Israel has begun a historic operation to pump desalinated water into the Sea of Galilee as part of a major effort to stabilize the country’s water supply amid climate change and ongoing wartime conditions, the Israel Water Authority and national water company Mekorot announced this week.
The initiative, launched Tuesday, will significantly increase the flow of desalinated seawater to the lake using the “Reverse Carrier” system, one of Israel’s most ambitious water infrastructure projects of the past decade. The system is now pumping about 4,000 cubic meters of water per hour, in addition to roughly 1,000 cubic meters per hour that has been flowing since December 2025 from the Ein Ravid area.
By early summer, the combined flow is expected to reach approximately 5,000 cubic meters per hour. Officials said the move is intended to capitalize on the current water surplus while strengthening long-term stability in Israel’s water system, particularly as northern regions face declining rainfall.
“The pumping of desalinated water into the Sea of Galilee is truly a historic move,” Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen said. “After we became global leaders in water technologies and built some of the world’s best desalination facilities, it is time to give back to the Sea of Galilee that we all love.
This step will also improve water supply in the North and help restore streams and springs.” The project allows desalinated water produced along the Mediterranean coast to be transported inland toward the lake, reversing the direction of Israel’s traditional water flow systems.
According to Danny Sofer, acting CEO of Mekorot, activating the system gives the lake new strategic importance. “The directive to operate the Reverse Carrier provides both operational and strategic value,” Sofer said. “It will help maintain water levels in the national lake, preserving the Sea of Galilee not only as a national symbol and tourist destination but also as a key part of Israel’s water security.”
In parts of the system, water is not pumped directly into the lake but instead flows through the Tzalmon Stream, which has become intermittent in recent years. Authorities say this method may also help restore local ecosystems. Yehezkel Lifshitz, director of the Israel Water Authority, described the project as a rare global example of desalinated water being used to sustain a natural freshwater reservoir. “The Sea of Galilee is our strategic national asset,” he said. “Increasing the flow of desalinated water into the lake is an important step toward securing Israel’s water future.”
This article was written in collaboration with Mekorot.