, which was established by the State, attends to the day-to-day needs of the water system, on a routine basis as well as during times of war, occasionally, under difficult conditions.

The Mekorot Group is currently experiencing a spurt of growth and advancement. We are committed to constantly improving the treatment of water sources in the State of Israel. This is our promise and we will stand by it – with the help of the company’s professional and dedicated employees, by investing resources in ensuring high quality water and through our efforts to develop and apply advanced, state-of-the-art technologies.

Eli Ronen
Chairman of the Board