Demographic growth and global warming have made countries around the world increasingly aware that water is not an endless resource and that water security cannot be taken for granted. Nevertheless, Danny Sofer, acting CEO of Mekorot, promises that “Even our great-grandchildren will have water flowing from their taps.” That, he says, is because Israel’s water sector remains healthy despite the many challenges it faces.

Sofer, who studied water and mechanical engineering, says he knew from a young age that he wanted to work with water systems.

“Water became an obsession for me as a teenager,” he explains. “I worked extensively with irrigation, installing irrigation systems in gardens and agricultural farms, and it fascinated me. There was something beyond work and livelihood in it, I genuinely enjoyed it.”

“That led me to study water engineering at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology and later mechanical engineering. During one of our professional student tours, we visited Mekorot, which at the time was a very discreet company. When I saw what they were doing, I realized it perfectly fit what I wanted to do. I joined the company at 28, straight out university, and I’ve been here ever since.”

The impressive career path he has built over the past 39 years at the company is, in many ways, the fulfillment of a childhood dream. Sofer began as an operations engineer in the South Yarkon unit, later managing the Shafdan unit, the Central District, and the Jordan Valley region. He also served as acting deputy director-general for organization and administration, deputy CEO for operations and maintenance, and eventually deputy CEO.

Since January 1 of this year, he has been serving as acting CEO while awaiting his formal appointment. “When I first joined the company, I never imagined I would one day reach the CEO’s office,” he admits.

Over the years, he has faced numerous challenges.

“As an operations engineer in central Israel, we struggled with supplying water to Jerusalem before it was connected to the main water lines. During the summers, we would rush to shut down agricultural water supply in the Judean Foothills so that water could reach the capital.”

“Later, I was involved in building the fourth water pipeline to Jerusalem, which significantly improved the situation there. Together with an electrical engineer, we established a remote-control system using fiber optics and satellites, ending what we jokingly called the ‘Peugeot control era,’ when workers had to drive their Peugeots to manually stop and restart water flow. That system later became the model for similar systems in northern and southern Israel.”

“Later on, I reached the National Water Carrier, where we began operating the central filtration facility that has filtered Sea of Galilee water ever since. I was also among the initiators and planners of the fifth water line to Jerusalem, which is already operational today. The pipeline runs through a tunnel from Eshtaol Junction to Ein Kerem in order not to mar the mountain landscape.”

“At the same time, we significantly upgraded water supply to Judea and Samaria. Over the years, we also began receiving desalinated seawater — Mekorot purchases the water from private contractors and is responsible for distributing it. That’s not a simple challenge. We must absorb water 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Unlike water stored in the Sea of Galilee or aquifers, desalinated water cannot simply be turned on and off at will. We are committed to those suppliers and distribute the water throughout the country to help keep prices stable.”

“The distribution system is essential to ensuring desalination plants never have to stop operating. As more desalination plants are built, the gap between winter and summer demand becomes increasingly significant.”

The use of desalination facilities began in response to years of drought. While Israelis may take for granted the ability to turn on the tap at any moment and receive high-quality water, Sofer says, “Our neighbors in every direction can envy us. For them, especially in summer, that is absolutely not the case.”

Israel’s water quality standards are considered among the strictest in the world, making compliance especially difficult for a company like Mekorot that relies on four different water sources.

Is the Sea of Galilee now mostly symbolic rather than Israel’s main water source?

“The Sea of Galilee will never stop being a water source,” Sofer says. “We work hard to maintain aquifer and lake levels within the ‘green line’ thresholds and use desalinated water when necessary to replenish it. The lake still supplies water to nearby communities and is a major advantage during emergencies, and even in ordinary times.”

“Since Israel’s population is growing rapidly — between 2% and 3% annually — and because we do not expect to have more natural water resources in the future, only less, we need to build one desalination plant producing 100 million cubic meters every three years, or a 200-million-cubic-meter facility every six years.”

“The key is that every year we add another 30 million cubic meters of water to the system, so we can preserve those healthy reservoir levels for difficult times.”

“A difficult day is when a desalination plant fails, breaks down, or, God forbid, gets hit by something falling from the sky. In that scenario, it could be out of service for months or even years. We need a backup system of alternative water sources — whether from other facilities or from natural reserves like the Sea of Galilee.”

“The surplus water generated by desalination is one of the system’s greatest advantages. First and foremost, it goes to supply needs, but in winter we often inject the water underground through wells, and in this way we can also refill the Sea of Galilee.”

