Israel’s national water company, Mekorot, and the Afikey Mayim Water Association have signed an agreement to collaborate on the regional water system in the Emek HaMaayanot (Valley of Springs). This follows a directive from Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen to connect previously unlinked regions to the national water network.
The partnership aims to develop and maintain existing and new water infrastructure, including significantly increasing water supply and expanding connections for the Beit She’an area and Emek HaMaayanot to the national system.
Mekorot’s Acting CEO, Dani Sofer, noted that Beit She’an had relied mainly on local springs and groundwater wells, as it was not connected to the national grid. The initiative is expected to meet future needs caused by population growth, agriculture, regional development, and better water supply reliability.
Key projects include the Eastern Carrier and a new pipeline from Afula to Beit She’an, scheduled for completion next year. This pipeline, about 20 kilometers long and 64 inches in diameter, will provide 30-40 million cubic meters of water annually, replacing the local wells that now supply the city.
Construction and supervision are handled by Mekorot’s Development and Customers Division. The agreement, signed by Sofer and Afikey Mayim Chairman Gavri Ichnold, formalizes ongoing cooperation on all current and future water infrastructure, covering production, treatment, transmission, and various water types, including drinking, desalinated, lower-quality, spring, and treated wastewater, along with other regional water systems.
The parties stated that developing new water infrastructure – including conveyance systems, regional connections, and improved operational redundancy – will greatly enhance the reliability and capacity of water supply to Beit She’an and the Emek HaMaayanot.
For many years, Mekorot and Afikey Mayim have collaborated under an agreement to jointly operate a unique water enterprise that primarily supplies spring water for agriculture, along with well water for drinking to local communities in the Emek HaMaayanot.
The renewed agreement ensures the continuation of this cooperation, with shared management and aligned development goals. After signing, Mekorot Acting CEO Dani Sofer said: “This agreement allows us to increase water supply volumes for homes and agriculture in Beit She’an and the Emek HaMaayanot, while expanding access through the national water system."
"In this way, we are connecting the Beit She’an region to the national system for the first time, as part of a strategic move to strengthen water supply reliability between Mount Gilboa and the Jordan River for years to come. I thank Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen for supporting this initiative, which we advanced together with the Afikey Mayim Association, for the continued development of Beit She’an, local agriculture, and regional tourism.”
Afikey Mayim, Chairman, Gavri Ichnold, stated: “The agreement reflects deep trust and fosters professional cooperation with Mekorot. It enables joint development of new water infrastructure and the maintenance and upgrading of existing systems. Increasing water supply and connecting Beit She’an and the Emek HaMaayanot to the national water system will allow the region to grow and develop confidently in the future.”
Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen welcomed the deal, saying, “This agreement is important news for residents of Beit She’an and the Emek HaMaayanot. It will link the regional system to the national grid, improve water infrastructure, ensure consistent water supply during routine and emergency times, and support agriculture and growth. I thank Mekorot and Afikey Mayim. Together, we will continue working for the benefit of northern residents."