Israel has developed innovative water technologies out of necessity due to its limited natural fresh water sources. It leads the world in drip irrigation techniques, wastewater reuse for agriculture, and large-scale seawater desalination. Israeli companies such as NaanDanJain, Netafim, and IDE export their irrigation systems and desalination plants worldwide. Through significant investment in research and development, Israel has managed to overcome water scarcity challenges and even expects to have a water surplus by 2020.

1. Israel Water Technology Solutions
Introduction
Ask any visitor to Israel what their tour guide told them about the country’s early years and
they’ll tell you the pioneers “made the desert bloom.” The arid conditions mean water in
Israel is scarce compared to availability in most of North America and Europe. Despite that,
fields in Israel produce top quality grains, cotton, fruits and vegetables. There is also
sufficient water for domestic, municipal and industrial use. This has been achieved by
tremendous investment in water knowhow, making Israel a world leader in this arena that
exports its technologies world-wide.
For years Israel has not only desalinated drinking water, but also exported desalination plants
to foreign markets. It is now is home to the world’s largest seawater reverse osmosis plant.
The country is expanding its desalination network along its Mediterranean coast, with the
national water company Mekorot predicting that Israel will likely have a water surplus by
20201
.
Israel also works hard to try and reuse every drop of water. The figures speak for
themselves: Israel reuses 75 percent of its water, compared to 12 percent in Spain and 1
percent in Central Europe and the United States2
. By recycling so much water, the effects of
effluence on the environment are substantially reduced and more water is available for
agriculture.
Several Israeli companies are world leaders when it comes to exporting irrigation systems.
Netafim is a leading company whose smart drip and micro-irrigation solutions have been in
use world-wide since 1965.
Israeli technologies help water infrastructures in the world’s leading economies and
developing nations alike. While dozens of technologies are being used, this document
focuses on three of the areas of Israeli water achievements in more detail: irrigation,
wastewater recovery and desalination.
Israel's Limited Water Sources
Israel has four main sources of natural, fresh water:
• The Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret), which supplies about 20percent of Israel's water.
• The Coast Aquifer supplies about 20percent - most of it used for drinking water.
• The Mountain Aquifer supplies another 20percent of Israel's water consumption.
• Desalination of seawater and brackish groundwater.
Proper organization and management of the water sector can alleviate regional water
problems. These solutions include sustainable policy and management of water resources,
water savings and reduction of water losses, and desalination.
1
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4186794,00.html
2
http://www.mekorot.co.il/Eng/Activities/Pages/WastewaterTreatmentandReclamation.aspx

2. Israel Water Technology Solutions
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Israel Leads the World in Agricultural Irrigation
Israelis pioneered the irrigation revolution decades
ago when they developed the idea of placing a hose in
a field and poking small holes in the hose only beside
the plants you need watered. This drip irrigation idea
not only saved resources by putting valuable water
only where it is needed, it also grew plants with
higher crop yields.
Drip irrigation system in an orchard
(NaanDanJain photo.)
With almost a half century of experience and
expertise, Israeli drip irrigation systems are used on 60
percent of agricultural land in Israel. They are
exported around the world to every continent – especially Africa and Asia.
Israel is Highest in Wastewater Recovery
Israel’s Mekorot national water company has a
tremendous success rate of recovering most of the
wastewater it treats and reusing it around the country
– primarily for agricultural irrigation.
Mekorot wastewater recovery plant
Israel ranks first in the world in wastewater reuse –
utilizing 75 percent of the wastewater it processes
compared to 12 percent in Spain, 9 percent in
Australia and only 1 percent in Europe and the USA.
While Mekorot is responsible for implementing
solutions in the field, the company utilizes products and expertise from dozens of suppliers
in Israel. These same suppliers offer products and consultation to countries world-wide.
Israel Leading in Desalination Solutions
The Ashkelon desalination plant – the world’s
largest reverse-osmosis facility
Israel has been desalinating both seawater
and brackish groundwater for over 40 years
and currently has 31 desalination plants in
operation. Mekorot operates most of the
desalination plants, with the first opening in
1965 in the southern desert port city of Eilat.
The company says Israel’s desalination
capacity represents about five percent of
total world-wide desalination capacity, a
significant achievement considering the country’s small size.

3. Israel Water Technology Solutions
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By 2013, Israel is expected to have a desalinated water production level of more than 550
million cubic meters annually. According to government targets, by 2020 the total volume of
desalination in Israel will rise to some 750 million cubic meters of water per year.
The newest facility is the Sorek desalination plant that is being built and operated by a
partnership of the Israeli company IDE and the China-based Hutchison Water International
Ltd. IDE also built and operates the Ashkelon plant, currently the world’s largest reverse-
osmosis facility that produces 118 million cubic meters of fresh water each year.
Featured Water Technology Companies
NaanDanJain Irrigation
Fields: Irrigation
Description: A global producer and provider of tailor-made irrigation solutions. Formed by
the merger in 2007 of NaanDan and the Indian company Jain, which acquired total ownership
of NaanDan in January, 2012, it specializes in providing its clients with advanced, flexible and
tailored solutions, which reduces the required resources and costs while increasing yields.
The company has 9 subsidiaries around the world, and 6 production sites – two of which are
located in Israel (Kibbutz Naan and Kibbutz Dan).
Location: Kibbutz Naan. Corporate headquarters now in India with world-wide sales offices.
Website: http://www.naandanjain.com/
Netafim
Fields: Irrigation, greenhouse products
Description: Global leader in sustainable smart drip and micro-irrigation solutions.
Introduced the world's first drip irrigation solutions in 1965. Helps customers produce more
yields and better crops using less resources.
Location: Tel Aviv headquarters. Offices in 42 countries. Israeli factories in:
Website: http://www.netafim.com/
CINADCO (MASHAV) – Center for International Agricultural Development
Cooperation
Fields: International partnerships for agricultural development.
Description: MASHAV is the division of the Ministry of Agriculture that implements Israel's
cooperation policies with developing nations in the fields of agriculture and rural
development. The centre hosts groups in Israel and also works abroad in Asia, Africa, Eastern
Europe, CIS Republics, the Middle East, Latin America and Oceania. Activities are conducted in
English, Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic and other local languages and subjects include:
Combating Desertification, Sustainable Rural Development, Advanced Irrigation
Technologies, Water Management and Intensive Aquaculture Production.
Location: Rishon-Lezion
Website: http://www.moag.gov.il/agri/English/Ministrys+Units/CINADCO/default.htm

4. Israel Water Technology Solutions
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IDE: Desalination plants (Hadera/Ashkelon)
Fields: Seawater desalination plants
Description: The Sorek Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant, currently under
construction in Sorek, Israel, is a joint venture of IDE Technologies Ltd (51percent) and
Hutchison Water International Ltd (49percent) (SDL). When completed, the project will set
significant new benchmarks in both desalination capacity and water cost, which, at $0.58 per
cubic meter, will result in substantial savings for the local water market.
Location: Headquarters in Kadima (30 km north-east of Tel Aviv). Desalination plants in
Hadera, Ashkelon and Sorek.
Website: http://www.ide-tech.com/
Mekorot Water Company
Fields: Supply of freshwater, processing of waste water, management on national water
resources.
Description: Israel’s national water supplier.
Location: Tel Aviv headquarters, installations throughout Israel.
Website: http://www.mekorot.co.il