Nostalgia Sunday – Mekorot’s water portfolio

April 19, 2009 - 8:02 PM by Rachel Neiman

To celebrate Tel Aviv’s Centennial anniversary, Mekorot, Israel’s national water company, has dug into its photo archive and released images from the construction of the Tel Aviv water pipeline project. Check out the kovaei tembel, the soft cloth hats that once symbolized the Israeli pioneer worker.

mekorot_1963

These images are from 1963. The original Western Pipeline – Yarkon-Negev Plant pipeline was completed in 1955 but as Tel Aviv’s population grew, along with demand for water, it was decided to add the additional Dan pipeline to boost the water supply. The project was completed in the mid-60s.

mekorot_24-10-1963_2

Today, Mekorot is considered one of the world’s most technologically advanced water companies and a world leader in desalination, water reclamation, water project engineering, water safety, water security and water quality. Its all-important task is formulating and implementing the country’s national water policy.

mekorot_24-10-1963

Over the past 12 months, Mekorot has embarked on a number of major projects, including the construction of a fifth pipeline to Jerusalem…

mekorot_today

…construction of the desalination facility in Ashdod with a capacity of 100 million cubic meters a year and linking of the desalination facilities along the coastline — such as the world’s largest such plant at Ashkelon, pictured here — with the national water system…

ashkelon_desalination_plant_med

…plus other projects aimed at increasing the supply of water, for example, cloud seeding in the winter months. Mekorot has engaged in “rain-enhancement” for over 45 years and has managed to increase the annual rainfall in the Sea of Galilee catchment by 13%-18%.

mekorot_cloud_seeding1

Mekorot facilities have visitors centers with guided tours. As for the archive, it isn’t presently online but give them time. And, given their technological edge, it will be amazing to think of what pictures Mekorot will release when Tel Aviv’s 200th rolls along.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , • Category: Environment, General, History and Culture, Nostalgia Sunday 

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One Comment on Nostalgia Sunday – Mekorot’s water portfolio

  1. The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea: Charismatic Megafauna in Israel’s Water Crisis on Mon, Jun 29th 2009 7:04 PM

    2. [...] to maintain and repair infrastructure, in order to limit water wastage to the absolute minimum. Mekorot’s pipelines must be in good order, and leaking tap washers must be [...]

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