Mekorot and EPAL, the Portuguese water company, have begun a co-operative venture. "Mekorot Planning and Development" has started working with TEPAL on Water Security issues relating to the Lisbon municipal water system.
"Development & Enterprise", a subsidiary of The National Water Company – Mekorot, has started working on water security issues relating to the municipal water supply of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. The co-operative venture between Mekorot and the Portuguese Water Company (EPAL) began in April of this year when representatives from the Mekorot Water Security Unit were invited to Lisbon to evaluate the possibilities of co-operation with the their Portuguese counterparts. Epal is responsible for supplying water to some 2,500,000 consumers In Lisbon and the south of Portugal.
In the first stage of the project, the Board of Epal authorized a wide scale risk assessment survey to examine the strategic assets of the water system and the threat potential involved. Mekorot Planning and Development was chosen to perform the survey which will include evaluation of water supply systems, control systems, monitoring systems, physical security and the procedures and preparedness of the system in the event of a water crisis.
"The aim of the survey is to allow the formation of a plan that will reduce risks and increase the level of preparedness in the event of a water crisis", said Giora Guttman, the Managing Director of Mekorot Planning and Development. Epal announced that they are interested in continuing the co-operation with Mekorot and that, in the wake of the surveys recommendations, they will implement with the aid of Mekorot Planning and Development, projects relating to Water Security issues.
The Chairman of the Mekorot Group, Eli Ronen, added: "The events of September 11 2001 brought about a substantial increase, throughout the western world, of the awareness of dangers presented by terrorists to water systems." He went on to say:" Municipal water systems are the most vulnerable to terrorist attack."
Mekorot has an international reputation as a leader in the field of Water Security because of the companies many years of experience in dealing with security challenges since its founding in 1937. This fact make Mekorot very appealing to water companies from all over the world, including the western world, looking for advice regarding Water Security and also in engaging the Professional services that Mekorot offers.
Mekorot Planning and Development, a wholly owned subsidiary of "Mekorot Water", initiates and promotes water related projects in Israel and the world, based on the knowledge and experience that has been gained in the 70 years since the company's foundation. Mekorot Planning and Development is also active in international markets and promotes its expertise and professionalism in many fields, including water treatment, waste treatment, municipal water systems and security issues relating to Water infrastructure and systems in a number of European countries, in South America and also in South West Asia.