“This past winter, for example, not only did the Sea of Galilee fail to rise, its level actually dropped. That had never happened before. Today, however, we know how to channel water into the system and replenish it. What we did this year was experimental, just a few centimeters.”

The ongoing war has also created major challenges for Israel’s water sector. Mekorot worked extensively to maintain a water supply for both civilians and for Israeli soldiers stationed along the borders.

“We have a wartime operational doctrine,” says Sofer. “We understand that wars can create disruptions in the water supply, so we scale back significantly, for example, reducing agricultural water supply to ensure uninterrupted drinking water.”

“But because farmers in northern Israel continued working even under Hezbollah rocket fire, we worked very hard to continue supplying them with water. At the same time, we shut off water to evacuated communities that had been completely emptied of residents, at their request. Naturally, we restored supply very quickly once conditions stabilized.”

“Meanwhile, we also had to supply water to improvised IDF bases established in different areas. We even installed water heaters for soldiers in places such as the Gaza border communities and the Golan Heights so they could take hot showers. We tried very hard to help; they deserve it.”

Alongside its extensive domestic work, Mekorot advises numerous countries abroad, including Argentina, Peru, Chile, Uruguay, Morocco, Cyprus, India, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan. The company’s engineers help local authorities design water systems and sophisticated control infrastructures.

“We provide consulting services and develop master plans for these countries,” Sofer says. “In Azerbaijan, for example, we are planning a massive desalination plant on the Caspian Sea. We have also signed contracts in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.”

“Our greatest advantage is our expertise in reducing water loss within the system. I’m proud to say that water loss in Israel stands at only 4%, compared to roughly 50% in many other parts of the world.”

“I see our cooperation with foreign countries as a national mission that serves Israel’s diplomatic interests by strengthening ties with friendly Muslim countries. Credit for this initiative goes to Energy Minister Eli Cohen, Regional Cooperation Minister David Amsalem, and the Government Companies Authority, who recognized the climate crisis as both a business and diplomatic opportunity and expanded Mekorot’s international operations.”

“Personally, I would love to go to Lebanon and Syria. It’s fascinating there because the issue is entirely different. The amount of water flowing from the Litani River into the sea each year would be enough for both Israel and Lebanon together.”

Operating across four continents, Mekorot is responsible for approximately 65% of Israel’s water supply and around 77% of its drinking water. The company operates 12,000 kilometers of pipelines and employs roughly 2,000 workers.

It is responsible for around 1,000 wells and nearly 20 desalination facilities and invests approximately NIS 1.5 billion annually in developing Israel’s water infrastructure. The company is also invested in around 10 startup companies, Sofer says proudly.

He also points to the company’s increased revenues compared to the previous year. However, due to an accounting-related impairment, the company posted a net loss of NIS 741 million in 2025.

“Without the regulatory changes introduced at the very end of 2025, we would have finished the year with a net profit of approximately NIS 300 million. The new regulations forced us into a complicated discussion as a publicly traded company. The discussion is ongoing, and I very much hope they will eventually agree to return what we believe we deserve, particularly regarding the company’s return on equity.”

“First and foremost, the challenge of supplying water through a single national network to every part of the country.”

“We are beginning construction of a water pipeline to Katzrin so the Golan Heights will be connected to the national system. We are building a line to the Beit She’an Valley, and from there extending a pipeline to the Jordan Valley.”

“In addition, we are nearing completion of a major route along the Trans-Samaria Highway, Route 5, from the National Water Carrier toward Samaria. Another route will be built toward Gush Etzion and from there to Hebron and the Judea region, so that Judea and Samaria will also be connected to the national network.”

“At the same time, we are currently planning a water line from the Dimona area to Hatzeva in order to connect the central Arava region to the national system as well.”

“The desalination plant being built in the Western Galilee is expected to begin operating within two years, and we are constructing an intake and transport system for it so the water can be distributed efficiently; one line toward Achziv and Nahariya, and another toward Carmiel and the Upper Galilee.”

“I estimate that within five to six years, everything will already be connected.”

“So that you never experience water outages. Every region must have at least two water sources, usually more. That way, we can ensure uninterrupted supply even when malfunctions occur.”

“Repairing a damaged electrical cable may take an hour or two. Repairing a water pipeline can take up to two weeks. In those situations, I want to be able to provide water from an alternative pipeline.”

“We continuously invest in maintaining all facilities and keeping them fully operational, including the National Water Carrier. It is already 64 years old, and we hope it will continue operating for at least another 30 years.”

“Israel’s water sector is among the most stable in the world thanks to long-term strategy and broad infrastructure deployment, and it will remain that way.”