How a desert state became a water exporter

Water scarcity is one of the greatest challenges of our time worldwide. Israel, a country with hot, dry summers and little rainfall, has long been particularly affected. Since its foundation in 1948, the state has struggled with chronic water shortages. Today, however, Israel produces around 20 percent more water than it needs itself – and even exports technology and know-how to other countries.

Getting there was a tour de force. At the heart of this development is an impressive water infrastructure project: the so-called water highway. Today, it is a symbol of innovative strength, technical courage and strategic thinking.

The story of a courageous vision

Back in the 1930s, the British engineer Walter Clay Lowdermilk developed the idea of diverting water from the Jordan region to the dry south of Israel. Decades later, the young Israel took up this vision again. In 1953, construction began on the National Water Carrier – a system of canals, tunnels, pipes and pumping stations that stretches 130 kilometers from the Sea of Galilee to the Negev Desert.

The implementation was risky and expensive. Israel incurred high debts to finance the project. But the investment paid off: With the water from the north, entire regions in the south could be developed and used for agriculture.

A technical masterpiece

The water carrier begins at the Sea of Galilee, where the water is raised to over 200 meters above sea level using powerful pumps. From there, it flows through tunnels and canals, including the 17-kilometer-long Eshkol Tunnel – once the longest water tunnel in the world. The water is purified in the Eshkol reservoir before being transported further south through the center of the country.

A sophisticated distribution system supplies towns, villages and fields along the way. At the same time, care was taken not to jeopardize the ecological balance in the Sea of Galilee.

From agricultural land to regional water source

In the early years, most of the water was used for agriculture. But over time, the proportion of drinking water increased. In the 1990s, the National Water Carrier already covered around half of Israel’s drinking water needs. Neighbouring countries such as Jordan also benefit – Israel supplies up to 50 million cubic meters of water there every year.

But the Sea of Galilee is fragile. A long period of drought from 2012 onwards caused the water level to drop dramatically. Israel had to rethink again – and found the solution in the sea.